Walking Through Westminster, WCF 8.5-8

Westminster Confession of Faith 8.5-8

V. The Lord Jesus, by His perfect obedience, and sacrifice of Himself, which He through the eternal Spirit, once offered up unto God, has fully satisfied the justice of His Father; and purchased, not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for those whom the Father has given unto Him.

VI. Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after His incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefits thereof were communicated unto the elect, in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein He was revealed, and signified to be the seed of the woman which should bruise the serpent's head; and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world; being yesterday and today the same, and forever.

VII. Christ, in the work of mediation, acts according to both natures, by each nature doing that which is proper to itself; yet, by reason of the unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in Scripture attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.

VIII. To all those for whom Christ has purchased redemption, He does certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same; making intercession for them, and revealing unto them, in and by the word, the mysteries of salvation; effectually persuading them by His Spirit to believe and obey, and governing their hearts by His word and Spirit; overcoming all their enemies by His almighty power and wisdom, in such manner, and ways, as are most consonant to His wonderful and unsearchable dispensation.

Summary

Christ's work as Mediator between God and men was twofold, consisting of perfect obedience, and offering Himself as a sacrifice for sins. This He did through the Holy Spirit, offering to God a sacrifice which perfectly satisfied God's justice. No other sacrifice remains for sinners to be reconciled to God. This sacrifice He offered to the Father once on the cross. Hebrews 10:14 says, "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." This sacrifice is never repeated, nor is it repeatable. The Roman doctrine of the Mass being a perpetual sacrificing of Christ at best introduces confusion; at worst, it denies the once-for-all nature of Christ's perfect sacrifice. The sacrifice of Christ perfectly satisfies the justice of God, and so Christians need no repeated sacrifice, even with their repeated sins. 

Even though the sacrifice of Christ was once-for-all, never to be repeated, the virtues, effects, and benefits of His sacrifice were given to the elect, even before Christ's incarnation, through the types and signs God gave under the old covenant. The Bible makes two seemingly contradictory statements: the first is represented by Leviticus 4:20, "And he shall do with the bull as he did with the bull as a sin offering; thus he shall do with it. So the priest shall make atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them." The second statement is from Hebrews 10:4, "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins." 

God promises time-and-again in the Old Testament, that when the priests sacrificed the various sacrifices, atonement was made and the peoples' sins were forgiven. Yet, in the New Testament, we read that it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. The resolution is explained in section 8.6 of the confession. Although Christ had not yet entered the world as a man, nor offered the perfect sacrifice to the Father, God worked through the Old Testament sacrifices to give grace and forgiveness. While the blood of bulls and goats never took away sin, God accepted these sacrifices in light of Christ's sacrifice which was coming. Even though Jesus became man at a particular point in time and offered the perfect sacrifice at a particular time, the Father saw His work as eternally present. God could forgive sinners before Christ's sacrifice, because He saw the sacrifice which was coming as present. Some have described this reality using the imagery of money. God forgave the OT believers on credit, foreseeing the payment that would be made by Christ; God forgives the NT believers on debit, seeing the payment that Christ has already made for them. 

Christ applies the benefits of redemption to all of His elect people, of whom not one will ever be lost (John 10:28-29). He intercedes for them in heaven, always praying for them. He reveals salvation and its mysteries to them through His word. He effectually persuades them (meaning that His persuasion is always successful); He governs them in their hearts by His Spirit, according to His word; and He overcomes all of their enemies in His good time and in the way He pleases. This is what is always best for God's people, even when we do not understand His ways.

+ Blessings in Christ +