Sermons Vander Kam on HC Lord's Day 6
Q&A 18 & 19 Sermons Vander Kam on HC Lord's Day 6
Q&A 18 & 1918 Q. But who is that Mediator who is at once true God and a true, righteous man?
A. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.
19 Q. Whence do you know this?
A. From the holy Gospel, which God Himself first revealed in Paradise; afterwards published by the holy patriarchs and prophets, and foreshadowed by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law; and lastly fulfilled by His only begotten Son.
Beloved in the Lord; there are ever so many ways in which people are to be educated, in which they are to be trained. And this is an education that also goes on constantly and something that goes on with our children, but it also goes on with the young people and also with the adults. This is something that we also crave, do we not, in order that we may be educated evermore fully in the things concerning this world.
These are the kind of things that we expect and these are the things that we look for in order that we ever gain in that knowledge, because that knowledge is so very important. And at the same time that we also realize, do we not, that there are ever so many methods, methods of education that are long antiquated. There are certain methods that we no longer use, and the antiquated methods of yesteryear are those that are long past. And we look for ever new methods in order that we may educate evermore graciously and evermore properly.
And then we come to the Heidelberg Catechism which is the teacher of the Reformed churches and that is a catechete that is already 430 years old this year. And there we have certain methods of education that are given to us which also seem to be very antiquated. There are certain methods that are being used for example, when you come to that method concerning the Lord's Supper. And there it deals with it so very slowly, from one step to another, in order that we will also see what is involved in the Lord's Supper and what is involved in the eating and drinking of it. What is that which has been changed so radically at the time of the Reformation concerning this matter. So that there we begin to wonder as to the educational propriety of the Heidelberg Catechism. Then also when we come to this part here, in Lord's Day 5 and 6. In the first part, of course, there we have this, that it shows us our sin and misery. And that we are able to understand that it proceeds very slowly, from step to step, to show us how great our sin and misery is; that's necessary. Because we must know how great it is in order that we may also look for that salvation and that we may see that salvation in that light. And now when it comes to the matter of salvation, then there is practically no end to it, is there. Then we read in the fifth Lord's Day, for example, "since by the righteous judgment of God we deserve that punishment." Is there any way to escape? No, there isn't. "Can we ourselves make this satisfaction?" No, you can't. "Can it be found anywhere a mere creature to do it?" No, there isn't. "What manner of mediator and deliverer then must we seek?" One who is true God and true man. And then it goes on; why must He be true and righteous man? And then again; why must He be true God? There's no end to it, until finally we come to this, these two questions and answers that we have before us tonight, and that is; but who is that mediator, who is that one true God and man, righteous. And then the answer comes, of course, which any child here in the audience could have given them right from the start; our Lord Jesus Christ. That's the one. Why does it take so long, why is it so step by step, why is it almost torturous, until finally you come to this, that full light that is dawned, and that is, that that one and only Savior is our Lord Jesus Christ.
We speak to you tonight on, Our Mediator Made Known. In the first place we notice His identity; secondly, His qualifications; and thirdly, the testimony concerning Him.
So that, first of all, there is this matter concerning His identity, now who is it! Now this has been that torturous road in order that we may also see that there is no other. There is no other Savior, there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we are to be saved. There isn't any in Buddhism, there isn't any in Hinduism, there isn't any in Jewry, there isn't any in Muhammadanism, there's no one. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only one who fills the bill.
