Chapter 8.2, 3
March 5, 2013
ii. The Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon Him man's nature, with all the essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance. So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.
iii.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 fullness 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.
Who is Jesus Christ, the Mediator? In section two of this chapter we confess first of all that He is fully God: "the Son of God", the "second person of the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father." The language used in articulating the full divinity of Christ the Mediator reflects the early church's scriptural definition and defense of these truths. This is the confession of the Christian church of all ages and places; those who deny the full divinity of Christ preach "a different gospel" contrary to that of the Word of God. (Gal. 1:6-9)
The glorious mystery of the gospel is intimately wrapped up in the reality that "when the fullness of time was come" this same Son of God became fully man "taking upon Him man's nature, with all the essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin." Jesus Christ is just as fully human as you and me in every way except sin! Echoing the language of the Apostles' Creed, the Confession describes the Son's incarnation: "being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance." The incarnation was no negation of, or abandonment of His divinity; nor was it a temporary reality. Rather in Christ, "two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition or confusion." As such, the Confession reiterates that Christ in his person is "very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man."
In his incarnation, our Lord Jesus Christ was and is completely, perfectly constituted and prepared, "thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a Mediator and Surety." He is fully equipped in himself, fully sufficient for the great work of redemption to be done. Yet, while Christ is Mediator, the work of redemption is also that of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The confession describes this: "the Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified, 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 fullness should dwell... being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth." In taking up the "office of Mediator and Surety" by his incarnation the Son was not doing his own will "but the will of him who sent me." (John 6:38) The Father's eternal love, authority, and power stands behind our Mediator and our redemption in him. Praise our Triune God for his grace in Christ, the perfect, willing Savior!
Dr. WIlliam VanDoodewaard is Associate Professor of Church History at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and Visiting Professor of Church History at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
