Baptist Confession of Faith (1689)

Chapter 8 CHRIST THE MEDIATOR

8.1 It pleased God,¹ in his eternal purpose,² to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only Son, in accordance with the covenant made between them both,³ to be the Mediator between God and the human race; to be prophet, priest, and king; to be the head and savior of his church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world.⁴ From all eternity he gave to him a people to be his progeny. In time these would be redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified by him.⁵

(1) Isa 42:1; Joh 3:16
(2) 1Pe 1:19
(3) Psa 110:4; Heb 7:21-22
(4) 1Ti 2:5; Act 3:22; Heb 5:5-6; Psa 2:6; Luk 1:33; Eph 1:22-23; 5:23; Heb 1:2; Act 17:31
(5) Rom 8:30; Joh 17:6; Isa 53:10; Psa 22:30; 1Ti 2:6; Isa 55:4-5; 1Co 1:30

8.2 The Son of God, the second person in the Holy Trinity, is truly and eternally God. He is the brightness of the Father’s glory, of the same substance¹ and equal with him who made the world, who upholds and governs all things he has made.2

When the fullness of time was come,³ he took upon himself human nature, with all its essential properties⁴ and common infirmities,⁵ yet without sin.⁶ He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. The Holy Spirit came down upon her and the power of the Most High overshadowed her, so that he was born to a woman from the tribe of Judah, a descendant of Abraham and David, in accordance with the Scriptures.⁷

So two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, mixing, or confusion. This person is therefore truly God ⁸ and truly human,⁹ yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and the human race.¹⁰

(1) Or, essence
(2) Joh 8:58; Joe 2:32 with Rom 10:13; Psa 102:25 with Heb 1:10; 1Pe 2:3 with Psa 34:8; Isa 8:12-13 with 3:15;Joh 1:1; 5:18; 20:28; Rom 9:5; Tit 2:13; Heb 1:8-9; Phi 2:5-6; 2Pe 1:1; 1Jo 5:20
(3) Gal 4:4
(4) Heb 10:5; Mar 14:8; Mat 26:12,26; Luk 7:44-46; Joh 13:23; Mat 9:10-13; 11:19; Luk 22:44; Heb 2:10; 5:8; 1Pe 3:18; 4:1; Joh 19:32-35; Mat 26:36-44; Jas 2:26; Joh 19:30; Luk 23:46; Mat 26:39; 9:36; Mar 3:5; 10:14; Joh
11:35; Luk 19:41-44; 10:21; Mat 4:1-11; Heb 4:15 with Jas 1:13; Luk 5:16; 6:12; 9:18,28; 2:40,52; Heb 5:8-9
(5) Mat 4:2; Mar 11:12; Mat 21:18; Joh 4:7; 19:28; Joh 4:6; Mat 8:24; Rom 8:3; Heb 5:8; 2:10,18; Gal 4:4
(6) Isa 53:9; Luk 1:35; Joh 8:46; 14:30; Rom 8:3; 2Co 5:21; Heb 4:15; 7:26; 9:14; 1Pe 1:19; 2:22; 1Jo 3:5
(7) Rom 1:3-4; 9:5
(8) See ref.1 above
(9) Act 2:22; 13:38; 17:31; 1Co 15:21; 1Ti 2:5
(10) Rom 1:3-4; Gal 4:4-5; Phi 2:5-11

8.3 The Lord Jesus, his human nature thus united to the divine in the person of the Son, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit without limit, so in him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. It pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell in him, so that being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, he might be perfectly qualified to execute the office of a mediator and surety.¹ He did not take this office upon himself, but was called to it by his Father, who also put all power and judgment in his hands, and commanded him to execute these.²

(1) Psa 45:7; Col 1:19; 2:3; Heb 7:26; Joh 1:14; Act 10:38; Heb 7:22
(2) Heb 5:5; Joh 5:22,27; Mat 28:18; Act 2:36

8.4 The Lord Jesus undertook this office entirely willingly.¹ To discharge it he was subject to the law ² and perfectly fulfilled it. He also underwent the punishment due to us which we should have borne and suffered.³ He was made sin and was accursed for us;⁴ he endured the extremities of agonizing distress in his soul and painful suffering in his body.⁵ He was crucified, and died,⁶ and remained in the state of the dead, yet his body did not decay.⁷ On the third day he rose from the dead with the same body in which he had suffered,⁸ with which he also ascended into heaven,⁹ where he sits at the right hand of his Father making intercession [for his people].¹⁰ At the end of the world he will return to judge human beings and angels.¹¹

(1) Psa 40:7-8 with Heb 10:5-10; Joh 10:18; Phi 2:8
(2) Gal 4:4
(3) Mat 3:15; 5:17
(4) Mat 26:37-38; Luk 22:44; Mat 27:46
(5) Mat 26-27
(6) WCF adds: was buried
(7) Phi 2:8; Act 13:37
(8) Joh 20:25,27
(9) Act 1:9-11
(10) Rom 8:34; Heb 9:24
(11) Act 10:42; Rom 14:9-10; Act 1:11; Mat 13:40-42; 2Pe 2:4; Jude 1:6

