Overview

The covenant of grace delivers “by a Redeemer” (Q20) — and this section presents Him. It names the Redeemer (Q21), confesses how the Son became man (Q22), expounds His threefold office of Prophet, Priest, and King (Q23–26), and traces His two estates of humiliation and exaltation (Q27–28). This is the catechism’s Christology, the heart of its gospel.

The Questions & Answers

Q21. Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect? A. The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.

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)

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14, ESV)

Further proofs: 1 Pet. 1:18–19; John 1:1; Col. 2:9; Heb. 13:8.

Q22. 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 soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“…The Holy Spirit will come upon you… therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35, ESV)

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4:15, ESV)

Further proofs: Gal. 4:4; Heb. 2:14, 17; Phil. 2:7.

Q23. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer? A. Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.

Q24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.

Q25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest? A. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual intercession for us.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“…he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Heb. 9:26, ESV)

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:25, ESV)

Further proofs: Heb. 2:17; 9:28; 1 John 2:1–2; John 1:18; Deut. 18:15; Acts 3:22.

Q26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king? A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’” (Ps. 110:1, ESV)

Further proofs: 1 Cor. 15:25; Isa. 33:22; Acts 12:17; Col. 1:13.

Q27. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist? A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

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

Further proofs: Luke 2:7; Gal. 4:4; Isa. 53:2–3; Matt. 27:46; 1 Cor. 15:3–4.

Q28. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation? A. Christ’s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“…God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.” (Phil. 2:9, ESV)

Further proofs: 1 Cor. 15:4; Mark 16:19; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Rom. 8:34; Eph. 1:20.

Exposition: Q21–22 confess the incarnation: the eternal Son took “a true body, and a reasonable soul,” conceived by the Spirit, born of Mary, “yet without sin” — fully God and fully man in one person forever, the only possible Mediator. Q23–26 give the munus triplex, the threefold office: as Prophet He reveals God’s saving will, as Priest He offers Himself and intercedes, as King He subdues, rules, defends, and conquers. Q27–28 trace His path from the depths (born low, under the law, bearing wrath and the cursed cross, buried) to the heights (risen, ascended, enthroned, returning to judge) — the pattern of humiliation then exaltation that Philippians 2 celebrates.

Connections

• WLC Q36–56 — Christ the Mediator; the two natures; the offices of prophet, priest, and king; the estates of humiliation and exaltation, expounded at length.
• WCF 8 (Of Christ the Mediator) — the full doctrine.
• Loci: Christology (person and natures); the threefold office; the two estates; the atonement.

Pastoral & Practical Significance

Christ’s threefold office meets the believer’s threefold need. As sinners ignorant of God, we need a Prophet to teach us — and Christ reveals the Father’s saving will. As guilty before God, we need a Priest to atone and intercede — and Christ has offered Himself once for all and ever lives to pray for us. As enslaved to sin and beset by enemies, we need a King to rescue and rule us — and Christ subdues us, defends us, and conquers all our foes. And His two estates encourage us: because He descended into our humiliation — born low, tempted, bearing wrath and the cursed cross — He sympathizes with our weakness; because He ascended to exaltation — risen, enthroned, returning — our salvation is secure and our future certain. Whatever you need, you will find it in this Redeemer.

For Memory & Reflection

• Memorize Q21 and Q25 especially; anchor verses: 1 Timothy 2:5 and Hebrews 7:25. The threefold-office answers (Q24–26) are short and worth committing too.
• Which of Christ’s offices — Prophet, Priest, King — do I most neglect to rest in?
• Trace Christ’s path from humiliation (Q27) to exaltation (Q28). How does His descent comfort me, and His exaltation assure me?