Christ, in the work of mediation, acts according to both natures, by each nature doing that which is proper to itself; yet, by reason of the unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in scripture attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.
In the paragraph, the Confession addresses the interaction between the divine nature of Christ and his human nature in his work of mediation between God and men. This is a carefully constructed Chalcedonian statement. It properly distinguishes between the two natures without separating them--indeed, the Confession bends over backwards to remind the reader of the single personhood of Christ. In Christ the one person are united two distinguishable natures. He is not a schizophrenic, split-personality type. As God, he represents God to men; as man, he represents man to God. As man, he provides a legitimate sacrifice for human sins. As God, his sacrifice is perfect and once for all.
The Confession acknowledges that frequently the Scriptures speak of the human nature expressing divine qualities and the divine nature expressing human qualities. This is not intended to confuse or mix but is a convention of language that is adequately taken care of when one realizes that both divine and human qualities are possessed and expressed by the unified person of Christ.
Tomorrow: Jesus Christ the effective Savior.
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