8.5 The Lord Jesus has fully satisfied the justice of God ¹ by his perfect obedience and his once-for-all sacrifice ² which he offered up to God through the eternal Spirit.³ He has procured reconciliation,⁴ and has purchased an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven ⁵ for all those whom the Father has given to him.⁶

(1) Rom 3:25-26; Heb 2:17; 1Jo 2:2; 4:10
(2) Rom 5:19 Eph 5:2
(3) Heb 9:14,16; 10:10,14
(4) 2Co 5:18-19; Col 1:20-23
(5) Heb 9:15; Rev 5:9-10
(6) Joh 17:2

8.6 Although the price¹ of redemption was not actually paid² by Christ till after his incarnation, yet its value, efficacy, and benefits were communicated to the elect in all ages from the beginning of the world.³ This was accomplished through those promises, types, and sacrifices in which he was revealed and represented as the seed of the woman who should bruise the serpent’s head,⁴ and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world,⁵ for he is the same, yesterday and today and for ever.⁶

(1) WCF: work
(2) WCF: wrought
(3)Gal 4:4-5; Rom 4:1-9
(4) Gen 3:15; 1Pe 1:10-11
(5) Rev 13:8
(6) Heb 13:8

8.7 In his work of mediation, Christ acts according to both natures, in each nature doing that which is appropriate to itself. Yet, because of the unity of his person, that which is appropriate to one nature is sometimes in Scripture attributed to the person indicated by the other nature.¹

(1) Act 20:28; Joh 3:13

8.8 To all those for whom Christ has obtained¹ eternal redemption, he certainly and effectually applies and communicates this redemption,² making intercession for them.³ He unites them to himself by his Spirit,⁴ he reveals to them the mystery of salvation in and by the Word,⁵ he persuades them to believe and obey⁶ controlling their hearts by his Word and Spirit,⁷ and he overcomes all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom⁸ using methods and ways which are perfectly consistent with his wonderful and unsearchable providence.⁹ All this is by free and absolute grace, without any foreseen condition in them to obtain it.¹⁰

(1) WCF: purchased
(2) Joh 6:37,39; 10:15-16; 17:9
(3) 1Jo 2:1-2; Rom 8:34
(4) Rom 8:1-2
(5) Joh 15:13,15; 17:6; Eph 1:7-9
(6) 1Jo 5:20
(7) Joh 14:6; Heb 12:2; Rom 8:9,14; 2Co 4:13; Rom 15:18-19; Joh 17:17
(8) Psa 110:1; 1Co 15:25-26; Col 2:15
(9) Eph 1:9-11
(10) 1Jo 3:8; Eph 1:8

8.9 This office of Mediator between God and the human race belongs exclusively to Christ, who is the Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church of God. This office may not be transferred from him to any other, either in whole or in part.¹

(1) 1Ti 2:5

8.10 The number and order of offices is essential. Because of our ignorance we need his prophetic office.¹ Because of our alienation from God and the imperfection of the best of our service we need his priestly office to reconcile us and present us to God as acceptable.² Because of our antagonism and our utter inability to return to God, and because we need to be rescued and kept from spiritual enemies, we need his kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, sustain, deliver, and preserve us for his heavenly kingdom.³

(1) Joh 1:18
(2) Col 1:21; Gal 5:17; Heb 10:19-21
(3) Joh 16:8; Psa 110:3; Luk 1:74-75

Chapter 1: The Holy Scriptures
Chapter 2: God and the Holy Trinity
Chapter 3: God’s Decree
Chapter 4: Creation
Chapter 5: Divine Providence
Chapter 6: The Fall, Sin and its Punishment
Chapter 7: God’s Covenant
Chapter 8: Christ the Mediator
Chapter 9: Free Will
Chapter 10: Effectual Calling
Chapter 11: Justification
Chapter 12: Adoption
Chapter 13: Sanctification
Chapter 14: Saving Faith
Chapter 15: Repentance to Life and Salvation
Chapter 16: Good Works
Chapter 17: The Perseverance of Believers
Chapter 18: The Assurance of Grace and Salvation
Chapter 19: The Law of God
Chapter 20: The Gospel and its Gracious Extent
Chapter 21: Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
Chapter 22: Worship and the Lord’s Day
Chapter 23: Lawful Oaths and Vows
Chapter 24: Civil Government
Chapter 25: Marriage
Chapter 26: The Church
Chapter 27: The Fellowship of Believers
Chapter 28: The Ordinances
Chapter 29: Baptism
Chapter 30: The Lord’s Supper
Chapter 31: The State of People after Death and the Resurrection of the Dead
Chapter 32: The Last Judgment
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