The Present Ministry of Christ (Week 4)

“As a Prophet, he teaches sinners and calls them to faith and repentance (Is. 61:1, 2; Mt. 9:13); as a Priest, he gives himself as a ransom (antilytron) for sins (1 Tim. 2:6; Is. 53:10; 1 Jn. 2:2) and prays for transgressors (Is. 53:12; Jn. 17); as a King, he governs his people and defends them against the Devil, the world and the flesh that they may not be snatched out of his hands (Jn. 10:28; Rom. 8:35, 38, 39).”

Question 31 of the Heidelberg Catechism says:

Historic Creeds and Confessions (Question 31)

Because he is ordained of God the Father, and anointed with the Holy Ghost, to be our chief Prophet and Teacher, who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption; and to be our only High Priest, who by the one sacrifice of his body, has redeemed us, and makes continual intercession with the Father for us; and also to be our eternal King, who governs us by his word and Spirit, and who defends and preserves us in that salvation, he has purchased for us.

These offices are historically how the church has recognized Christ and His relationship to sinners.

He serves as our:

Prophet

Priest

King

What we see is that while there were humans who had these roles, they were types, or shadows of the real thing.

The true prophet, and the true priest and the true king is Christ.

So when we look at prophets, priests and kings in the Old Testament, what we should be asking ourselves or thinking, is these are only shadows of the coming better fulfillment of them.

Prophet

Think of the role of a prophet, what did He do?

He communicated God’s Word.

He spoke for God.

Moses was the greatest of prophets.

He went onto the mountain and gave God’s law on stone.

Yet Moses, knew that someone greater was coming.

Deuteronomy 18:15 ““The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.”

The coming prophet would not only communicate God’s Word, but He is the Word.

Hebrews 1:1–2 “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”

Priests

The priests interceded for the people.

Think of Leviticus 16.

This chapter explains the rules for sacrifices, specifically the atoning sacrifice.

The priest would represent the nation before God and make a sacrifice.

The priest was a man who would intercede.

Priests knew the temptations of man.

They knew the weaknesses of man.

Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament priest.

He came not like the OT priests.

He wasn’t a descendant of Levi.

He came like Melchizedek.

Genesis 14 records Abraham meeting a priest who was the king of Salem, Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:6–7“just as He says also in another passage, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.”

Where the priests offered sacrifices, so did Jesus.

Only His sacrifice was much better.

The sacrifice was Himself.

Isaiah 53:7–8 “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?”

The sacrifice was better than the OT sacrifices.

Hebrews 9:11–14“But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

The truth is the OT sacrifices could never actually remove sin.

They were weak.

They were only shadows of something better that was coming.

There was a single sacrifice.

Hebrews 10:10–12 “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,”

The priests would make a sacrifice then there’d be a sin.

So there’d have to be another sacrifice.

Not so with Jesus.

There is no more need for a sacrifice, because His was sufficient and efficient.

He’s the reality of the priesthood.

He’s the mediator.

He’s the one offering the sacrifice.

He is the sacrifice.

King

The same premise that we had with the other offices, the Old Testament examples were always looking forward to Jesus as king.

The first man, Adam, was created to rule.

Genesis 1:26–28 “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.””

He was a foretaste of what was coming.

David, who was a man after God’s own heart, was a good king, but was not the promised king.

You’d think it’s going to be his son Solomon.

2 Samuel 7:12–16 ““When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ””

But it’s not Solomon.

Solomon’s close.

But he’s only a shadow of the coming King.

It’s not Solomon, because he would die.

He couldn’t be on a throne forever, because he would die.

His rule was not forever.

It’s Jesus Who’s promised King.

He’s the one who would have a throne forever.

It becomes ironic that when Christ came those who recognized His kingdom didn’t actually know or understand His kingdom.

I am referring to Palm Sunday as one instance.

Even Pilate recognized Christ as king when he put the sign over His head.

John 19:20 “Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek.”

You’ve seen the 3 offices of Christ.

Keeping them in mind, I’d like to show you how the Roman Catholic system, disregards these offices completely.

Prophet

The Pope becomes the Prophet.

Instead of Christ speaking and being the Word of God.

Remember Hebrews 1 says that they were shadows of Christ.

It says that the Pope is the Word of God.

Priest

In Roman Catholicism the priest resacrifices Christ each Mass.

The one sacrifice is not done or complete.

It must be reenabled each Mass

Jesus is our intercessor and mediates on our behalf.

In Catholicism, men must go to a priest who intercedes.

King

In the Roman Catholic Church who rules from a throne?

The Pope.

He is the head of the Holy Roman Empire.

Instead, Christ reigns right now as King.

We will talk more about Christ’s present ministry next week.

What does Christ do today?

Let’s put this all together.

