Christ the Mediator

It pleased God in his eternal purpose to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, according to the covenant made between them both, to be the mediator between God and man.¹ Jesus is ordained as the prophet,² priest,³ and king.⁴ He is the head and Savior of the church,⁵ the heir of all things,⁶ and judge of the world.⁷ From all eternity, God gave a people to be his seed and to be by him, in time, redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.⁸

The Son of God, the second person in the Holy Trinity, is the true and eternal God, the brightness of the Father’s glory, of one substance and equal with him who made the world, who upholds and governs all things he has made. When the fullness of time had come, he took upon himself man’s nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities of it,⁹ yet without sin.¹⁰ He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary when the Holy Spirit came down upon her and the power of the Most High overshadowed her. So he was born of a woman of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David according to the Scriptures.¹¹ Two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. This person is truly God and truly man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man.¹²

The Lord Jesus in his human nature thus united to the divine, in the person of the Son, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit without measure.¹³ In him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,¹⁴ and it pleased the Father that in Christ all the fullness should dwell.¹⁵ This was so that being holy, meek, undefiled,¹⁶ and full of grace and truth,¹⁷ he might be thoroughly furnished to execute the office of mediator and guarantor.¹⁸ He did not grasp this office but was called by his Father to it.¹⁹ His Father also put all power and judgment in his hand and commanded him to execute these.²⁰

The Lord Jesus took this office most willingly.²¹ So that he might discharge it, he was made under the law²² and perfectly fulfilled it. He underwent the punishment due to us, which we should have endured and suffered,²³ being made sin and a curse for us.²⁴ He endured very grievous sorrows in his soul and very painful sufferings in his body.²⁵ He was crucified, died, and remained in the state of the dead, yet saw no corruption.²⁶ On the third day he rose from the dead²⁷ with the same body in which he suffered²⁸ and with which he also ascended into heaven.²⁹ He sits there at the right hand of his Father making intercession³⁰ and shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world.³¹

By his perfect obedience and sacrifice offered up to God once and for all through the eternal Spirit, the Lord Jesus has fully satisfied the justice of God.³² And through this, he also procured reconciliation and purchased an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven for all those whom the Father has given to him.³³

The price of redemption was not actually paid by Christ until after His incarnation. Yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefit of it were given to the elect in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices where he was revealed and signified to be the seed which should bruise the serpent’s head³⁴ and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,³⁵ being the same yesterday, today, and forever.³⁶

Christ in the work of mediation acts according to both natures by each nature doing that which is proper to itself. Yet, by reason of the unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in Scripture attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.³⁷

To all those for whom Christ has obtained eternal redemption, he certainly and effectually applies and communicates this redemption and makes intercession for them.³⁸ He unites them to himself by His Spirit, reveals to them in and by his Word the mystery of salvation, and persuades them to believe and obey.³⁹ He governs their hearts by his Word and Spirit⁴⁰ and overcomes all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom,⁴¹ in such manner and ways as are entirely consistent with his wonderful and unsearchable providence. All this is of free and absolute grace without any condition foreseen in them to procure it.⁴²

This office of mediator between God and man is exclusively Christ’s and is threefold: He is the prophet, priest, and king of the church of God. This may not be either in whole or any part, transferred from him to any other.⁴³

This number and order of offices are necessary. For with respect to our ignorance, we stand in need of his prophetic office.⁴⁴ With respect to our alienation from God and imperfection of the best of our service, we need his priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable to God.⁴⁵ With respect to our opposition to and utter inability to return to God and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries, we need his kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to his heavenly kingdom.⁴⁶

1. John 6:37–40 “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 17:6–9, 24–25 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours….Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.” Luke 22:29 “I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom.” Hebrews 10:5–10 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. ↩︎
2. Acts 3:22 Moses said, “The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.” ↩︎
3. Hebrews 5:5–6 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”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” ↩︎
4. Psalm 2:6 As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill. Luke 1:33 And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. ↩︎
5. Ephesians 1:22–23 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. ↩︎
6. Hebrews 1:2 But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. ↩︎
7. Acts 17:31 Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. ↩︎
8. Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. John 17:6 I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Romans 8:30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. ↩︎
9. John 1:14 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. Galatians 4:4–5 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law. ↩︎
10. Romans 8:3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh. Hebrews 2:14–17 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ↩︎
11. Matthew 1:1, 22–23 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham…. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” ↩︎
12. Luke 1:27, 31, 35 To a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary…. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus…. And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” Romans 9:5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. ↩︎
13. Psalm 45:7 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions. Acts 10:38 John proclaimed: 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. John 3:34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. ↩︎
14. Colossians 2:3 In [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ↩︎
15. Colossians 1:19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. ↩︎
16. Hebrews 7:26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. ↩︎
17. John 1:14 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. ↩︎
18. Hebrews 7:22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. ↩︎
19. Hebrews 5:5 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” ↩︎
20. John 5:22, 27 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son…. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Acts 2:36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” ↩︎
21. Psalm 40:7–8 Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” Hebrews 10:5–10 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ” When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. John 10:18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father. ↩︎
22. Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law. Matthew 3:15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” ↩︎
23. Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit. ↩︎
24. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. ↩︎
25. Matthew 26:37–38 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” Luke 22:44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ↩︎
26. Acts 13:37 But he whom God raised up did not see corruption. ↩︎
27. 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. ↩︎
28. John 20:25–27 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” ↩︎
29. Acts 1:9–11 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” ↩︎
30. Romans 8:34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Hebrews 9:24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. ↩︎
31. Acts 1:11 “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. Romans 14:9–10 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment. ↩︎
32. Hebrews 9:14 How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Hebrews 10:14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Romans 3:25–26 [Christ Jesus], whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ↩︎
33. John 17:2 Since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. Hebrews 9:15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. ↩︎
34. 1 Corinthians 10:4 And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Hebrews 4:2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 1 Peter 1:10–11 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. ↩︎
35. Revelation 13:8 And all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. ↩︎
36. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ↩︎
37. John 3:13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. Acts 20:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. ↩︎
38. John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. John 10:15–16 Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. John 17:9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. ↩︎
39. John 17:6 I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Ephesians 1:9 Making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ. 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. ↩︎
40. Romans 8:9, 14 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him…. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ↩︎
41. Psalm 110:1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” 1 Corinthians 15:25–26 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. ↩︎
42. John 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. Ephesians 1:7–8 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight. ↩︎
43. 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. ↩︎
44. John 1:18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. ↩︎
45. Colossians 1:21–22 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him. Galatians 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ↩︎
46. John 16:8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. Psalm 110:4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Luke 1:72–75 …to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. ↩︎