And those are the things that are important, especially in this day of compromise. In this day in which they are compromising it on every side and that is, that we must never think that we have a corner on the truth, that we are the only ones that have the truth. There are ever so many others also who are struggling for it and who have also obtained the truth. And these are the ones that are also to be listened to. And then the Catechism says, no, they are not -- they are not. There is only one way, and don't you see it, and that is the reason why it went so torturously slow. In order that we might see that there could not be any other. He must be a God-man; and no one has ever come up with that. No one. Because the very way in which the question is asked; in this translation it is not the best, but it is this, "But who is that mediator?", in other words, it is almost as though you have given up. But is there such a person; is there such a one? And then the answer that you would almost expect is this: "No, of course not." Of course not; how can you ever have someone who is both God and man at the same time! That has never happened. That did not happen in the time of the patriarchs or of the prophets, that did not happen with the holiest of men. They had never attained to this, that they were also God. Now then, how will you ever be able to find one that is both God and man, and that is the requirement. If He is not that, then you have none. Then you may have one who is a great teacher and a great wonder worker, one who stands far above the others of his age but nevertheless, you don't have a Savior, you don't have a Mediator. You don't have a Mediator, that is, one who is able to stand between God and man. As Job says, as I mentioned before, who is able to lay his hand upon us both. And that's what you need. And anybody who looks for salvation in any other is looking amiss. He is looking in the wrong place; there is no other. And this is the kind of a person that we would never expect to find.
In order that it may again be emphasized, and that it may be impressed upon every mind and heart, that salvation is of Jehovah; it is Jehovah-Jirah. He is the one who has given salvation. It is not thought out by man. It is a total impossibility that man would ever come to that kind of a conclusion. There is no wisdom that will ever be able to come to that. The greatest of philosophers have stood before this problem, before this question, and they were simply dumbfounded, could not imagine. Read the works of a Socrates, of a Plato, of an Aristotle, and there you find that they are groping, groping about; how is the good man, as they always speak of him; how is the good man going to come to final bliss. And he cannot, he cannot. Because the same thing, says the Ecclesiast, happens to everyone, whether he be good or whether he be evil, and that is the last word that is said concerning him is this, 'and he died.'
Now what is to happen then? He has striven all of his life in order to seek the good, to seek the highest, the best; fine. But what happens to him then, when he is now going to leave this life? Or is that it! Is there that total annihilation for which many plead? Is there this, that he is going to die like the animal, that there is nothing left? And there is something within him that says, no, that is not so, because eternity is within his heart.
Then who is that one who is at the same time true God, and true righteous man? He's got to be both. We saw that in the previous answers. He has to both of those, and you don't even find a true and righteous man in this world. You don't even find the good man, that they have always been looking for. That is the thing that they only approximate. A Socrates looks upon all the various evils and the ethics of this world and comes to the conclusion that all these things he is able to do without. If he will only set his mind upon wisdom, and in wisdom he is going to conquer everything. And then finally when he is accused of those things which are not true, he drinks the hemlock, he drinks the poison because he will not live in a world where he is accused of those things which are not true.
He must also be true God. Now then you are in a realm of course, that is totally unapproachable. Then you are in a realm that no one can even begin to think of. And consequently this kind of a Savior does not exist in the minds of man. And that is still true today people, still true today when we read the writings of the learned of the day, and they are standing before this; baffled. God, if He exists, if He exists, is going to require of us, and how can we stand before Him? Yah then, we need a Savior, says this old teacher of 430 years. And you notice that the methodology is not so antiquated, but it has taken you step by step to lead you utterly stumped, in order that you may turn to the Word of God. And that's where we belong.
And this is the only answer that is given and the only one that has that answer, as we will see later, is that Word of God, and that says his identity is this, who is this one that is at the same time true God and true man? Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is now beginning to dawn, the light is beginning to come through, and here is the glorious light that has arisen, our Lord Jesus Christ answers every question that might arise. He fills the bill completely. His manhood is not to be doubted, and His divinity is also clearly attested. He fills it completely, from beginning to end. That is the kind of a Savior that we need, as the writer to the Hebrews says in a different chapter. One who is true God, and withal true man; that is the one who is a mediator who is able to stand before us. As the Psalmist says, Moses stood before them in the breach. But he wasn't able to stand there, that was the mediator on the Old Testament. But Jesus Christ stands in the breach and is able to bring the two together. That is our Lord Jesus Christ. That is the one, the only one; there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we are to be saved.
Christianity is exclusive. They don't like to hear that today, but it's true. It's exclusive. They who do not believe in Jesus Christ, with them there is no hope. None. That's what the Bible teaches us. And that is the teaching before which we bow.
Secondly, notice also its qualifications.