Jesus is our prophet

How does He speak to us today?

By His Word.

Through Scripture.

Jesus acts as our priest.

What does that mean for us?

He mediates.

He intercedes.

Romans 8:33–34 “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”

You sin.

You will continue to sin.

Its as if Satan and your sins are before God accusing you before God.

And Jesus, acting as your priest, says, “I died for him.”

Jesus reigns.

Where is Jesus now?

Scripture actually gives multiple answers to that.

He is seen as sitting at the right hand of the Father

Psalm 110:1 “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.””

Acts 2:33–36““Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ’ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.””

He is seen as standing.

Acts 7:56 “and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.””

He is also described as walking among the churches.

Revelation 1:12–13“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.”

The point of this is not to argue if Jesus is sitting, standing or walking.

Each of these describe the same role … Jesus rules and He reigns.

If you are Christ’s, you are His now.

Colossians 1:13–16 “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

Look at that text.

What do we see:

Christ has a kingdom.

Whatever exists for through Him and for Him.

The language of visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - has to do with spiritual forces.

He rules now.

How does Christ rule now?

He rules over His Church

Ephesians 1:22–23“And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Ephesians 5:28–29“So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,”

How does He rule over His Church?

Salvation

Calls

Saves

Regenerates

Rules in choosing leaders

Acts 20:28 ““Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

Something we don’t think enough about is that Jesus rules over creation.

Colossians 1:17 “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

Right now Christ is holding all things together, until He returns.

Jesus rules over governments

Psalm 110:1 says that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father.

Don’t confuse being seated with passivity.

This is a position of authority and power.

Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

I’m gonna take a side tangent for a second, and this is something that we are not comfortable with.

In The Holiness of God, Sproul describes how as Americans we are opposed to Sovereigns and Kings.

It’s built into our DNA as a nation to be untrusting of leaders and those in authority.

This is hard for us to handle.

We live in a nation that says, “We the People …”, but we live in a world where God is king and He appoints.

He does not consult us.

He calls for us to submit.

Think of the 5th commandment.

“Honor your father and mother.”

Question 104 of the Heidelberg Catechism (which is one of my favorite catechisms by the way) says:

Historic Creeds and Confessions Question 104

What does God require in the fifth commandment?

That I show all honour, love and fidelity, to my father and mother, and all in authority over me, and submit myself to their good instruction and correction, with due obedience; and also patiently bear with their weaknesses and infirmities,b since it pleases God to govern us by their hand.

God, as God, places authorities over us.

Parents.

Kings.

Governments.

Are there any passages that come to mind of Jesus’ authority over the governments?

Romans 13:1–2“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.”

1 Peter 2:13–14“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.”

1 Peter 2:17 “Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”

Those are crazy words.

Honor the king.

Peter, lived under the rule of Nero.

More wicked than anyone we’ve experienced.

Yet he said to honor the king.

You could do an interesting study of the Old Testament to see this fleshed out as well.

Even pagan kings were there for God’s glory and because of God.

Exodus 9:16 ““But, indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth.”

Isaiah 45:1 “Thus says the Lord to Cyrus His anointed, Whom I have taken by the right hand, To subdue nations before him And to loose the loins of kings; To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:”

Even wicked Babylon was brought by God to conquer Judah.

The most wicked event in history was when the innocent lamb of God was crucified.

Jesus said of Pilate in John 19:11 “Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; …”

Acts 4:27–28 fleshes it out even more, “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.”

Our job is to submit and surrender to the authorities.

As I’m speaking, I’m sure some of you are looking for loopholes.

Right now, in your head, some of you are saying, “What if …”

We should not be looking for loopholes.

We should be looking for peace.

Romans 12:18 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”

We should be the best citizens there are.

1 Timothy 2:1–2 “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”

Maybe instead of living as if the sky is falling, we should be living under the reality that Christ is king.

We are like Daniel and the exiles.

We are citizens of another kingdom.

We live as ambassadors.

We live knowing that our true king is coming.

Where do we go from here?

Keep Christ the Center of your theology.

Brandon Crowe in his book said:

The Lord Jesus Christ: The Biblical Doctrine of the Person and Work of Christ Conclusion > Chapter XI: The Centrality of Christology for Christian Dogmatics: Summing up All Things in Christ

Put simply, Christ is the high point and focal point of God’s special revelation in Scripture. To read Scripture rightly we must never lose sight of Christ, and thus we must also ensure that our theological formulations, which reflect Scripture, never lose sight of Christ either. For all things are summed up in him (Eph 1:10).

I told you that we won’t have a term paper.

I’m not giving you homework.

I have not given you 10 steps to put into practice to be a better Christian.

I have given you Christ.

I hope that you see by keeping Christ the center of your life, that this becomes the most applicable truth you can have.