Names of the Mediator, Jesus Christ – Wilhelmus Schortinghuis

About the Names of the Mediator, Jesus Christ

by Wilhelmus Schortinghuis


Question 1: How must the Mediator be known?

Answer: The Mediator must be known literally and experientially: with respects to (1) His names, (2) His natures, (3) His offices, (4) His states, and (5) His benefits.

Question 2: What names are given to the Mediator?

Answer: Different ones, according to the different relationships in which He is considered (Isa. 9:5), especially the name Jesus Christ (John 20:31).

Question 3: What does the name Jesus mean?

Answer: The name Jesus, given to Him on several occasions by God Himself (Luke 1:31; Matt. 1:21; Luke 2:21), and formerly borne by illustrious examples, originally meant keeper, deliverer, grantor of salvation, and savior (Matt. 1:21).

Question 4: Why is He called Savior?

Answer: Because He saves His people from the guilt of sin and punishment. He does this initially and perfectly (Matt. 1:21; Isa. 53:5; 1 Peter 3:18) through His virtuous life, in His active and passive obedience, and then through His application of salvation.

Question 5: Cannot that earning and application of salvation be separated?

Answer: No; since Jesus earned salvation, He also applies it (John 10:11, 28). This application does not depend on us, but on the powerful, irresistible work of His Spirit (Isa. 53:11).

Question 6: What kind of savior is God’s Son?

Answer: An only (Acts 4:12), sufficient (John 1:16), willing (John 6:37), eternal (Heb. 13:8), and perfect savior (Heb. 7:25)

Question 7: May each person believe that Jesus is his savior?

Answer: No one may believe that Jesus is his savior unless he is actually renewed and has experienced the saving power of Jesus in his heart (1 Cor. 12:3).

Question 8: Why is He called Christ — that is, anointed one?

Answer: Because He, like that true image of the anointed in the Old Testament (Ex. 30:30; 1 Sam. 24:7), was ordained by His Father from eternity as the surety and mediator of the elect. In time He was equipped, called, and anointed (Prov. 8:23; Ps. 45:8).

Question 9: When was Christ in His human nature equipped through the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

Answer: At His birth (Luke 2:40–52), His baptism (Matt. 3:16; Luke 4:1), and after His completed work of redemption (Acts 2:33).

Question 10: What are believers in Christ called?

Answer: Among many other names, believers were first called Christians in Antioch, named after Christ (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16).

Question 11: What else are believers called besides Christians?

Answer: Disciples (Isa. 54:13), subjects (Ps. 110:3), servants (2 Tim. 2:3), children (Isa. 43:6), Christ’s wife (Isa. 54:5), His brothers (Heb. 2:11), and members of Christ (2  Cor. 12:12).

Question 12: Who, then, is a Christian?

Answer: Not a mere confessor of Christ, but he who through faith is united with Christ (Eph. 3:17), partakes in spiritual anointing (1 John 2:20), and bears some likeness to Christ, his Head, in being anointed as prophet, priest, and king (Matt. 10:41; Rev. 1:6).