Now it is not again going to go into these things that He must be true man and that he must be true God; no. Now it is going to take up these qualifications in a difference sense, and that it now says that He was made unto us the wisdom of God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Those are the qualifications, and that is the word that is taken from I Corinthians 1. There you have the same identical words, it is a quotation. That is what He has been made for us, the wisdom of God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Those are the things whereby He is qualified, these are the qualifications as to His nature of course, had to be there. But those are the things that have already been discussed. Now He is made unto us the wisdom of God. That wisdom that excels everything else, that wisdom by which He made the worlds. That wisdom by which He upholds it, and there are so many of the so-called learned of the day, you know, who do not know what to do with these things. Luther put it so beautifully, when he said, the Lord made the heavens and the earth, He made the earth for example, He didn't know what to do with it; so He hung it there. He held it, He held it. That's putting it about as beautifully as you can put it. There was no place to put it, so He held it. And He is still holding it today. He was made to us the wisdom of God who is able to plumb the depths of the wisdom of God. Plumb the depths of His revelation, to give unto us that wisdom; not the kind of wisdom of which this world speaks, but the wisdom that is of the heart that leads to faith, not to learning, but to faith. See; that's the difference. It is not the wisdom of the mind, that is no wisdom, that may be knowledge, but not wisdom; but it is the wisdom of the heart that leads to faith, that believes, that bows the knee; that is the wisdom of God. And He was made unto us, that wisdom.
Now you realize that here you are taking the first step along that road that leads to this, that you are again coming to the restoration of the image of God. That we were made in knowledge, righteousness and holiness; He was made unto us wisdom. Jesus saves, they tell us from all sides; and then my first question would always be, how does He do that? Now here the Catechism answers, "He was made unto us the wisdom of God and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption. That's the way He did it. He restored to us that which we had to a large extent lost, or that which had at least been spoiled, fishiated. That image of God that had been spoiled so badly, He is now going to restore. He does not only save, that you are laying on the shore, that you have been taken out of the pond and laying on the shore, but He sets you up again. He redeems. His redemption is complete, and therefore He restores completely that which had been molested, and that which had been spoiled.
He is made unto us righteousness of God. Now this is the kind of a thing of course, before which we stood, and that was the one thing that we could never get straight. And that is, how could a man who is a sinner; we all agreed to that--there are very few that don't--and then how can such a person who is a sinner stand before God and be righteous? This is practically out of the question. How can it ever be said, as the apostle does in Romans, "that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." That the accuser of the brethren has been silenced; how is that possible? He is made unto us the righteousness of God. So that we are made righteous; in other words, that we have no sin, that it is gone, that it has been taken away. But that's not the only thing; also that wisdom of God, but now also righteousness. That we have been restored to such an extent so that that sin is gone, that it is covered, that it is completely wiped away by the blood of Jesus Christ. And that is redemption. That is redemption full and free, and that's what He is for us.
So that with every step that you take, here the qualifications become so clear that He meets every qualification that is required. Made unto us the wisdom of God and righteousness, so that we no longer have to worry about the sins that we have committed, or the sins that still cleave to us, or the sins that we will commit; but that they have been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. And He is made unto us righteousness so that that righteousness now becomes ours. And that we are as though we had in ourselves, as our form for communion speaks of it, as though we in our own selves had paid for our sins and obtained this righteousness. He is our righteousness.
And again, when you look on these qualifications He is also our sanctification. Now that is a little bit different because therein you speak of this, that the kind of a life that you live is a result, that holiness, that sanctity of life. That which is required, that which is the fruit of that righteousness. Now there also ought to be the kind of a life that is lived accordingly. And I thought that that was my business. I thought that I was going to do that, that if He gives me righteousness so that I am cleared before my God, now I am to live before Him in such a way so that I am holy. Nah, that's not it. He is also made for us sanctification, says the apostle in First Corinthians as well as the Catechism. He is made our sanctification; He does it all, from beginning to end. He is the one who has our salvation in His grasp, and He gives it to us full and free and there is nothing lacking, not one iota lacking that you and I have to bring, because if you did, you would be lost. So that He is our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification, and our redemption. Which is really saying the same thing concerning all three of them.
