Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 38
Question 38
Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be God?
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; give worth and efficacy to his sufferings, obedience, and intercession; and to satisfy God's justice, procure his favor, purchase a peculiar people, give his Spirit to them, conquer all their enemies, and bring them to everlasting salvation.
Scripture references for paragraph 1
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Acts 2:24-2524But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches.
25David says about Him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Romans 1:44and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 4:2525He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.
Hebrews 9:1414how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
Acts 20:2828Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
Hebrews 7:25-2825Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
26Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.
28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Romans 3:24-2624and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
25God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.
26He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Ephesians 1:66to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.
Matthew 3:1717And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
Titus 2:13-1413as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
14He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Galatians 4:66And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
Luke 1:68-6968“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
Luke 1:7171salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
Luke 1:7474deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
Hebrews 5:8-98Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.
9And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
Hebrews 9:11-1511But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation.
12He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.
13For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean,
14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
15Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
Source and edition
Westminster Larger Catechism. NonlinearFruit/Creeds.json, Unlicense. Creeds.json, English transcription
Unlicense. Source transcription.
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