Author: Reformed Baptista

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 135

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Day 135

Of Christ the Mediator.

Chapter 8, Paragraph 2.

“…yet without sin:…“

Scripture Lookup

Romans 8:3

Hebrews 2:14,16,17

Hebrews 4:15

Reflection

How can someone be a human and not sin? We have never seen for ourselves what living a sinless life looks like. Everyone around us sins. We sin. Think of the best person on the planet today – guess what? They still sin. “Nobody’s perfect,” seems to be a universally acknowledged fact. Yet Jesus lived a sinless life. He was – and is – perfect.

Taking on human nature, the Son of God took upon Himself all the essential properties of being human. He had flesh and blood; he had a soul; as a human, He was made in the image of God. He also experienced weakness: fatigue, hunger, sadness. In all of that, though, He never sinned. When the Confession says “yet without sin”, it means that Jesus lived His life in perfect obedience to God’s law. Not one time did He break a commandment intentionally or inadvertently. His life was fully conformed to the law of God, in word, deed and thought.

Does it matter that Jesus was without sin? Yes! A sinful Jesus would be under the curse of Adam and Eve, since He would have inherited the corrupted nature. A sinful Jesus could not atone for others’ sins, as He would have to atone for His own. But since Jesus is sinless, we have a perfect, spotless Lamb who fulfills the law’s demands on our behalf.

Questions to Consider

  • How does Jesus’ sinless life affect you?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 134

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Day 134

Of Christ the Mediator.

Chapter 8, Paragraph 2.

“The Son of God, the second Person in the Holy Trinity, being very and eternal God, the brightness of the Father’s glory, of one substance and equal with him: who made the World, who upholdeth and governeth all things he hath made: did when the fullness of time was come take upon him man’s nature, with all the Essential properties, and common infirmities thereof,…“

Scripture Lookup

John 1:14

Galatians 4:4

Reflection

Attacking the nature of Christ is the norm for numerous cults that claim to be “Christian”. Of course, they don’t say they are attacking his nature; they vehemently promote their “truth”. These heresies are not new; they have been circulating since the first century. How do we combat them? By knowing to the best of our ability who our Savior truly is.

The Son of God is God. He, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit, compose the Trinity. Even though He is the only begotten Son of the Father, He is not inferior to Him. This is the almighty Son, who created all things, and continues to uphold and direct all things! He, like the Father and Spirit, is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, infinite in being and perfection. You cannot exalt the Son too highly.

Knowing the true nature of the Son, that He is fully God and thus far beyond our limits, we turn to that point in time, ordained since the beginning, where the Son takes upon Himself human nature. He does not appear as a man; He is a man. While fully God, He is also fully man. He is born; He thirsts; he hungers; He grows weary. What it means to be human, He is. He shares in our common infirmities.

Questions to Consider

  • How is the Son God? How is the Son like us when He took on human flesh?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 133

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Day 133

Of Christ the Mediator.

Chapter 8, Paragraph 1.

“…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 Lookup

Isaiah 53:10

John 17:6

Romans 8:30

Reflection

Christian, you are a gift.

I don’t mean in a “you’re such an awesome person” kind of way. After all, you are fallen in Adam, and although you are being made holy through the Holy Spirit’s work in you, you still have that lingering corrupt nature. We learned all about that back in chapter 7 of the Confession.

We also know that if we are Christians, we have been appointed to eternal life by God. Back in chapter 3, we learned that God chose a people out of His mere free grace and love. These people are redeemed by Christ, called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved. We read that already. So why repeat it in this chapter? Is anything different mentioned?

Adding to our knowledge of the saving work of Christ are these words: “unto whom He did from all eternity give a people to be his seed”. The Father, when He and the Son made the Covenant of Redemption, gave a people to the Son. All those who have believed in Christ are a gift from the Father to the Son. Jesus’ redeeming work on earth was not done so that some people might belong to Him. The Father ensured that there would be a people for Christ.

Christian, you are part of a people gifted to Jesus by the Father. You are born again to be His offspring, adopted by God. The attention to detail given concerning your salvation, as well as the salvation of the rest of the elect, leaves no room for error. Your salvation is secure; the Trinity has seen to it. You are a gift. Rejoice in that!

Questions to Consider

  • How secure is your salvation, if the Father has given you to Jesus?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 132

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Day 132

Of Christ the Mediator.

Chapter 8, Paragraph 1.

