Tuesday, July 14, 2009

prophet, priest and king

From Grudem's Systematic, Chapter 29:

Christ fulfills these three offices [prophet, priest and king] in the following ways: as prophet he reveals God to us and speaks God's words to us; as priest he both offers a sacrifice to God on our behalf and is himself the sacrifice that is offered; and as king he rules over the church and over the universe as well.

Christ as Prophet
He is the one about whom the prophecies in the Old Testament were made...The Old Testament prophets looked forward to Christ in what they wrote, and the New Testament apostles looked back to Christ and interpreted his life for the benefit of the church.

Jesus was...the source of revelation from God. Rather than saying, as all the Old Testament prophets did, "Thus says the LORD," Jesus could begin divinely authoritative teaching with the amazing statement, "But I say unto you.

Christ as Priest
In the Old Testament, the priests were appointed by God to offer sacrifices..."But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrificing of himself(Heb. 9:26) This was a completed and final sacrifice, never to be repeated, a theme frequently emphasized in the book of Hebrews.

The Old Testament priest not only offered sacrifices, but also in a representative way they came into the presence of God from time to time on behalf of the people. But Jesus does much more than that. Jesus has opened for us the way of access to God so that we can continually "draw near" into God's very presence without fear but with "confidence" and in "full assurance of faith."

One other priestly function in the Old Testament was to pray on behalf of the people. The author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus also fulfills this function:"He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always live to make intercession for them"

Christ as King
After his resurrection, Jesus was given by God the Father far greater authority over the church and over the universe. God raised him up and "made him sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come; and he has put all things under his fee and has made him the head over all things for the church" (Eph. 1:20-22; Matt. 28:18; 1 Cor. 15:15)


That is awesome.

-joe

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