Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?
The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ1, who, being the eternal Son of God2, became man3 and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever4.
Scripture proofs
The Westminster Assembly's proof texts (KJV). The bracketed numbers in the answer above mark the clause each set of references supports; expand a row to read the verses.
1 John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5-6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
1 Tim. 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1 Tim. 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
2 Ps. 2:7; Matt. 3:17; 17:5; John 1:18
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Matt. 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matt. 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
3 Isa. 9:6; Matt. 1:23; John 1:14; Gal. 4:4
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
4 Acts 1:11; Heb. 7:24-25
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Heb. 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
Heb. 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
This doctrine across the Standards
Where the Confession and the Westminster Larger Catechism treat the same matter, so the question can be studied alongside its parallel statements.
In the Westminster Confession
VIII.2 The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance, …
The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance, and equal with the Father, did, when the fulness of time was come, take upon him man's nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin: being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary, of her substance. So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man.
→ VIII.2 · Of Christ the MediatorVIII.3 The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified and anointed with the …
The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit above measure; having in him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, in whom it pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell; to the end that, being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, he might be thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a mediator and surety. Which office he took not unto himself, but was thereunto called by his Father, who put all power and judgment into his hand, and gave him commandment to execute the same.
→ VIII.3 · Of Christ the MediatorVIII.5 The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through the eternal Spirit once …
The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God, hath 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 hath given unto him.
→ VIII.5 · Of Christ the MediatorVIII.6 Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after his incarnation, yet the virtue, …
Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after his incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefits thereof were communicated unto the elect, in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein he was revealed, and signified to be the seed of the woman which should bruise the serpent's head, and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world, being yesterday and today the same, and forever.
→ VIII.6 · Of Christ the MediatorVIII.7 Christ, in the work of mediation, acteth according to both natures; by each nature doing that which is …
Christ, in the work of mediation, acteth 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.
→ VIII.7 · Of Christ the MediatorVIII.8 To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the …
To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same; making intercession for them, and revealing unto them, in and by the Word, the mysteries of salvation; effectually persuading them by his Spirit to believe and obey; and governing their hearts by his Word and Spirit; overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom, in such manner and ways as are most consonant to his wonderful and unsearchable dispensation.
→ VIII.8 · Of Christ the MediatorIn the Westminster Larger Catechism
Q.36 Who is the Mediator of the covenant of grace?
The only Mediator of the covenant of grace is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, of one substance and equal with the Father, in the fulness of time became man, and so was and continues to be God and man, in two entire distinct natures, and one person, forever.
→ Open Q.36Q.37 How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
Christ the Son of God became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance, and born of her, yet without sin.
→ Open Q.37Q.38 Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be God?
It was requisite that the Mediator should be God, that he might sustain and keep the human nature from sinking under the infinite wrath of God, and the power of death; give worth and efficacy to his sufferings, obedience, and intercession; and to satisfy God's justice, procure his favor, purchase a peculiar people, give his Spirit to them, conquer all their enemies, and bring them to everlasting salvation.
→ Open Q.38Q.39 Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be man?
It was requisite that the Mediator should be man, that he might advance our nature, perform obedience to the law, suffer and make intercession for us in our nature, have a fellow feeling of our infirmities; that we might receive the adoption of sons, and have comfort and access with boldness unto the throne of grace.
→ Open Q.39Q.40 Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be God and man in one person ?
It was requisite that the Mediator, who was to reconcile God and man, should himself be both God and man, and this in one person, that the proper works of each nature might be accepted of God for us, and relied on by us, as the works of the whole person.
→ Open Q.40Q.44 How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering himself a sacrifice without spot to God, to be a reconciliation for the sins of his people; and in making continual intercession for them.
→ Open Q.44Q.57 What benefits hath Christ procured by his mediation?
Christ, by his mediation, hath procured redemption, with all other benefits of the covenant of grace.
→ Open Q.57Q.58 How do we come to be made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured?
We are made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured, by the application of them unto us, which is the work especially of God the Holy Ghost.
→ Open Q.58Q.59 Who are made partakers of redemption through Christ?
Redemption is certainly applied, and effectually communicated, to all those for whom Christ hath purchased it; who are in time by the Holy Ghost enabled to believe in Christ according to the gospel.
→ Open Q.59