The Fundamentals Of The Christian Faith
 

Lesson 11

Jesus Christ - His Offices


"He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the Church." - Ephesians 1, 20-23.

1, What are the three offices of Christ?

 In His three offices, Jesus Christ is our prophet, priest and king.

 As our divine Mediator, sitting at the right hand of God the Father, Jesus Christ still carries out all things that are necessary for our salvation.

Christ - the Prophet

2. How does Christ carry out His prophetic office?

 "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.  And He gave some, spostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" - Ephesians 4, 10-11.

 As our prophet, Jesus Christ sends men to preach the Gospel of redemption.  Since His ascension, He performs His prophetic office whenever in His name and by His order, His truth and doctrine are preached and applied.

3. How did Christ carry out His prophetic office during the days of His flesh?

 1.  By personally proclaiming to men the will and counsel of God.  "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him." - Deuteronomy 18, 18.

 2.  By predicting future events.

 " Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets conccrning the Son of man shall be accomplished.  For He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on." - Saint Luke 18, 31-32.

 3. By perfoming manifold miracles which confirm the divine authority of His doctrine.

 "Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world."  Saint John 6, 14.

 4. By commissioning His holy apostles as His witnesses and messengers.

 "Ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning." - Saint John 15, 27.

 5. By charging all Christians to preach the Gospel to every creature.

 "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" - Saint Matthew 28, 18-19.

Christ - the Priest

4. Of what three parts does Christ;s priestly office consist?

 Of His fulfillment of the law, of sacrifice and intercession.

5. How does Christ carry out the work of sacrifice?

 "He gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." - Titus 2, 14.

 " He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." - Isaiah 53, 5.

 Christ sacrificed Himself, making full atonement for the sins of all mankind, and reconciled the world with God.

6. How does Christ carry out the wor, of intercession?

 "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous; And He is the Propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." - 1 Saint John 2, 1 and 2.

 The heavenly intercessions of our glorified Mediator who is eternally at the right hand of God give us the most certain assurace of His final salvation.

Christ - the King

7. Which are Christ's three kingdoms?

 The kingdom of power, king of grace and the kingdom of glory.

8. What is Christ's kingdom of power?

 "All power is given unto Me in heaven and inearth." - Saint Matthew 28, 18.

 "That at the name of Jesus every kneww should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2, 10-11.

 In His kingdom of power, Jesus Christ, God-man, rules the entire universe, controlling and directing all creatures according to His wise, just and good purposes.

9. What is Christ's kingdom of grace?

 "Christ is the Head of the Church: and He is the Saviour of the body . . . The Church is subject unto Christ - Ephesians 5, 23-24.

 "If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - Saint John 8, 31-32.

 In His kingdom of grace, Christ, the Head of His Church, rules His subjects by His Word.

10. What is Christ's kingdom of glory?

 "The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amer." - 2 Timothy 4, 18.

 "When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory." - Saint Matthew 25, 31.

 The kingdom of glory is the Church in heaven .  There, Christ, the God-man, forever reigns over the angels and archangels and the glorified saints, who serve Him in perfect obedience and praise and adore Him.

Test Paper - Lesson 11

1. In His three offices, Christ is our ..........................................................,....................................
and ..................................................................

2. Describe, in your own words, the prophetic office of Christ ......................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

3. Give any two ways in which Christ carried out His prophetic office during the days of His flesh.
 a. ......................................................................................................................................
 b. ......................................................................................................................................

4. Complete the following Bible passage: "Go ye therefore and teach all ......................................,
..................................................................,.................................................................................,
..........................................................................:..........................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................:
.......................................................................,.............................................................................
........................................................................." (Saint Matthew 28, 19-20.

5. Christ's office as our Priest consists of the following two parts:
 a. .............................................................................................
 b. .............................................................................................

6. Please match the following Bible passages:

 Christ's kingdom of power

 Christ's kingdom of grace

 Christ's kingdom of glory

 a. "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." Saint Matthew 28, 29.

 b. "He shall sit upon the throne of His glory." Saint Matthew 25, 31.

 c. "Christ is the Head of the Church." Ephesians 5, 23.

7. Christ's kingdom of grace is His ...............................................................................................

8. Please complete the following Bible passage: "He gave Himself for us, that ..............................
.............................................................................., .....................................................................,
.............................................................................." (Titus 2, 14.)

9. Is the following statement true of false? Christ Himself commanded His believers everywhere to preach the Gospel to every creature ..........................................................................................

10. Memorize Isaiah 53, 5: "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed."

Make every effort to fill in the answers from memory.  If you are not sure of certain answers, you may look them up in the lesson.  Your paper will be graded according to the following standard: 10 correct: perfect; 9 correct: excellent; 8 correct: very good; 7 correct: good.