Question 40. Why must the mediator be God and man in one person?

 

Question 40. Why must the mediator be God and man in one person?

Answer. The mediator who reconciles God and man must himself be God and man in one person, and this is so that God can accept the special work of awakening the divine and human for us as the work of the whole person, and we can rely on the work of the whole person.

 

The mediator mediates between God and man and brings about reconciliation. From God's perspective, the mediator becomes the Son of God and persuades God to reconcile sinners with God. That mediation is the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Now, sinners also die with the Son and ask for forgiveness for their sins.

The mediator speaks to sinners from the perspective of a human being. If you repent, God will forgive your sins. I died for your sins and was resurrected. If you repent and die with me, God will resurrect you with me and you can go to God. He mediates for sinners.

Reconciliation with God is the death of Jesus on the cross as a man and the resurrection of Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus' death on the cross comforts God, and Jesus' resurrection leads sinners to the kingdom of God. This is the role of mediator of Jesus Christ, who is both the Son of God and a man.