Thoughts on the
Second London Baptist Confession
Chapter 8: Of Christ the Mediator Part 1
By Brian Pendleton
“THEN I SAID, 'BEHOLD, I HAVE COME,
IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME,
TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.'”
— Hebrews 10:7 (LSB)
Read Chapter 8 of the 2LBC Paragraph 1
God’s plan to save sinners was not plan B. It wasn’t something He came up with as a response to Adam’s failure. The LORD planned in eternity past to redeem a people for Himself, “. . .who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity. . .” (2 Timothy 1:9). Notice how our confession starts this chapter: “It pleased God. . .” What is to follow is an explanation of what “pleased God”. “It pleased God. . . to choose and ordain. . . his only begotten Son. . . to be the Mediator. . .” It pleased the Father to choose His Son to be the Mediator between God and man, and He accomplished this by way of Covenant. “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. . .” (1 Timothy 2:5). To be a mediator is one who acts to reconciles two parties. The Son of God was ordained to the office of mediator before the foundations of the earth were laid. In this role Christ functions as a prophet, priest, and king. As a Prophet, He mediates on behalf of God, declaring His will to His people. As a Priest, He mediates on behalf of man, offering up Himself as a sacrifice to God and reconciling His people to the
Father. As a King, He rules on behalf of God over His people protecting and defending them from all His and their enemies. The purpose of Christ’s office is to redeem, call, justify, sanctify, and glorify a people for Himself. “and those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified.” (Romans 8:30).