LBCF 1689 Reflections. Part 89

Reflections on the Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689. 23 Aug 14 began a perhaps unbroken, orderly, and personal journey through my favorite written confession of faith. This will be my personal reflections on this beloved written codification of the Christian Faith which is according to a Baptist flavor.

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Chapter 8, paragraph 4: “This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake, which that he might discharge he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfil it, and underwent the punishment due to us, which we should have borne and suffered, being made sin and a curse for us; enduring most grievous sorrows in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body; was crucified, and died, and remained in the state of the dead, yet saw no corruption: on the third day he arose from the dead with the same body in which he suffered, with which he also ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father making intercession, and shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world.”

The truth of what’s called “penal substitutionary atonement” is very much a part of Baptist history. It is a predominant part of Evangelical history. Jesus died in the place of sinners. He suffered from the hand of God the Father the wrath that rested upon all of the elect. He willfully came to do so.

He was born under the law, Galatians 4:4-5. He did so to give aid to the elect of Abraham. Hebrews 2:16. He was born, like all Jewish men, obligated to keep the Law of Moses to the letter. He, unlike all the rest, did so. Upon fulfilling it perfectly, he is called blameless according to it and instituted a new law. He’s sinless, and the only person born since Adam and Eve able to be said to be. In that perfect position, he is able to make a sacrifice acceptable to God for the sins of others. The triune God set these terms. Jesus fulfilled them. On the Cross, he became the very embodiment of sin to deliver many sinners. On the Day of Judgment, many sinners will go free having their death sentences commuted by having received the payment Christ made for their sin on the Cross.

Jesus was really murdered on the Cross. He truly died. He rose again bodily after three days. He was preserved from decay. That body he had up until his death for roughly thirty years was itself physically Resurrected unto eternal life. He was glorified later ascending into heaven before the face of his disciples. Acts 1.

Jesus’ Resurrection is the largest part of our assurance that he is who he says he is. When he came out of the tomb he conquered the one thing no one else ever did— death. All men should listen!

Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection are inextricably and eternally linked to his current mediation for his church. We are united to Christ through his works on earth. He is our intercessor for sin. Amen.