The Westminster Larger Catechism
Questions 36—45: On the Lord Jesus Christ, the
Mediator
of the Covenant of
Grace
Q. 36. Who is the Mediator of the covenant of
grace?
A. The only Mediator of the covenant of grace is
the Lord Jesus Christa, who, being the eternal
Son of God, of one substance and equal with the Fatherb,
in the fulness of time became manc, and so was
and continues to be God and man, in two entire distinct natures, and
one person, for everd.
a 1 Tim. 2:5 b
John 1:1,14; John 10:30; Phil. 2:6 c Gal. 4:4 d
Luke 1:35; Rom. 9:5; Col. 2:9; Heb. 7:24,25
Q. 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 soula,
being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the
Virgin Mary, of her substance, and born of herb,
yet without sinc.
a John 1:14; Matt. 26:38 b
Luke 1:27,31,35,42; Gal. 4:4 c Heb. 4:15; Heb.
7:26
Q. 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 deatha;
give worth and efficacy to his sufferings, obedience, and intercessionb;
and to satisfy God's justicec, procure his favourd,
purchase a peculiar peoplee, give his Spirit to
themf, conquer all their enemiesg,
and bring them to everlasting salvationh.
a Acts 2:24,25; Rom. 1:4
compared with Rom. 4:25; Heb. 9:14 b Acts
20:28; Heb. 9:14; Heb. 7:25-28 c Rom. 3:24-26 d
Eph. 1:6; Matt. 3:17 e Tit. 2:13,14 f
Gal. 4:6 g Luke 1:68,69,71,74 h
Heb. 5:8,9; Heb. 9:11-15
Q. 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 naturea, perform
obedience to the lawb, suffer and make
intercession for us in our naturec, have a
fellow-feeling of our infirmitiesd; that we
might receive the adoption of sonse, and have
comfort and access with boldness unto the throne of gracef.
a Heb. 2:16 b
Gal. 4:4 c Heb. 2:14; Heb. 7:24,25 d
Heb. 4:15 e Gal. 4:5 f
Heb. 4:16
Q. 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 usa, and relied on by us, as the works
of the whole personb.
a Matt. 1:21,23; Matt.
3:17; Heb. 9:14 b 1 Pet. 3:6
Q. 41. Why was our Mediator called Jesus?
A. Our Mediator was called Jesus, because he
saveth his people from their sinsa.
a Matt. 1:21
Q. 42. Why was our Mediator called Christ?
A. Our Mediator was called Christ, because he was
anointed with the Holy Ghost above measurea; and
so set apart, and fully furnished with all authority and abilityb,
to execute the offices of prophetc, priestd,
and king of his churche, in the estate both of
his humiliation and exaltation.
a John 3:34; Ps. 45:7 b
John 6:27; Matt. 28:18-20 c Acts 3:21,22; Luke
4:18,21 d Heb. 5:5-7; Heb. 4:14,15 e
Ps. 2:6; Matt. 21:5; Isa. 9:6,7; Phil. 2:8-11
Q. 43. How doth Christ execute the office of a
prophet?
A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in
his revealing to the churcha, in all ages, by
his Spirit and wordb, in divers ways of
administrationc, the whole will of Godd,
in all things concerning their edification and salvatione.
a John 1:18 b
1 Pet. 1:10-12 c Heb. 1:1,2 d
John 15:15 e Acts 20:32 ; Eph. 4:11-13; John
20:31
Q. 44. How doth Christ execute the of office of a
priest?
A. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his
once offering himself a sacrifice without spot to Goda,
to be a reconciliation for the sins of his peopleb;
and in making continual intercession for themc.
a Heb. 9:14,28 b
Heb. 2:17 c Heb. 7:25
Q. 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 himselfa
and giving them officersb, lawsc,
and censures, by which he visibly governs themd;
in bestowing saving grace upon his electe,
rewarding their obediencef, and correcting them
for their sinsg, preserving and supporting them
under all their temptations and sufferingsh,
restraining and overcoming all their enemiesi,
and powerfully ordering all things for his own gloryk,
and their goodl; and also in taking vengeance on
the rest, who know not God, and obey not the gospelm.
a Acts 15:14-16; Isa.
55:4,5; Gen. 49:10; Ps. 110:3 b Eph. 4:11,12; 1
Cor. 12:28 c Isa. 33:22 d
Matt. 18:17,18; 1 Cor. 5:4,5 e Acts 5:31 f
Rev. 22:12; Rev. 2:10 g Rev. 3:19 h
Isa. 63:9 i 1 Cor. 15:25; Ps. 110 k
Rom. 14:10,11 l Rom. 8:28 m
2 Thess. 1:8,9; Ps. 2:8,9
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