Overview

The longest doctrinal chapter and the heart of the Confession. It confesses Christ as the Mediator of the covenant of grace: the eternal Son who took our nature, two whole and distinct natures in one person; appointed to the threefold office of Prophet, Priest, and King; who perfectly fulfilled, suffered, and was raised, making a true satisfaction to God’s justice and purchasing reconciliation and an everlasting inheritance for all whom the Father gave Him. Every doctrine of grace rests here.

The Confession, Section by Section

8.1 — Christ appointed Mediator

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.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim. 2:5, ESV)

“…he chose us in him before the foundation of the world.” (Eph. 1:4, ESV)

Further proofs: John 17:6; Ps. 2:6–8; Isa. 42:1; Acts 17:31; Heb. 1:2.

Exposition: Christ’s mediation flows from the eternal covenant: the Father gave Him a people, and ordained Him to the threefold office. The “golden chain” (redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, glorified) is His to accomplish and apply for those given Him.

8.2 — The incarnation: two natures, one person

The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fulness of time was come, take upon him man’s nature, with all the essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin… 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.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, ESV)

“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (Col. 2:9, ESV)

Further proofs: Gal. 4:4; Heb. 2:14, 16–17; 4:15; Phil. 2:6–8; Luke 1:35; Rom. 9:5.

Exposition: This is the Chalcedonian confession: two whole natures, fully divine and fully human, “without conversion, composition, or confusion,” in one person. He is “very God and very man, yet one Christ.” Only such a Mediator can bridge the infinite distance (7.1) — divine enough to satisfy God’s justice, human enough to stand in our place.

8.3 — Furnished for the office

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 fulness should dwell.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“for he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.” (John 3:34, ESV)

Further proofs: Ps. 45:7; Col. 1:19; 2:3; Acts 10:38; Heb. 7:26.

Exposition: The man Christ Jesus was fully equipped by the Spirit for His saving work — perfectly holy, fully furnished with wisdom and grace.

8.4 — His willing obedience and humiliation

This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake; which that he might discharge, he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfil it; endured most grievous torments immediately in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body; was crucified, and died; was buried, and remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption. On the third day he arose from the dead, with the same body in which he suffered; with which also he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father, making intercession; and shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“…he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Phil. 2:8, ESV)

“Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (Rom. 8:34, ESV)

Further proofs: Ps. 40:7–8; John 10:18; Gal. 4:4; Matt. 26:37–38; Acts 2:24, 27; 13:37; 1 Cor. 15:3–4; Heb. 9:24.

Exposition: Christ’s work spans His humiliation and exaltation. He willingly came under the law and kept it (His active obedience), bore body-and-soul suffering, died, and rose bodily — then ascended, intercedes, and will return as Judge. His perfect law-keeping and His death together are the ground of justification (ch. 11).

8.5 — The satisfaction and purchase

The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of his Father; and purchased not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto him.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“…how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience.” (Heb. 9:14, ESV)

Further proofs: Rom. 5:19; Heb. 9:14–15; 10:14; Eph. 5:2; Dan. 9:24, 26.

Exposition: Christ’s obedience and sacrifice “fully satisfied” divine justice — penal substitution. He did not make salvation merely possible; He purchased a definite reconciliation and inheritance “for all those whom the Father hath given unto him” (the “L” of limited/definite atonement).

8.6 — The efficacy of redemption in every age

Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after his incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefits thereof were communicated unto the elect, in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices wherein he was revealed, and signified to be the seed of the woman.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” (John 8:56, ESV)

Further proofs: Gal. 4:4–5; Heb. 13:8; Rev. 13:8; 1 Cor. 10:4; Gen. 3:15.

Exposition: The cross is the hinge of all history. Old Testament believers were saved by the same redemption, applied in advance through the types and promises — Christ “the same yesterday and today and forever” (cf. 7.5–6).

8.7 — The communication of properties

Christ, in the work of mediation, acteth according to both natures; by each nature doing that which is proper to itself: yet, by reason of the unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in Scripture attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“…to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28, ESV)

Further proofs: John 3:13; 1 John 3:16.

Exposition: Each nature does what is proper to it (the divine cannot die; the human is not omnipresent), yet because there is one person, Scripture can speak of God purchasing the church “with his own blood.” This guards the unity of Christ’s person.

8.8 — Redemption certainly applied

To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption, he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same; making intercession for them, and revealing unto them, in and by the Word, the mysteries of salvation; effectually persuading them by his Spirit to believe and obey… overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me… I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14–15, ESV)

Further proofs: John 6:37, 39; 17:9; Rom. 8:9, 14; 1 John 5:20; Ps. 110:1.

Exposition: What Christ purchased He applies — none for whom He died is finally lost. He intercedes, reveals, persuades by the Spirit, and overcomes every enemy. Purchase and application are coextensive: the Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep and the sheep certainly follow.

Doctrinal Summary

The eternal Son was appointed Mediator of the covenant of grace and, in the fullness of time, took our nature — two whole and distinct natures, divine and human, inseparably united in one person. As Prophet, Priest, and King, He willingly fulfilled the law, satisfied divine justice by His perfect obedience and sacrifice, rose, ascended, and intercedes. He purchased a definite redemption for all the Father gave Him, communicated its benefits to the elect of every age, and certainly and effectually applies that redemption to each one. Christ is the sole and sufficient Mediator between God and man.

Connections

• WLC Q36–45 — Christ the Mediator; the two natures; His offices of Prophet, Priest, and King; His humiliation and exaltation.
• WSC Q21–28 — the Redeemer; how Christ is God and man; His threefold office; His estates of humiliation and exaltation.
• WCF 7 (Mediator of the covenant of grace), WCF 10–13 (the application of His benefits), WCF 11 (justification grounded in His obedience and satisfaction).
• Loci: Christology (person and natures) and the threefold office (munus triplex); the atonement (penal substitution, definite atonement).

Pastoral & Practical Significance

Everything the gospel offers, it offers in this person. Because Christ is fully God, His sacrifice is of infinite worth and His arm is strong to save to the uttermost. Because He is fully man, He sympathizes with your weakness, having been tempted as you are yet without sin (Heb. 4:15). Because He fully satisfied justice, there is no condemnation left for those in Him — the debt is paid, not merely deferred. Because He certainly applies what He purchased, the weakest believer is as safe as the strongest: the Shepherd who died for the sheep loses none. Look away from yourself to this Mediator; your assurance is as solid as His finished work.

For Reflection

• Which of Christ’s offices — Prophet, Priest, King — do I most neglect to rest in?
• If Christ “fully satisfied” God’s justice, what does that mean for the guilt I still carry?
• The Father gave Christ a people whom He certainly saves. How does definite atonement change the way I hear “I lay down my life for the sheep”?