This is the complete redemption. Now that image of God is restored, restored to its pristine lustre. That man made in true knowledge, righteousness and holiness; that's what Christ has done. Jesus saves! Indeed... And this is the way He did it. Jesus saves! What does that mean to most people? Well, He gave His blood. And then I ask him, what did that have to do with it? No, He did it, says the Catechism, and therein it is so beautiful that it picks these things out of the Scriptures to show to us; that He has thereby restored us the way we ought to be. In true knowledge, in righteousness, in holiness. That image of God, completely restored. He is Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, before whom every knee is to bow, He is Lord. That is the way He saves. And He has all the qualifications and He fills them, and these qualifications are used in order that our salvation may be complete; there's nothing lacking people, there's not a thing lacking. When you and I stand in the next several years, before the judgment throne of God, I know already what the verdict is going to be, and so do you, and it is going to be this; NOT GUILTY!! You know that; why -- because our Lord Jesus Christ is our wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. Now there you have comfort. Because you know, that's where it all began. It began with this in the Heidelberg Catechism, "What is your only comfort in life and death? That I with body and soul, in life and death, am not my own, but belong to my faithful Savior." And here He is. This is what He has done.
And that is our only comfort, and that comfort is seen in every question and answer of the Catechism. And it shines through it all, and those who do not grasp that have never understood the Catechism, have never understood this teacher of the church, teaching us the fundamentals of those things which we are to believe.
And finally, notice the testimony to Him.
Notice in this question and answer 19. "Whence do you know this? From the holy Gospel which God Himself first revealed in paradise, afterwards published by the holy patriarchs and prophets, and foreshadowed by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law, and lastly, fulfilled by His only begotten Son." Now you notice that He does not say, "Whence do you know this, where do you find this?" Because that already is of course, a very important question. You may have a certain knowledge and the question is, where did you get that? Where did that come from? And if your sources are not good, then I don't give much for it. If the sources are good, well, then we can see again, but if the sources are not good, that is the whole thing. That's what it all depends on. And here it is a matter that he says, now, how do you know this? And the answer is, God said so; that's why. I didn't get that out of the books of men, I didn't get that out of the wisdom of men, but God said so. Because He revealed it in the Gospel. And I thought that was restricted to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. And He said no, that Gospel that began already in paradise and goes all the way through the book of Revelation. And that is not the Bible, not a book, but it is the Gospel.
And now I have an entirely different problem in regard to teaching all the things that are contained between Genesis and Revelation. Because, according to my own confession here in question 19 of the Heidelberg Catechism it is this, that every one, every page, speaks of Jesus Christ, so now when I am teaching the children or the young people in the church concerning David or Abraham or Job or anyone else, I must realize that I am dealing first of all with Jesus Christ. Now it becomes an entirely different matter. Now the whole Bible begins to open up, and now I have an entirely outlook on it, and it is there in paradise, of course not yet in full bloom, no, by no means. That seed of the woman, or that's the beginning, but that's all you have yet, that seed of the woman. But that seed of the woman is going to prevail, it is going to crush the head of the seed of the serpent. So that, there it is already Gospel, that is, the good news, that is, a Savior is going to come. Who is that Savior? Jesus Christ.
But Abraham didn't know it, didn't know Him. Jesus says, "he knew me, he rejoiced to see my day, he embraced me." That's the meaning. He embraced it. And here you find it in paradise already that God says, "The seed of the woman is going to come, it is going to prevail, and it is going to conquer." But then it was also in the patriarchs, and Enoch speaks of this that God is going to do well by them. And Lamech speaks of this that when he names his son Noah he says, "God is going to do great things for us." They have in mind that Christ of God who is going to come; oh it is not yet in full bloom. And I have tried to make this clear in various ways and it is not always successful, I realize. Because people are always so afraid of this that you are going to do violence to this, that every part of it is the Word of God. But it is there in paradise, if I may use that expression, it is there in bud, in bud, and that is indeed given the promise of the flower, but it isn't yet the flower. And slowly it opens, it opens wide, until finally there in the fields of Ephratah, there they sing concerning the coming of Jesus Christ. He is here; who is this one who is at the same time true God and true man? Our Lord Jesus Christ, and that has been spoken of by an Isaiah when he is standing there and speaking concerning the suffering servant of Jehovah. That is the one who David is speaking of when he says concerning that child that has been taken away from him, "he is not going to come back to me, but I shall go to him." And those are the things that Job is speaking of when he says, "I know that my Redeemer liveth and that at the latter day He shall stand upon the earth, and out of my flesh shall I see God."
