In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. Last time we saw that Christ is a king because he has called a people to himself. This week I want to show that Christ demonstrates he is a king by giving his people officers.
A king does not usually do all the work of managing his people. Instead he appoints officers to help his people. Moreover, the officers do not all have the same role. Consider our own parliament. The prime minister has a cabinet made up of different ministers. For example there are ministers for education, industry, social services, communications, health, defence, finance, immigration and so on. These ministers are a blessing to the country as they exercise their duties under the prime minister.
Jesus Christ also shows his kingship by placing different ministers under him to assist his citizens. After speaking of Christ’s ascension to authority as king, Paul lists the ministers under Christ: ‘But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ’ (Ephesians 4:7-13). Paul is clear: Jesus as King has graciously given his people apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. All with the purpose to build his people up.
So how do you have Jesus as your king so that you benefit from all his ministers? Repent of your sins and trust that Jesus died in your place. If you leave your sin with Jesus, you become a citizen of his kingdom and experience his many blessings? Are you benefiting from having Christ as your king?
Joel Radford, Preaching Elder.
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