· Christology ·

Lecture Forty Two:  The Offices of Christ

TH330 Systematic Theology I · Moody Bible Institute · Dr. Richard M. Weber

“In order that faith may find a firm basis for salvation in Christ, and thus rest in him, this principle must be laid down:  the office enjoined upon Christ by the Father consists in three parts.  For he was given to be prophet, king, and priest.”  (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, II.xv).

1 Kings 19:16.  “Also, anoint ... Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.”

Ex 30:30.  God says, “Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.”

1 Sam 15:1.  “Samuel said to Saul, ‘I am the one the Lord sent to anoint you king over his people Israel...”

Cf. 1 Sam 10:1; 1 Kings 19:15-16

Acts 10:38.  “...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and ... he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”

Isa 61:1.  “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.”

I. Christ As Prophet

“God’s Spokesman”

2 Sam 7:4, 17.  “That night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:  ‘Go and tell my servant David, “This is what the Lord says:  Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?...”  Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.”

A. The Title

1. The Promised Prophet

Deut 18:15-18.  Moses says, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers.  You must listen to him. ... The Lord said to me, ‘...I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.”

John 6:14.  After Jesus multiplied loaves and fish, the people declared, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!”

2. Ordinary People of Christ’s Day Viewed Him as a Prophet

Matt 21:11, 46.  “The crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’  ... [The Pharisees] looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.” (Cf. John 7:40-53)

3. Christ Himself Claimed To Be a Prophet

Mark 6:4.  When the people do not believe him, Jesus says of himself, “Only in his hometown, among his own relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” (Cf. Matt 13:57; Luke 4:24; 13:33; John 4:44)

4. Christ Fulfilled the Function of a Prophet

John 8:26.  “...He who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

John 12:49-50.  “For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.  I know that his command leads to eternal life.  So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” (Cf. Matt 4:17; John 15:15; 17:8)

B. The Authority

Mark 1:22.  “The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.”

Matt 5:21-22.  “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.”

Matt 7:28-29.  “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who has authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”

C. The Authentication

1. Prophecies Fulfilled

2. Miracles Served to Verify to the People That He Was a True Prophet

Luke 7:16.  After the raising of the widow’s son to life:  “They were all filled with great awe and praised God.  ‘A great prophet has appeared among us,’ they said.  ‘God has come to help his people.’” (Cf. John 4:19; 9:17)

D. Christ is Much More Than a Prophet

1. Christ is the One of Whom the Old Testament Prophets Prophesied

Luke 24:27.  “And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Cf. 1 Pet 1:10-11)

2. Christ is Not Merely a Conduit For God’s Words

II. Christ as Priest

“The priestly office belongs to Christ alone because by the sacrifice of his death he blotted out our own guilt and made satisfaction for our sins [Heb 9:22].” (John Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion, II.xv.6).

A. An Aaronic Priest

Heb 10:1b-3.  “[The Law] can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.  If it could, would they not have stopped being offered?  For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would not longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins...”

B. A Melchizedekan Priest

Gen. 14:18-20.  “Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine.  He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed by Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.  And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’  Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”

Heb 7:1-3.  “This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High.  He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything.  First, his name means ‘king of righteousness,’ then also, ‘king of Salem’ means ‘king of peace.’  Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.”

1. Melchizedek as Priest

a. A Royal Priesthood

b. A Priesthood Unrelated To Ancestry

c. A Timeless Priesthood

Rom 8:34.  “Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

Heb 7:25.  “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

d. A Priesthood Superior to the Aaronic Priests

Abraham Offering tithes to Melchizedek…Christ greater or a Theophany.

2. Christ as Melchizedekan Priest

a. Ruler

b. Receives Honor and Worship

c. Blesses His People

III. Christ as King

A. Promised in God’s Covenant With David

Isa 9:7b.  “He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”

B. Announced to Mary

Luke 1:32b-33.  “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

C. Offered To and Rejected By Israel

John 12:13.  Triumphal entry:  “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the King of Israel.” (Cf. Matt 2:2; 27:11)

D. Realized at the Second Coming

Matt 25:31.  “When the son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.” (Cf. Rev 19:15, 20)

IV. The Present Ministry of Christ

A. As Head of the Body

Eph 1:22-23.  “God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

1. Christ Formed the Body

Acts 1:5.  “John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:33.  Peter says of Christ:  “Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.”

1 Cor 12:13.  “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

2. Christ Cares for the Body

Eph 5:26-27.  Christ makes the Church holy, “cleansing her by the washing with water through the word to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish.”

Eph 5:29.  “[N]o one ever hated his own body, but he feeds it and cares for it, just as Christ does the church.”

3. Christ Gives Gifts to the Body

Eph. 4:7-13.  “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.  This is why it says:  ‘When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.’  ... It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers...”

4. Christ Empowers the Body

B. As Priest For His People

Heb 2:18.  “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Heb 4:14-16.  “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Heb 7:25.  “... he always lives to intercede for them.”

Heb 6:19-20a.  “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.”

C. As One Who Prepares a Place For Us

John 14:1-3.  “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

V. The Future Ministry of Christ

A. Christ Will Raise the Dead

B. Christ Will Reward All People

John 5:22, 27.  “[T]he Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, ... And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.”

1. Believers Are Judged at the Judgment Seat (Bema Seat) After the Rapture

2 Cor 5:10.  “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

Cf. 1 Cor 3:11-15

2. Unbelievers Will Be Judged at the Great White Throne

C. Christ Will Rule the World

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