Christ

"Christ" is used as a swear word without any understanding of the meaning of the word. In fact, many Christians might be vague about its meaning too. We come to the word in the course of looking at the names used for the Lord Jesus in the Apostle's Creed and as they are drawn to attention in the Catechism.  "Christ", which is the same as "Messiah" means "anointed one".  Jesus was anointed, not with oil, but with the Holy Spirit. See Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:16-18; Luke 3:21-22.

Anointing in the Old Testament was for prophets, priests and kings. The Old Testament sometimes seems to be all about prophets and priests and kings. This is because the whole looks forward to the One who was to be the Prophet, Priest and King.

In the Old Testament a man could only be a prophet or a priest or a king. It is the glory of Christ that as our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5).  He fulfils the role of all three.

As our Prophet He deals with the ignorance of sin; as our Priest He deals with the guilt of sin; and as our King, with the dominion of sin.

Christ is our:

1. PROPHET. See Acts 3:19-22.  We see the prophet in the Sermon on the Mount. He is designated The Light of the World and The Word We need to profit from the Prophet.  That is, we should be ever moving on in spiritual understanding and insight. Do not stagnate in learning.

2. PRIEST. See Hebrews 5:5-6.  Christ has made the necessary sacrifice for sin and has entered into the presence of God in heaven to speak for us.  What better one to plead out cause?

3. KING. See Revelation 19:16.  A king does not just dictate like some tyrant. He does govern, but he does so for the benefit and protection of his subjects (Romans 13:4).  We have Christ to protect us and to look after our interests (Romans 8:28).

Every society needs its prophet and priest and king characters and our society no less.  We have the prophets of political correctness who give their version of "truth".  In counsellors we have a newly emerged priestly elite who supposedly alone can deal with personal comfort and solving of the problem of guilt.  As Christians, we are in one sense part of the western secular society, but in a more profound sense we are members of Christ's society: the church.  He is our Prophet, Priest and King.

More: Christ has the anointing, and we have an anointing (1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 John 2:27; Ephesians 4:7) and are:

(i) Priests - surely we believe in the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:5). We have access to God (Hebrews 4:16).

(ii) Kings (1 Peter 2:9). Christ shares His authority with us (Matthew 28:18-20).

(iii) Prophets (Joel 2:28; Hebrews 8:10-11). We have the truth of the gospel.