“…and judge of the world:…“

Scripture Lookup

Acts 17:31

Reflection

“He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead…” – Nicene Creed

No one likes to be judged. Even the verb “judge” has the connotation of disapproval; rarely do you hear it used in cheerful conversation. When someone says “Don’t judge me!” they are really saying, “Don’t tell me my actions are wrong, since you don’t know my motivations or circumstances, nor do you have any moral high ground to decide my actions are wrong.”

When Jesus comes to judge the world, the cry of “Don’t judge me!” will fall silent. This judge has every right to determine what actions are wrong, for He has ruled what is right and wrong. He knows our motivations, for “the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword,… and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrew 4:12) He knows your circumstances because He decreed that they come to pass. He has the ultimate moral high ground to judge, for He walked this earth, tempted in every way that we are, yet He did not sin.

God chose and ordained His Son, Jesus, to judge the world. And the world will be judged – there is no free pass. No one will be able to stand on their own righteousness before Him, for all have sinned. Yet this righteous Judge, through His mercy and grace, has paid the penalty for sinners who have faith in Him. As His elect, we can look forward to His judging, for His righteousness covers us, and that righteousness is perfectly holy.

Questions to Consider

  • What is your reaction to Jesus as judge?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 131

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Day 131

Of Christ the Mediator.

Chapter 8, Paragraph 1.

“…the heir of all things,…“

Scripture Lookup

Hebrews 1:2

Reflection

God ordained Jesus, His only begotten Son, to be the heir of all things. All things, not just an earthly kingdom to rule, or governance of a spiritual realm, or even a little planet in the cosmos. Every last particle is to be Christ’s. A man with that much power, and yet we can fully trust Him, for He is good. It is astounding to contemplate.

How much the Father values the Son! “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” is repeated several times in the New Testament. God exalted Christ so highly for His work on our behalf that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. (Philippians 2:9-11) If the Father finds delight in Jesus, and appoints Him heir over all things, shouldn’t that tell us that Jesus is not someone to overlook in any way? Our world is so flippant about its blasphemy concerning Jesus. It is, sadly, to be expected from them. But shouldn’t the church be zealous for Jesus’ reputation just as the Father is? Yet how often is our savior, the heir of all things, taken for granted by His very own sheep? How often do Christians cheapen His name when they purchase plastic “Jesus” action figures or share visual misrepresentations of Him? Simply because the heir of all things humbled Himself to tabernacle among us does not mean we should be careless in how we refer to Him.

Since Jesus is the heir of all things, He is deserving of the utmost reverence. As His elect, we also ought to be that much more diligent in revering Him, for He shares that inheritance with us. Romans 8:16-17 states: “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,  and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” We are fellow heirs with Christ! We receive the blessings of His inheritance! May we be ever thankful for such a provision, and mindful of it when we are tempted to despair of any “lack” we experience in this life.

Questions to Consider

  • Do you long for Jesus to receive His full inheritance?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 130

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Day 130

Of Christ the Mediator.

Chapter 8, Paragraph 1.

“…Head and Savior of his Church…“

Scripture Lookup

Ephesians 1:22,23

Reflection

Ask people on the street who the head of the church is, and you would probably receive different answers. Some may say the Pope. Some may say their pastor, or elders. Some may point to their deacon board, or general assembly. Those answers would be incorrect. There is only one head of the church, and that is Christ.

Jesus is the only savior of His church. There is salvation in no one else, as Acts 4:12 states. He alone laid down His life for her, that she might live. The Christian owes His very existence as a Christian to Jesus. Even the name, “Jesus”, points to His role as savior of his church: “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) The church is His; her well-being He takes personally.

Since Jesus is our savior, it naturally follows that He is our Head. He alone is to lead the church. The church should not govern itself after the traditions and opinions of men, but is to follow the laws and directives given to us by Christ through His word. Are we, as His church, striving to follow His lead?

Questions to Consider

  • Do you prefer Jesus as savior or as head, rather than embracing both of His roles in your life?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 129

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Day 129

Of Christ the Mediator.

Chapter 8, Paragraph 1.

“…and King;…“

Scripture Lookup

Psalm 2:6

Luke 1:33

Reflection

Christ is King!

Out of the three offices that God ordained Jesus to fulfill, that of King seems to be the most well-known. While I know of churches titled “Christ the King”, and cards and posters that declare “Jesus is King”, I am hard-pressed to recall any poster extolling Jesus as priest. And with the multitudinous diversity of church names present here in the southern United States, I still have yet to see a church entitled “Christ the Priest”! The truth that Jesus is King can sometimes be so commonly declared that it may seem matter-of-fact to us. But there is nothing trite about Jesus’ reign.

