Sunday, February 12, 2017

The Summary of God's Covenant of Redemption

The compilers of the famous Westminster Confession of Faith (1647) spelled out what the eternal triune God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, had in mind before He created creation.

The Father promises to the Son a people innumerable, upon condition that the Son becomes like them in every way apart from their sin, and lays down His human life for them, to redeem them from the just punishment of their sins.

"The sum of the Covenant of Redemption is this: God having freely chosen unto life a certain number of lost mankind, for the glory of His rich grace, did give them, before the world began, unto God the Son, appointed Redeemer, that, upon condition He would humble himself so far as to assume the human nature, of a soul and a body, unto personal union with His divine nature, and submit Himself to the Law, as surety for them, and satisfy justice for them, by giving obedience in their name, even unto the suffering of the cursed death of the cross, He should ransom and redeem them all from sin and death, and purchase unto them righteousness and eternal life, with all saving graces leading thereunto, to be effectually, by means of His own appointment, applied in due time to every one of them. This condition the Son of God (who is Jesus Christ our Lord) did accept before the world began, and in the fullness of time came into the world, was born of the Virgin Mary, subjected Himself to the Law, and completely paid the ransom on the cross: But by virtue of the foresaid bargain, made before the world began, He is in all ages, since the fall of Adam, still upon the work of applying actually the purchased benefits unto the elect; and that He does by way of entertaining a covenant of free grace and reconciliation with them, through faith in Himself; by which covenant, He makes over to every believer a right and interest to Himself, and to all His blessings."

Excerpted from "The Sum of Saving Knowledge, Head II."