Of Christ the Mediator, VIII:5

The Lord Jesus, by His perfect obedience, and sacrifice of Himself, which He through the eternal Spirit, once offered up unto God, has fully satisfied the justice of His Father; and purchased, not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father has given unto Him.

The Confession here upholds the centrality of the idea of sacrifice and atonement. Implicit is the thought that Christ died as a substitute for his people, in the pattern of the Old Testament sacrifices of both the Passover lamb and the scapegoat. The Book of Hebrews insists on this concept--what the old sacrifices could never accomplish Christ has done by virtue of a superior sacrifice offered personally by a superior priest.

Through his sacrifice, Christ has purchased not merely reconciliation--his role is not limited to that of mediator--but an inheritance in the heavenly kingdom for his people. Christians are heirs and joint heirs with Christ. Through him comes to believers all the riches of the kingdom promised by the Father.

The final clause of this paragraph is the closest the Confession comes to enunciating particular redemption or definite atonement, which is that concept that Christ has died for his people and only for them. It may be that the divines saw this as inherent to the Reformed soteriological doctrines and did not think it necessary to elaborate. Such an observation has been made as to the teaching of John Calvin--that, and the subject simply wasn't as controversial in his day as it has been in ours. I certainly do not propose to delve into it at any length here. Interested persons may wish to read the pertinent chapter in Dr. Sproul's Grace Unknown, or consult the book-length treatments by R. B. Kuiper or Gary D. Long. The hearty of soul may profit from a careful reading of John Owen's The Death of Death in the Death of Christ. Do not say you weren't warned. The introduction to the Banner of Truth edition of that work by J. I. Packer, however, is very much worthwhile. It can be found posted independently on the internet.

Tomorrow: Christ only ever the securer of salvation.