Lord's Day 11

Devotion

The role of the Prophet was to speak to the people on behalf of God. They spoke words of  correction and rebuke, hope and deliverance, revealing God’s will to Israel and the rest of the  world. We believe that Jesus was not only the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy, He was  also anointed by the Spirit of God to be the herald and witness of the Father’s grace (Luke 4:18),  revealing the perfect wisdom of God.  

The role of the Priest, on the other hand, was to speak to God on behalf of the people. The priests  offered sacrifices and prayers for the people, making a continual intercession before God.  Scriptures teach that Christ acted as both the Priest and the Sacrifice, making the perfect  atonement and intercession for our sins, passing His holiness and righteousness to us that we  might stand in the presence of God.  

The King was God’s representative, leading, providing for, and protecting His people. Wielding  great power and authority, the godly King was Lord over his people, ruling with grace and  beneficence. In our Lord Jesus Christ we find our heavenly King who provides all things  necessary for salvation and strengthens us to stand against the assaults of our spiritual enemies,  filling us with the hope of His coming kingdom.  

Prayer

Almighty God, we thank you for sending your Son Jesus Christ to be our prophet, revealing your  will to us; our priest, making the perfect atonement for our salvation; and our King, who rules  and reigns over us. Grant us your Spirit that we might always be ready to hear, to worship, and  to follow faithfully our Prophet, Priest, and King. In Jesus’ name. Amen.  

Question 23

Q. 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?

A. Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.

Scripture Proofs

Acts 3:21-22;

whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.

Heb. 12:25;

See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

2 Cor. 13:3;

since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.

Heb. 5:5-7;

So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

“You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 

as he says also in another place,

“You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

Heb. 7:25;

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Ps. 2:6;

“As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

Isa. 9:6-7;

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Matt. 21:5;

“Say to the daughter of Zion,

‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ”

Ps. 2:8-11.

Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and cthe ends of the earth your possession.

You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Question 24

Q. 24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?

A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.

Scripture Proofs

John 1:18;

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

1 Pet. 1:10-12;

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

John 15:15;

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

John 20:31.

but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Question 25

Q. 25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?

A. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us.

Scripture Proofs

Heb. 9:14;

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Heb. 9:28;

so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Heb. 2:17;

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Heb. 7:24-25.

but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Question 26

Q. 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?

A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

Scripture Proofs

Acts 15:14-16;

Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

“ ‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it,

Isa. 33:22;

For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us.

Isa. 32:1-2;

Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice.

Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.

1 Cor. 15:25.

For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.