Eric Bechler's sermon, based on the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689, chapter 8, paragraph 1, explores the role of Christ as the mediator between God and man. It discusses God's divine sovereignty in choosing Jesus for this role, highlighting the necessity of a mediator due to sin's introduction through the fall. The sermon explains that a mediator reconciles contesting parties and emphasizes that Christ is the unique mediator because he is both true God and true and righteous man. It outlines Christ's fulfillment of the mediatorial offices of prophet, priest, and king, and his roles as the head and Savior of the church. Bechler underscores that Christ is the Savior of the elect, not all people, stressing that God has chosen a people for redemption before eternity, whom Christ redeems, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies. The sermon encourages believers to share the gospel, live sacrificially, and rely on Christ's intercession.

Our reading today from the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689 comes from chapter 8 of Christ the Mediator. Today we begin with 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 the two, to be the mediator between God and man, the prophet, priest and king, head and Savior of the 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. Today we start a new chapter of Christ's mediator. I don't believe this paragraph is overly complicated, but I do want to touch on a few points here.

Our paragraph begins, it pleased God to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus to be the mediator between God and man. First it pleased God. The psalmist declares our God is in the heavens, he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Psalm 115 3. The phrase it pleased God is the ultimate expression of God's divine sovereignty.

He is not constrained by human influence or laws or others decisions. God tells us in Isaiah 46 10, my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure. Just as he has done in creation explains John Gill and does in providence so he has done, can do, and does in grace, in predestination, in redemption, and in the effectual calling. Then we read that it pleased God to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus. When we read terms like choose and ordain, I think of election.

I'm also reminded of Paul's words about believers, just as he chose us and him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame in Ephesians 1-4. And Dr. Sproles states that through election, God begins to bring about his eternal plan of redemption. The first elected one is Jesus himself, the first born of many brethren. We'll read God's own words in Isaiah.

Behold my servant whom I uphold, my elect one, in whom my soul delights, Isaiah 42.1. Thus it pleased God to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus. But for what? To be the mediator between God and man. But what is a mediator?

A mediator is someone who intervenes between contesting parties for the purpose of reconciling them. Before the fall there was no need for a mediator. There was no sin in the world. Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden of Eden. They spoke directly with God.

They were in fellowship with Him, but the fall changed everything. Because they sinned, Because they had offended God, they now had a corrupted nature and were no longer able to be in God's presence. They were separated from Him. In fact, they were kicked out of the Garden of Eden. Subsequently, there was now a need for a mediator.

We've had many examples of mediators through the scripture. One such was Moses. He was seen as a mediator between God and the people of Israel. Deuteronomy 5 and Galatians 3 19, but he was not the kind of mediator we ultimately need. Paul answers the question, who then?

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1st Timothy 2 5. He's not just a mediator, he is the mediator. It is only through Christ and no one else that sinners may be reconciled to a holy God But why what makes Christ the the one and only mediator? The Heidelberg catechism states that the mediator between God and man must possess two very specific qualifications.

He must be a true and righteous man and he must be true God. Again, why? Why is this necessary? First, the justice of God requires that the same human nature which has sinned should make satisfaction for sin. However, a sinner cannot satisfy for others.

Therefore, the mediator must not only be truly man but also he must be perfectly sinless to offer a satisfactory acceptable sacrifice. Second that by the power of his Godhead he might bear in his human nature the burden of God's wrath. A mere human, even if sinless, would be crushed by the infinite weight of God's wrath against sin. Only a divine mediator has the power to sustain that wrath, to overcome death and restore to us righteousness and life. So who possesses both of these qualifications?

True God and true and righteous man. The man Christ Jesus. Our paragraph next speaks of Christ as prophet, priest, and king. I think we're all familiar with these offices or at least have heard of them. Throughout the Old Testament mediators held one of those offices.

Prophets would bring God's words to the people of Israel, speaking on behalf of God, many times even saying, thus saith the Lord. Priests ordained by God would work as mediators by offering intercessory prayers for the people. They spoke both to God for the people and to the people on behalf of God. Kings were also mediators bringing the rule of God to the people. They were ordained and instituted by God and they were held accountable to God for how they ruled.

We see that Jesus holds all three mediatorial offices. Peter in Acts 322 was reminding those in Jerusalem words for Moses pointing to Christ. For Moses truly said to the fathers, the Lord your God Will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever he says to you. Christ is prophet is the Word made flesh, revealing the will of God for our salvation through his word and spirit.

Then from Psalm 110 verse 4, the Lord has sworn and will not relent. You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Christ as our high priest is not only the once for all sacrifice to satisfy divine justice and reconcile us to God but continues to make intercession for us day by day. And from Psalm 2 6, yet I have set my king on my holy hill of Zion. Christ as king rules over the church in all creation.

His kingdom shall reign forever and ever. A. A. Hodges concludes, hence the mediatorial office involves all the three great functions of prophet, priest, and king, and Christ discharged them all, both in a state of humiliation and exaltation. The next point is Christ is spoken of as the head and savior of the church.

We all understand that Christ is the head of the church. That's very straightforward. We, those in the invisible church are the body of Christ and He is our head. Ephesians 1 22-23. As such, he leads the church as the head he loves the church Even giving his life in fact We point we point to how Christ loves the church as our example for husband and wife in their marriage Ephesians 5 23 through 24 Some of us saw that firsthand yesterday in a wonderful marriage ceremony.

But what is meant here by saying Christ is the Savior of the church. We know He is our Savior, but Savior of the church. I think the point that they're making here is to stress that Christ is not the Savior of all people. He's only Savior of those whom the Father has chosen before eternity and given to the Son. Christ is the Savior of the elect, not everyone." Ellicott comments on Ephesians 523, Christ is not only head but Savior of the body, meaning of His body, the church.

Not only teaching and ruling it, but by his unity and fusing into it the new life of justification and sanctification. This was the last point I wanted to discuss, that it was God who gave to his Son a people, a people to be redeemed, not everyone, not all people, only those whom He had chosen. John records Jesus' own words to His Father, I have manifested or revealed Your name to the men whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours. You gave them to me and they have kept your word." John 17 6.

God has before eternity chosen his people to be redeemed. Moreover whom he predestined, these he also called, and whom he called, these he also justified, and whom he justified, these he also glorified." Romans 830. And praise God for his redeeming work that has been accomplished by Christ. Because we are united to Christ the mediator, we all share to some degree, maybe in a small way in his offices. Are you speaking the truth of the gospel to your neighbors?

Are you sharing the words of life to who God places before you in your daily life? Are you offering yourself as a living sacrifice, sharing your gifts and talents to your church, to your family, to your community? Are you praying for others? If you'd like, you could join us on Wednesday night and lift up the prayers of the church. Are you ruling your home, washing your wife in the word, raising your kids in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

You're training them for first-time obedience. Are there times in your life you feel too sinful to pray that you've fallen again and you can't gain victory over some sin that you've struggled with. Don't despair, rather lean on the fact that Christ is interceding for you at this very moment. Amen.