Chapter 8: Of Christ The Mediator (Part 2)

Understanding The Westminister Confession of Faith
Chapter 8:
Of Christ The Mediator (Part 2)

In this second and final part on chapter 8 of the WCF on Christ as Mediator we will look at the “offices” He had to fulfil in His mediatory role.

The 8th chapter of the WCF begins with this majestic statement about Christ: “It pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only-begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man, the Prophet, Priest, and King; the Head and Saviour of his Church, the Heir of all things, and Judge of the world; unto whom he did, from all eternity, give a people to be his seed, and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.”

G.I. Williamson in his commentary on this part of the Confession says that this teaches: (1) that God has, from eternity, chosen a definite number of Adam’s posterity to be saved through the redemptive work of Christ, (2) that he also, from eternity, promised to give these elect persons to Christ as the reward for his suffering, (3) that Christ engaged to perform and suffer all that was necessary to that end, (4) that this Messianic work required Christ to be the Prophet, Priest and King of his elect people as Head and Saviour of the Church, and (5) that he must also be heir and judge of the work.

We note that Christ in His Messianic work is required to be the Prophet, Priest and King. These are His offices.

The Prophet: The first appearance of the idea of the special prophet of God is in Deuteronomy 18:15, which contains the promise of a future prophet to whom the people are “to hearken”. As our prophet He reveals to us the will of God for our salvation. He not only did so when He was “in the days of his flesh” (i.e. while He was on earth) but also does so today.

The Priest: The word “priest” is first mentioned with reference to the mysterious Melchizedek (Gen 14:18). This is important because there is no record of his beginning or end. And the prediction of Psalm 110:4 is that Jesus would be a “priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” This indicates that He would have an eternal and unchangeable priesthood (Hebrews 7:24). As our priest He offered Himself as a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice and to reconcile us to God.

The King: The Lord God promised a line of descendants from David to the supreme King who would rule forever. As our King He subdues us to Himself, rules and defends us, and continues daily to do so as He causes the kingdom of darkness to recede and the kingdom of grace to advance on earth.

Don’t you want to praise God? And thank Him?

In Him,
Rev Robert Chew