WCF 8.3

8.3. Of Christ the Mediator

The Lord Jesus, in His human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit, above measure, having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell; to the end that, being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, He might be thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a mediator and surety. Which office He took not unto Himself, but was thereunto called by His Father, who put all power and judgment into His hand, and gave Him commandment to execute the same.

Proof texts

• Ps. 45:7 — [7] you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
• John 3:34 — [34] For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
• Col. 2:3 — [3] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
• Col. 1:19 — [19] For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
• Heb. 7:26 — [26] For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
• John 1:14 — [14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• Acts 10:38 — [38] how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
• Heb. 12:24 — [24] and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
• Heb. 7:22 — [22] This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
• Heb. 5:4, 5 — [4] And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. [5] So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”;
• John 5:22, 27 — [22] For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, [27] And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
• Matt. 28:18 — [18] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
• Acts 2:36 — [36] Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Ps. 45:7 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 13 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q23 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WLC Q42 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q23 · WLC Q42 · WLC Q36 · WSC Q21 · BC 5.2 · BC 5.3 · BC 5.4 · BC 5.5 · BC 5.6 · HC Q29 · CD 2.1 · HC Q37 · 1689 8.1 · SD 8.1 · IAR 4.5 · SC60 2.2 · SHC 2.3 · SHC 2.4 · IAR 5.1 · IAR 5.2 · IAR 5.3 · IAR 5.4 · IAR 5.5 · SC60 3.1 · SHC 3.2