Christians take comfort in knowing Jesus is king. But what is He king of? We know that since Jesus is fully God, He is sovereign over all things. Yet He is king of the elect in a special way. He subdues rebellious sinners and makes them willing subjects, ready to serve Him. As king He determines the laws of His kingdom. Through His perfect kingship, He protects His people, defends His people, and vanquishes His enemies.

Therefore, when we read that Jesus is King, we should not allow the commonality of that phrase to dull our affection for Him. Rather, our praise and allegiance should rise up within us! His rule is just and merciful. We can depend on Him to rule wisely, and need not fear to follow His commands. His protection of us is iron-clad; our enemies are surely doomed. What a majestic and mighty king!

Questions to Consider

  • Have you ever considered how Jesus is king?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 128

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Day 128

Of Christ the Mediator.

Chapter 8, Paragraph 1.

“…priest,,…“

Scripture Lookup

Hebrews 5:5,6

Reflection

Jesus was ordained by God to fulfill the role of a priest. Not only a priest, but a high priest, chief among all priests. What does Jesus do in His role as a great high priest?

Priests served as mediators between God and His people. In ancient Israel, they constantly offered up sacrifices on behalf of the people. Being men, they understood the frailties and weaknesses of men. Appointed by God, Jesus was not like the priests that sacrificed in the tabernacle and temple in the Old Testament. First of all, He was not of the tribe of Levi. Only descendants of Levi were to be priests. Yet God appointed Him priest according to the order of Melchizedek. The priests that worked in the temple offered up various sacrifices for sin daily; Christ offered Himself. The high priest in the Old Testament offered atonement for the people, but also had to atone for himself. Christ had no need to atone for His sins, because He had none. He willingly atoned for the sins of His people even though there was no obligation for Him to do so. The Levitical priests died and were replaced; Jesus lives forever, holding His priesthood permanently, interceding on behalf of His own.

Christ’s role as high priest as making Him aloof and far away from us. While He is in an exalted position, He is our mediator between us and God. He can sympathize with our weaknesses, because He was tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. We can boldly come to God through His perfect priestly role. Do not hesitate to avail yourself of Him for grace and mercy!

For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.

-Hebrews 7:26-28

Questions to Consider

  • Have you ever considered how Jesus is a priest?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 127

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Day 127

Of Christ the Mediator.

Chapter 8, Paragraph 1.

“… the prophet,…“

Scripture Lookup

Acts 3:22

Reflection

Jesus was ordained to fulfill many roles. One of those roles is that of prophet. How is Jesus a prophet? He is a prophet in that He brings the Word of God to the people. The gospel of John calls Him “the Word”, and “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) He revealed the will of the Father. (John 6:40) Several times He declared that He spoke not on His own initiative, but on behalf of His father. The Father Himself called people to listen to the words Jesus spoke: “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:5) It was Jesus that expounded the Scriptures to the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus thus fulfilled the role of prophet, and continues to do so today. (Hebrews 1:1)

Questions to Consider

  • Have you ever considered how Jesus is a prophet?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 126

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Day 126

Of Christ the Mediator.

Chapter 8, Paragraph 1.

“It pleased God in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus his only begotten Son, according to the Covenant made between them both, to be the mediator between God and man;…“

Scripture Lookup

Isaiah 42:1

1 Peter 1:19,20

Reflection

Torn from communion with God due to Adam’s disobedience, mankind cannot enjoy fellowship with God without intervention. Thankfully, God was pleased to send a mediator, someone who would reconcile sinners with God. That someone was Jesus.

God the Father was pleased to choose his only begotten Son as the savior of the elect. The Son was pleased to go, willingly laying aside His glory and humbling Himself to become a man. This covenant of redemption between them paved the way for the covenant of grace, where sinners obtain eternal life and salvation through faith in Christ.

When the fully divine Son was clothed in human flesh and became man, He was named Jesus, for “He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Jesus is wholly unique, for no one else is fully God and fully man. Only Jesus was ordained to be the mediator between God and man. He is alone in His perfect obedience to the law, and His atoning sacrifice is solely sufficient for sinners. He is the One to look to for strength in our walk as Christians, because He has done it, and done it perfectly. There never has been and never will be anyone like Him.

For all His uniqueness, however, Jesus has much in common with His people. He was chosen from eternity past by God for His purposes. He experienced life as a human: growing, learning, eating, sleeping. He was tempted in every way as we are, but without sin. He understands the frailty of the human body, because His body experienced death. Thus He is the perfect One to sympathize with our weaknesses, because He’s been there. There never has been and never will be anyone who can relate to us like Him.

Questions to Consider

  • Have you pondered how Jesus is the perfect mediator between God and man?