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The Heidelberg Catechism (12)

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The Heidelberg Catechism (12)

(Explained for Children)

5 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

In the second article of the Twelve Articles there is the name Jesus, but also the name Christ. Christ means anointed, and that name is discussed in this Lord's Day.

Question 31: Why is He called Christ, that is, anointed?

Answer: Because He is ordained of God the Father, and anointed with the Holy Ghost, to be our chief Prophet and Teacher, who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption; and to be our only High Priest, who by the one sacrifice of His body, has redeemed us, and makes continual intercession with the Father for us; and also to be our eternal King, who governs us by His word and Spirit, and who defends and preserves us in (the enjoyment of) that salvation, He has purchased for us.

First we will investigate what it means when a person is anointed. Who were anointed in earlier days? They were the particular servants of God, such as prophets, priests, and kings. They were anointed with anointing oil. Think only of David, who was anointed by Samuel at the Lord's command. By having Samuel anoint David, the Lord was saying, "I desire David to be king over My people." In this way David was designated by the Lord. You could also say he was appointed by God. The anointing also signified something more, for by it the Lord was saying, "David, I will give you the qualifications. I will enable you to be a good king. It is a very difficult task, but I will give you the Holy Ghost. Then you will be able to do it."

This was also true for other kings and priests. It was also in this way that the Lord Jesus was anointed. No, He was not anointed with oil but with the Holy Ghost. This was clearly seen in the dove which descended on Him when the Lord Jesus was baptized in the Jordan. By this His Father said, "I have appointed My Son to be Prophet, Priest, and King. My Son is My Servant, who shall do all according to My will. He shall do all that is necessary to save sinners. He shall also receive the qualifications to be a good Servant. The Holy Ghost will provide this. He shall be so qualified that He will never do anything amiss. He will do all things well. He is a perfect Prophet, Priest, and King." Therefore He only is called the chief Prophet, the only High Priest, and the eternal King. We call these the three offices of Christ.

What does a prophet do? A prophet is a messenger of God. He must inform the people what God says to him. And what is God's foremost message? It is that the Lord will save sinful people, and also how He does so. Christ brought this message to people. He did so already much earlier, for the prophets of earlier days, such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, were His servants. Christ Himself also did so when He was upon earth, and He is still doing so now in heaven, for He gives His Word and permits His Word to be proclaimed by His servants. I f Christ did not do this, nobody would ever know of God's plan to save sinners.

Christ is also the only High Priest. Indeed, what He has done has never been done by any other priest. At one time priests offered sheep and other animals. That was their work every day. However, Christ offered Himself upon the cross. He was the true sacrificial Lamb. The high priest also always prays for the people, and this Christ does also. He is the great Intercessor in heaven, praying to His Father for His people.

Christ is also the eternal King of His people. He governs them by His Word and by the Holy Spirit. He provides for them so none go lost. He defends and preserves them against the many evil enemies.

Question 32: But why art thou called a Christian?

Answer: Because I am a member of Christ by faith, and thus am partaker of His anointing; that so I may confess His name, and present myself a living sacrifice of thankfulness to Him; and also that with a free and good conscience I may fight against sin and Satan in this life, and afterwards reign with Him eternally, over all creatures.

What is it that we read in the answer? "I am a member of Christ. That is the same as being ingrafted in Christ, as it is said in Lord's Day 7, question and answer 20. This takes place only by faith, which is given to me by the Lord. Therefore I am a partaker of Christ's anointing, which means that I have received something of His anointing. The Holy Ghost dwells in me. What does the Lord then desire of me? It is that I must be a prophet, confessing His name, that is, speaking reverently about the Lord to others. I also must be a priest, presenting myself a living sacrifice of thankfulness to Him. That means serving the Lord and living to His honor. The Lord also wants me to strive against sin and Satan. My evil heart so quickly does sinful things and listens so soon to the devil, and against this I must fight. And when I die, I may always be with Him, there to reign over all creatures. In this way I am also a king."

In this way the Lord makes His children prophets, priests, and kings.

We are all called Christians because we are baptized and attend church. However, you will notice clearly that the one who here gives the answer is a true Christian, a Christian with his heart. This is also necessary for us.

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van woensdag 1 september 2004

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's

The Heidelberg Catechism (12)

Bekijk de hele uitgave van woensdag 1 september 2004

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's