16/2/2021 14 16 Febuary 2021 WSC Session 14 Part II. Christ as Priest. Q. 25. How does Christ execute the office of a priest? 1 16/2/2021 Review Content for Session 13. 1. Review of Christ as Our Prophet 2. The Humiliation and Exaltation of Christ WSC Question 27, 28 3. WSC Question 25 4. The Centrality of Christ’s Priesthood in Salvation and Revelation History 5. Understanding Christ’s Roles through the OT Lenses—the Roles of OT Priest 6. Christ as Our Priest in His Humiliation and Exaltation 7. Implications 8. QnA Burial adapted from : 2 16/2/2021 Heb 9:5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Mercy Seat The Tabernacle Christ’s Priestly Role foreshadowed by Aaronic Priesthood • The priestly garment is for beauty and glory. • It says Holy unto God… The garments of the priests • reflect the honor and glory of God • to the people • as they represent his presence. 3 16/2/2021 Atonement, a Central Work of Christ as Priest kaphar) conveys the idea of covering, both in the , ָכּ ַפר) The Hebrew word for atone ◦ sense of covering to hide and also covering for someone (i.e., not charging someone with an offense or penalty) D. Brockway, “Atonement,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016). ◦ NT uses the word ἱλαστήριον, hilastērion meaning “the mercy seat” or “propitiation.” ◦ WCF uses the word “Satisfaction” ◦ Christ atoning work is complete: “It is finished!” Jn 19:230 Nature of Christ’s Atonement 1. Sacrifice:by one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy (Heb. 10:14). 2. Obedience: . so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. (Rom 5:19) 3. Penal Substitution: Christ who endured our punishment 4. Expiation: Removal of the guilt of sin. Psa 103:12 5. Propitiation: God’s wrath appeased. Rom 3:25 6. Reconciliation: From enmity to friendship with God. Rom 5:1-11 7. Redemption: Ransom paid to deliver us from slavery. 1 Cor 6:20 8. Conquest: Satan defeated and disarmed. Col 2:14-15 9. Expression of God’s love: That we may love one another 1 Jn 4:9-11 4 16/2/2021 The Extent of the Atonement: For Whom Did Christ Die? A doctrine plagued with Controversies, Complexities, Confusions, and Caricatures. 5 16/2/2021 Canon of Dort ◦ TULIP is supposedly a summary of the Canon of Dort ◦ Canon of Dort was the outcome of the first and last Ecumenical Reformed Synod held in 1618 to refute the 5 points where Arminianism contradicted Reformed teachings in the Remonstrance (1610). ◦ Canon of Dort is part of “the 3 Forms of Unity” subscribed to by the Continental Reformed Faith. The other two documents being the Belgic Confession and the Heidelberg Catechism. ◦ In England, Scotland and Ireland, the Reformed Faith subscribed to the Westminster Standards that was influenced by Continental Reformed Faith and Articles. Canon of Dort: The Second Main Point of Doctrine: Christ’s Death and Human Redemption through It ◦ Article 3: The Infinite Value of Christ’s Death ◦ The death of the Son of God is the only and most perfect sacrifice and satisfaction for sin, and is of infinite worth and value, abundantly sufficient to expiate the sins of the whole world. ◦ Article 6: Unbelief Man’s Responsibility ◦ And, whereas many who are called by the gospel do not repent nor believe in Christ, but perish in unbelief, this is not owing to any defect or insufficiency in the sacrifice offered by Christ upon the cross, but is wholly to be imputed to themselves. 6 16/2/2021 WCF Is a Nuanced Document! yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established. 7 16/2/2021 WCF 3.3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death. WCF 3.7. The rest of mankind, God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of his own will, whereby he extends or withholds mercy as he pleases, for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by, and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath for their sin, to the praise of his glorious justice. Positions on the Extent of the Atonement Included and Precluded by WCF ◦ Universalism-Liberalism (rejected by WCF) ◦ Conditional Universalism –Arminianism (rejected by WCF) ◦ Hypothetical Universalism a) Synod of Dort-sufficient and efficient (allowed by WCF) b) Amyraldism- Explains hypothetical Universalism with conditional predestination of salvation and absolute predestination of faith (rejected by WCF) ◦ Particularism(WCF) a) (ordained or bare) sufficient and efficient (not mentioned in WCF) b) Christ died only for the elect. 