Leading Catechism

Good morning, church. It’s that time again when we turn to our catechism and reflect on the truths of our faith together. We’ve been walking through the 1689 Baptist Catechism, and over the last few weeks we’ve considered who our Redeemer is—the Lord Jesus Christ—and how He, being the eternal Son of God, became man.

This week, we ask:

Question 23: What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer? Answer: 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.

So what does that mean for us?

In the Old Testament, these three offices—prophet, priest, and king—were distinct and separated. Prophets spoke God’s Word. Priests offered sacrifices for sin. Kings ruled over the people. You could sometimes see two of these roles combined—for example, David was a king and at times spoke prophetically. Ezekiel was both a priest and a prophet. But only once do we see all three come together in one person—Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem who blessed Abraham. And the book of Hebrews tells us that this mysterious figure pointed forward to Christ as the greater fulfillment.

Christ is able to unite all three offices because He is not a priest after the Levitical order, but after the order of Melchizedek—a priesthood that transcends tribe, temple, and time.

This means that Christ fulfills all three offices finally and perfectly.

As Prophet, He doesn’t just speak God’s Word—He is the Word made flesh. He reveals God to us perfectly.

As Priest, He offers the once-for-all sacrifice—not of bulls or goats, but of Himself—and He continually intercedes for us.

As King, He rules with all authority in heaven and on earth. He defends His people, subdues His enemies, and brings His kingdom to earth.

And what’s more—He did all of this not only in His exaltation, seated at the right hand of God, but even in His humiliation. On the cross, He was Prophet, Priest, and King—speaking mercy, offering Himself, and conquering sin.

So, Christian: When you need guidance—remember He is your Prophet. When you are weighed down by guilt—remember He is your Priest. When life feels out of control—remember He is your King.

This is our Redeemer. This is our Christ.