The Christian Worldview Project with Bro. Ezekiel Asis on Solus Christus

There’s no better way to start this year aright than to meditate upon the LORD JESUS CHRIST and the Christian Worldview Project does so since its first podcast in 2021 begins with a discussion on the person and work of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. The first part of this lecture was delivered last year and it focused on the Glory of the Person of Christ and we already had an overview of the Five Solas of the Reformation. Bro. Ezekiel left us with a message that, “Our salvation has infinite value because of the infinite value of Christ’s person.” The gloriousness of Christ’s work depends on the gloriousness of Christ’s person as the God-man.

In order to tune our hearts to the finished work of Christ, he gave emphasis on the glory of Christ’s person, the glory of the God-man. Our estimation of Christ’s once-and-for-all sacrifice will increase when we have a high view of who He really is.

This is the hypostatic union or the dual-nature of Christ. Truly, a denial of the deity of Christ is tantamount to denying the gospel and a denial of the humanity of Christ makes anyone an anti-Christ. We should uphold both since the value of Christ is worth more than all the creation in the cosmos combined and a soul that rejects Him is in danger of eternal perdition.

“Our salvation has infinite value because of the infinite value of Christ’s person.”

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CHRIST THE ONLY MEDIATOR

The second part of the podcast on Solus Christus focuses on the work of Christ. Since this topic is broad and it covers the salvific and sacrificial work of Christ, he dealt with Christ’s mediatorial work as the Prophet, Priest, and King. You can watch the full video here.

He started it with a quotation from Mark Jones, A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Jesus Christ, emphasizing on the continuation of Christ’s threefold office from his incarnation to the consummation,

"Christ not only retains his human nature in heaven—for the hypostatic union of the two natures is an indissoluble union that can never be broken—but he also retains his threefold office as prophet, priest and king until the consummation. So Christ’s work is the work of the prophet, priest, and king during his earthly humiliation and heavenly exaltation."

He placed the doctrine in the backdrop of Roman Catholicism’s denial of Christ’s sole mediatorship. Having quoted some of Rome’s theologians and popes, he showed that their denial of Christ’s exclusive mediation is based upon their doctrine on Mary. Their doctrine is that no grace is imparted to us except through Mary and no one can come to Christ except through His mother. This is the sharp distinction between Roman Catholicism, Christ plus Mary, and historical Protestantism, Christ alone.

A clear refutation of Rome’s doctrine is found in Luke 1:47 which shows Mary’s recognition of her need of the Savior, and John 2 which focuses on revealing the glory of Christ’s person and not of Mary. She cannot be a co-mediator since she is also a sinner who needs salvation. Only Christ fills the gap between God and men (1 Tim 2:15). As God, He alone has the power to represent God and as man, He alone can represent men. In Christ’s exclusive role as the Mediator between God and men, He is the Prophet, Priest, and King.

CHRIST THE PROPHET AS THE MEDIATOR OF THE WORD OF GOD

Christ executes his office as the Prophet through His Word. He shows it through:

• The Apostles, since their writings and words are in equal footing with that of the LORD JESUS CHRIST and they have the same authority (2 Peter 3:16, 1 Corinthians 7:10-12).
• The Canon of the Scriptures since Jesus Christ is the last prophet in the last days and the Scripture is already closed (Hebrews 1:1-3).
• The Church by the faithful proclamation of the gospel of those whom He called to preach (Romans 10:17).
• The Holy Spirit. Christ’s gift for the church is the Holy Spirit, the “Another Comforter”. His work is to guide the people of God into all the truth and to glorify Christ (John 16:13-14). So the Spirit’s presence is with His people whenever Christ is exalted, and Christ the Prophet speaks through the preacher every Lord’s day when His Word is faithfully preached.

CHRIST THE PRIEST AS THE MEDIATOR OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

This office deals with the active and passive obedience of Christ. Christ’s active obedience is shown in His perfect life by fulfilling and satisfying the perfect righteousness required by the law of God (Galatians 4:4-6, Romans 5:19, Philippians 2:7, Hebrews 2:10). Christ’s passive obedience is displayed when He took the penalty and curse of the law upon Himself by suffering on the cross on behalf of His people. His life and death is substitutionary, this is the great exchange!

Christ not only fulfilled this office in His active and passive obedience but also in His present intercession (Hebrews 7:25). Bro. Ezekiel rightly argues that Christ’s intercession is the basis for why we are still standing right with God. We believe that our justification is absolute but we do not lose it because Christ is praying for us, He is praying for our justification, now. All of Christ’s blessings are communicated to us through Christ’s intercession.

This is really a source of comfort for the tempted, afflicted, tried, troubled, distressed, and persecuted saints. We may not be prayed for by other Christians but our loving Intercessor is praying for us. To know that Christ is praying for you and me is a great encouragement that we may persevere till the end.

CHRIST THE KING AS THE MEDIATOR OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

God’s kingdom rule is present because Christ is KING now. This is Christ’s mediatorial kingship. This kingship is given to Him. By virtue of His divinity, He is the King of kings, but by virtue of His works, obedience and death God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified (Acts 2:36).

“Christ alone is the Mediator between God and man ordained by God.”

Brother Ezekiel concluded the session by quoting one of the most popular Westminster puritans. Thomas Watson, from his book “A Body of Divinity” writes,

'Christ as mediator is filled with all majesty and honour, beyond the comprehension of the highest order of angels. In his humiliation he descended so low, that it was not fit to go lower; and in his exaltation he ascended so high that it is not possible to go higher In his resurrection he was exalted above the grave, in his ascension he was exalted above the airy and starry heavens, in his sitting at God's right hand he was exalted far above the highest heavens, "Far above all heavens." Eph. 4:10.'

May we faithfully confess and find comfort in Christ’s exclusive mediatorial work.

SOLI DEO GLORIA!