Sermon Tone Analysis

! *·** 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.”

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*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)

 

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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.”

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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

 

 

 

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*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.”

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1.

Melchizedek as Priest

 

 

a.

A Royal Priesthood