CHAPTER XV.

OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE MEDIATOR, AND OF HIS THREEFOLD OFFICE.

THE nature of Christ the Mediator, human as well as divine, has been already defined.

The mediatorial office of Christ is that whereby, at the special appointment of God the Father, he voluntarily performed, and continues to perform, on behalf of man, whatever is requisite for obtaining reconciliation with God, and eternal salvation.*

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At the special appointment of God the Father. Isai. xlii. 1. behold my servant . . . mine elect in whom my soul delighteth.' Ixi. 1. Jehovah hath anointed me.' Hence he derived the name of Messias, of Christ, Psal. ii. of the messenger of the covenant, Mal. iii. 1. and of the advocate, 1 John ii. 1. we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ.' Psal. cx. 4. Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent.' Rom. iii. 25. whom God hath

set forth.' Heb. v. 4-6. 'so also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest.' x. 9, 10. 'I come to do thy will, O God. . . by the which will we are sanctified.' John iii. 16, 17. God gave his only begotten Son . . . God sent not his Son into the world to condemn-'. v. 34. God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.' vi. 27. him hath God the Father sealed.' x. 36. him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world.' Gal. i. 4. 'who gave himself. . . according to the will of God and our Father.'

Voluntarily. John xv. 9. as the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.' Rom. viii. 35. 'who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation,' &c.....' or sword?' Eph. iii. 19. the love of Christ which passeth knowledge.'

Whatever is requisite for obtaining reconciliation with God. Rom. v. 10. 'we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.' 2 Cor. v. 18, 19. all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ: God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself.' 1 John ii. 2. he is the propitiation for our sins.'

Eternal salvation.

Matt. i. 21. thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.' 1 Tim. i. 15. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' John i. 17. grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.' 1 John iv. 9. God sent his

only begotten Son into the world, that we might live

by him.' 1 Thess. v. 9. 10.

God hath not ap

pointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.'

The name and office of mediator is in a certain sense ascribed to Moses, as a type of Christ.* Gal. iii. 19. the law was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.' What the nature of his office was, is explained Acts vii. 38. this is he....who received the lively oracles to give unto us,' compared with Deut. v. 5. 'I stood between Jehovah and you at that time to show you the word of Jehovah.'

In treating of the functions of the Mediator, we are to consider his threefold office, as prophet, priest, and king, and his manner of administering the same.

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His office as a prophet is to instruct his church in heavenly truth, and to declare the whole will of his Father. Deut. xviii. 15. compared with Acts iii. 22. and vii. 37. Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee.' Isai. lxi. 1. Jehovah hath annointed me to preach,' compared with Luke iv. 18. Ezek. xxxiv. 23. I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David.' Zech. vi. 12, 13. behold the man..... he shall build the temple of Jehovah.' 'one is your master, even Christ.' man knoweth who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.' Rev. v. 7. 'he took the book.' Hence he is called 'counsellor,' Isai. ix. 6. and lv. 4. a witness, a leader and commander to the people.' John i. 9. 'that was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the

*

Matt. xxiii. 8. Luke x. 22. no

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world.' 1 Cor. i. 24. the wisdom of God.' Heb. iii. 1. the apostle of our profession.' xii. 2. the author and finisher of our faith.' xiii. 20. 'that great shepherd of the sheep.' Rev. i. 5. the faithful witness.' Heb. i. 2. God hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.' John i. 16-18. ' grace and truth came by Jesus Christ....the only begotten Son....he hath declared him.' iv. 25. when Christ is come, he will tell us all things.' xviii. 37. 'to this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.' xv. 15. all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you.'

did

His prophetical office consists of two parts; one external, namely, the promulgation of divine truth; the other internal, to wit, the illumination of the understanding. The former is mentioned Matt. iv. 17. from that time Jesus began to preach and to say—;' anu Mark i. 14. the latter Luke xxiv. 32, 45. not our heart burn within us....while he opened to us the Scriptures? then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures.' Acts xvi. 14. the Lord opened the heart of Lydia, that she attended unto the things that were spoken of Paul.' John viii. 12. I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.'

Christ's prophetical office began with the creation of the world, and will continue till the end of all things. 1 Pet. i. 10, 11. the spirit of Christ which was in them....when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ,' &c. iii. 19. by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.' John i. 10.

'he was in the world....and the world knew him not.' Matt. xxviii. 19, 20. 'go ye therefore and teach all nations....and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.' Acts i. 3. to whom also he showed himself alive after his passion....speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.' 2 Cor. xiii. 3. since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me.'

Christ's sacerdotal office is that whereby he once offered himself to God the Father as a sacrifice for sinners, and has always made, and still continues to make intercession for us.

Christ's sacerdotal office. Psal. cx. 4. thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. Zech. vi. 13. he shall be a priest upon his throne.' Heb. v. 10. called of God an high priest after the order of Melchizedek.' See also vii. 17, 20, 21.

Once offered; virtually, and as regarded the efficacy of his sacrifice, from the foundation of the world, as above stated; Rev. xiii. 8. actually in the fulness of time, and that once for all, Heb. vii. 27. ix. 25, 26, 28. Christ was once offered.' x. 10, 12, 14. by one offering.' 1 Pet. iii. 18. Christ hath once suffered for sins.'

Himself as a sacrifice. Isai. liii. 10, when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin.' Psal. xl. 6, 7. 'burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required: then said I, Lo, I come.' Eph. v. 2. Christ hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God.' Heb. ix. 14. who through the eternal Spirit offered himself.' Being God-man, he offered himself in that capacity; he who thought it not robbery to be equal with God, made himself of no reputation,' &c.