8. The Mediator of the Covenant of Grace (Qs 36-45)
36 Who
is the Mediator of the covenant of grace? A. The only Mediator of the covenant
of grace is the Lord Jesus Christ,(1) who, being the eternal Son of God, of one
substance and equal with the Father,(2) in the fulness of time became man,(3)
and so was and continues to be God and man, in two entire distinct natures, and
one person, for ever.(4)
(1)1 Tim.
2:5.
(2)John
1:1,14; John 10:30; Phil. 2:6
(3)Gal. 4:4
(4)Luke 1:35;
37 How
did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? A. Christ the Son of God became
man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul,(1) being conceived
by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary, of her substance,
and born of her,(2) yet without sin.(3)
(1)John 1:14;
Matt. 26:38.
(2)Luke
1:27,31,35,42; Gal. 4:4.
(3)Heb. 4:15; Heb. 7:26.
38 Why
was it requisite that the Mediator should be God? A. It was requisite that the
Mediator should be God, that he might sustain and keep the human nature from
sinking under the infinite wrath of God, and the power of death;(1) give worth
and efficacy to his sufferings, obedience, and intercession,(2) and to satisfy
God's justice,(3) procure his favour,(4) purchase a peculiar people,(5) give his
Spirit to them,(6) conquer all their enemies,(7) and bring them to everlasting
salvation.(8)
(1)Acts
(2)Acts
20:28; Heb. 9:14; Heb. 7:25-28.
(3)
(4)Eph. 1:6;
Matt. 3:17.
(5)Tit.
2:13,14.
(6)Gal. 4:6.
(7)Luke
1:68,69,71,74.
(8)Heb.
5:8,9; Heb.
39 Why was it requisite that the Mediator
should be man? A. It was requisite that the Mediator should be man, that he
might advance our nature,(1) perform obedience to the law,(2) suffer and make
intercession for us in our nature,(3) have a fellow-feeling of our
infirmities;(4) that we might receive the adoption of sons,(5) and have comfort
and access with boldness unto the throne of grace.(6)
(1)Heb. 2:16.
(2)Gal. 4:4
(3)Heb. 2:14; Heb. 7:24,25
(4)Heb. 4:15
(5)Gal. 4:5
(6)Heb. 4:16
40 Why
was it requisite that the Mediator should be God and man in one person? A. It
was requisite that the Mediator, who was to reconcile God and man, should
himself be both God and man, and this in one person, that the proper works of
each nature might be accepted of God for us,(1) and relied on by us, as the
works of the whole person.(2)
(1)Matt.
1:21,23; Matt. 3:17; Heb. 9:14.
(2)1 Pet. 2:6
41 Why
was our Mediator called Jesus? A. Our Mediator was called Jesus, because he
saveth his people from their sins.(1)
(1)Matt. 1:21
42 Why
was our Mediator called Christ? A. Our Mediator was called Christ, because he
was annointed with the Holy Ghost above measure;(1) and so set apart, and fully
furnished with all authority and ability,(2) to execute the offices of
prophet,(3) priest,(4) and king of his Church,(5) in the estate both of his
humiliation and exaltation.
(1)John 3:34;
Ps. 45:7.
(2)John 6:27;
Matt. 28:18,19,20.
(3)Acts
3:21,22; Luke 4:18,21.
(4)Heb.
5:5,6,7; Heb. 4:14,15.
(5)Ps. 2:6; Matt. 21:5; Isa. 9:6,7; Phil. 2:8-11.
43 How
doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? A. Christ executeth the office of a
prophet, in his revealing to the church,(1) in all ages, by his Spirit and
word,(2) and in divers ways of administration,(3) the whole will of God,(4) in
all things concerning their edification and salvation.(5)
(1)John 1:18.
(2)1 Pet.
(3)Heb.
1:1,2.
(4)John 15:15
(5)Acts 20:32; Eph. 4:11,12,13; John 20:31
44 How
doth Christ execute the office of a priest? A. Christ executeth the office of a
priest, in his once offering himself a sacrifice without spot to God,(1) to be a
reconciliation for the sins of his people;(2) and in making continual
intercession for them.(3)
(1)Heb.
9:14,28.
(2)Heb. 2:17.
(3)Heb. 7:25.
45 How
doth Christ execute the office of a king? A. Christ executeth the office of a
king, in calling out of the world a people to himself,(1) and giving them
officers,(2) laws,(3) and censures, by which he visibly governs them;(4) in
bestowing saving grace upon his elect,(5) rewarding their obedience,(6) and
correcting them for their sins,(7) preserving and supporting them under all
their temptations and sufferings,(8) restraining and overcoming all their
enemies,(9) and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory,(10) and their
good;(11) and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and obey
not the gospel.(12)
(1)Acts
15:14,15,16; Isa. 55:4,5; Gen. 49:10; Ps. 110:3
(2)Eph.
4:11,12; 1 Cor. 12:28
(3)Isa.
33:22.
(4)Matt
18:17,18; 1 Cor. 5:4.
(5)Acts
(6)Rev.
22:12; Rev. 2:10.
(7)Rev. 3:19.
(8)Isa. 63:9.
(9)1 Cor.
(10)Rom.
(11)Rom.
(12)2 Thess. 1:8,9; Ps. 2:8,9.