Spoke of Him; and then all the prophets have spoken of Him. And not only that, but also the illustrations, it is so illustrative throughout the Old Testament. You have all of the ceremonies and all of the laws, and all these things, and that serpent that was raised in the wilderness in order that they might look upon that brazen serpent and that they might be restored. That was our Lord Jesus Christ that it was speaking of, and all of the sacrifices, the burnt offerings, the sin offerings, the thank offerings, the incense offerings -- it spoke of Jesus Christ.
So that there is not a page of holy writ that does not speak of Him. And if you think it does then you have a misunderstanding of the Bible. Then you have misunderstood it, because David does not stand by himself, or Saul by himself, or Samuel by himself. But they all look forward unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And then finally He comes, and then you see it an open flower. Now it has come to full fruition, and now the revelation of God is complete. God said so from beginning to end and that is also the reason beloved, that the Bible is put up in the way it is. You know, there are many chapters in the Bible that if I were very rude, I would say, I don't care if they are in there or not. Dozens of chapters of names, of genealogies, and yet those are the things that are there, and that are for our wellbeing, that are for our instruction, and that not perhaps at the family altar, but certainly in my study, I'd better look into those very carefully.
And, to use again that illustration which I've used before, John says toward the close of his Gospel, "There are many other things that Jesus said and did which are not recorded." Oh, why not, why not? Those are the things in which I would have rejoiced. The more the better. Nah, all the things that are given us are concerning Jesus Christ. He has been spoken of on every page. He has been spoken of through all history. It is an historic development. The whole Scriptures are a historic development. Coming from paradise through the patriarchs, through the prophets, through Jesus Christ Himself. And the apostles reflect upon it again to show us the beauty and the glory of the Redeemer.
That is the Mediator made known. Then you have seen Him. Then you have seen Him in His beauty. Then you have seen Him is His holiness. Then you have seen Him in His greatness. This is our Lord Jesus Christ. You know, we have to be very careful with those names. We have to be very economical with the name of God. Very economical with the name of our Savior. Because we may not lightly take it upon our lips; He is holy, and has given us, He has been made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and holiness, and redemption. And you find it from beginning to end in the Word.
And then He began to teach them, and beginning from the very beginning, He showed to them all the things concerning Himself. And He is on the way to Emmaeus. All the things concerning Himself. Out of Moses, out of David, out of Isaiah, out of Ezekiel; all the things concerning Himself. And then they said, "Did not our hearts burn within us." This was different. We've never so heard the Scriptures unfolded. No, and that's what they live by, and then they hurried to Jerusalem; this is no time to go to bed, but now you better go back and tell them; the Lord is risen indeed. He is risen, we saw Him, we talked to Him, He spoke to us, He preached to us, He unfolded the Scriptures to us, and our hearts were aflame.
That's what it will do. When the Mediator is made known to us, that we recognize Him as our Lord Jesus Christ, made to us all the things that we need. Amen.....
We give thanks unto Thy holy Name, heavenly Father, for the grace and mercy Thou hast bestowed. For Thy wondrous care, the care which Thou hast exercised over Thy church throughout all the ages, to make known to them Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Grant that also this Word may be applied unto our hearts by Thy Spirit divine. Bless us further, keep us near to Thee, grant that Thy grace and Spirit may be upon us and bless us also in the days of this coming week. Forgive our sins and keep us from sin, for we ask it in Jesus our Redeemer's name. Amen.....
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