“We believe that we have no access unto God, but alone through the only Mediator….”
1. This article deals with the intercession of our Savior for us in heaven with the Father:
a. The place of the article here in this connection must be explained from the fact that prayer is the highest expression of gratitude and sanctification.
b. And the length of the article in comparison with other articles in the Confession is naturally explained from the conflict with the Roman Catholic Church and its doctrine of the intercession of the saints for us.
c. The article then speaks of two things that are very closely related:
1) of Christ’s intercession for His people.
2) of our prayer in the name of Christ only.
2. Christ’s intercession for us:
a. The intercession of our Savior is the high-priestly function of Christ according to which He appears before the Father on behalf of all His people, to receive for them all things necessary for their salvation. John 17:11, 20; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; Rom. 8:34; I John 2:1.
b. Its character:
1) It is, in the first place, an authoritative intercession on the ground of His mediatorial work. John 17:24.
2) It is, in the second place, a wise and compassionate intercession, for the Lord knows all our needs with a view to our salvation, and He can have compassion with our infirmities, knowing them by experience.
3) It is, in the third place, a unique intercession, there being only one Mediator to pray for us. I Tim. 2:5.
4) Further, it is a perpetual intercession, for the Lord always liveth to make intercession for us.
5) Fifthly, it is efficacious, for the Savior surely receives from the Father whatsoever He asks for His people, I John 2:1, 2.
c. Regarding the manner of this intercession, we must remember:
1) That the Lord is both God and man, as also is emphasized in the article. He is Mediator, and stands between the Father and us.
2) That the Savior as the Head of His people continually receives all the blessings of salvation He merited from the Father.
3) Finally, that the Lord as the Head of His church bestows these blessings of salvation upon all whom the Father has given Him.
3. It follows that we pray only in Jesus’ name:
a. We pray as being in Him:
1) ln the judicial sense.
2) ln the organic sense.
b. Secondly, we pray not on any other ground than His mediatorial work and atonement.
c. From this it follows that we pray only for those things that are pleasing in the sight of God.
d. Finally, if we do not pray as we ought, the Spirit itself helps our infirmities and prays for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. Rom. 8:26, 27.
4. And prayer through the intercession of the saints is to be condemned:
a. Because there are no saints in the Roman Catholic sense of the word. All that have gone before are saints perfected, and not only a special class canonized by the church.
b. Because the creature can never have any merit with God, as these saints are supposed to have.
c. Because it leads to idolatry, especially of the Virgin Mary, for the saints are made the object of worship.
d. Because it is derogatory of the work of Christ, as if it were not sufficient to lead us to the Father.
e. Because it is a superstition not at all supported by the Word of God.
f. Finally, because it is detrimental to our spiritual life, draws us away from Christ, and makes us trust in men.