8 16/2/2021 Views on Atonement represented in Session minutes of Westminster Assembly Westminster Assembly (1643- 1652); Church of Scotland. General Assembly; Mitchell, Alexander Ferrier, 1822-1899; Struthers, John, 1815-1888. Minutes of the sessions of the Westminster Assembly of Divines while engaged in preparing their directory for church government, confession of faith, and catechisms .. (Kindle Locations 237-240). Edinburgh and London : William Blackwood and Sons. The pivotal text ◦ John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 9 16/2/2021 “I have spoken with an eminent Divine, yet living, that was of the Assembly, who assured me that they purposely avoided determining that Controversie, and some of them protest themselves for the middle way of Universal Redemption.” Richard Baxter (1615-1691), Certain Disputations, preface; Gatiss, “Deceptive Clarity,” 194. Positions on the Extent of the Atonement Included and Precluded by WCF ◦ Universalism-Liberalism (rejected by WCF) ◦ Conditional Universalism –Arminianism (rejected by WCF) ◦ Hypothetical Universalism a) Synod of Dort-sufficient and efficient (allowed by WCF) b) Amyraldism- Explains hypothetical Universalism with conditional predestination of salvation and absolute predestination of faith (precluded by WCF) ◦ Particularism(WCF) a) (ordained or bare) sufficient and efficient (not mentioned in WCF) b) Christ died only for the elect. 10 16/2/2021 Meaning of Limited Atonement ◦ Intent (Limited?) ◦ Extend (Unlimited) ◦ Application (Limited) Secret Things Belong to the Lord 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. ◦ Does the “all” refers only to the elect? ◦ God’s decretive vs preceptive will Luk 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 11 16/2/2021 But Jesus is not from the tribe of Levi, nor the son of Aaron! • Jesus is the son of David from the tribe Judah, how is He qualified as priest for His people? Heb 9:5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Mercy Seat The Tabernacle 12 16/2/2021 By Edward T. Welch, Created to Draw Near (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020), 22. By Welch, Created to Draw Near, 22. 13 16/2/2021 “The cumulative effect of the preceding parallels between the Garden of Genesis 2 and Israel’s tabernacle and temple indicates that Eden was the first archetypal temple, upon which all of Israel’s temples were based.” G. K. Beale, The Temple and the Church’s Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God, ed. D. A. Carson, vol. 17, New Studies in Biblical Theology (Downers Grove, IL; England: InterVarsity Press; Apollos, 2004), 79–80. Christ Transcends the Aaronic Priesthood David asked “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?” (Ps 24:3). Psa 110:1-4 A Psalm of David. The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” 14 16/2/2021 Christ as Priest in His Ascension and Exaltation • Christ ascension is the exalted stage of His incarnation. He fulfils Ps 24:3 • Christ ministers in the heavenly tabernacle itself foreshadowed by the Day of Atonement. He is our “hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain” (Heb. 6:19). • His ascension to God’s right hand proves His divinity: “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Heb 1:3). He has authority to forgive sins. • He has terminated the Aaronic priesthood and fulfilled the Melchizedek high priesthood with total definitive saving efficacy. He lives forever to make intercession for us based on His completed work and his never ending priesthood. Christ as Priest in His Ascension and Exaltation • He fulfilled the Aaronic Benediction in giving and sealing us with the Holy Spirit, to be with us forever, the fruit of His work and the evidence of His ascension and session. Acts 2:32-33 • He leads us now, the church, in congregational worship.