Lord’s Day 6
Q18. But who is this mediator who is at the same time true God and a true and righteous man?
Our Lord Jesus Christ, who was given to us for complete redemption and righteousness.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Matthew 1:21–23
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
Luke 2:11
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
1 Timothy 2:5
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
1 Timothy 3:16
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
1 Corinthians 1:30
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”
Commentary — Zacharias Ursinus (1616)
We have now shown what kind of a Mediator it is necessary for us to have. The next question which claims our attention is, "Who is this Mediator?" That this Mediator is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, manifested in the flesh, is proven by these considerations:
1. It became the Mediator to be very God, as has been shown. God the Father, however, could not be the Mediator; because he does not work through himself, but through the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Neither is the Father a messenger; because he is sent by no one, but himself sends the Mediator. Nor could the Holy Ghost be the Mediator; because he was to be sent by the Mediator into the hearts of the elect. Therefore, the Son alone is this Mediator.
2. It was necessary that the Mediator should have that which it became him to confer upon us. It became him, now, to confer upon us the right and title of the sons of God, which we had forfeited; that is, it became him to bring it to pass, that God might, for his Son's sake, adopt us as his children. This, however, Christ alone was able to effect, because he alone had the right thereof. The Holy Ghost had not this right, because he is not the Son. Neither did it belong to the Father, for the same reason; and also because it became him to adopt us among his children, through the Son. Therefore, the Word, who is the natural Son of God, is alone our Mediator, in whom, as in the first begotten, we are adopted as the sons of God, as it is said: "If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." "As many as received him, to them he gave the power to be called the sons of God." "Unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ." "He hath made us to be accepted in the Beloved." (John 8:36; 1:12. Eph. 1:5, 6.)