Question: WSC 26: How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
Answer: Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.
Scripture Memory: “…We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.†(Rom. 8:37)
An Explanation: Let us rejoice that God the Father has exalted Christ Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, to be the King of kings and Lord of lords (Phil. 2:9-11). God has granted the Son, our Beloved Savior, with all authority in heaven and on earth—over all flesh, both believers and unbelievers (Matt. 28:18ff; John 17:1-2). Christ is the Lord of all believers for whom He died, and has subdued their hearts to Himself (John 1:49), and He is the Lord of unbelievers who He will Judge based on their works at the Resurrection of the Last Day (Psa. 110:2; Acts 17:31).
Christ Jesus rules as our king by subduing our hearts to Himself, and making us willing and able to believe. He grants spiritual life to us while we are dead, and frees us from slavery to sin and to the devil, to enable us to live willingly and joyfully unto God (Eph. 2:1-3; Col. 1:13-14; Rev. 1:5-7; Rom. 6:5-11). Jesus rules over His people through His church, and defends us from all of His and our enemies.
As our Glorious Ruler, Christ continues to teach us, and to instruct us in His will and ways, through the Word of God by His Spirit (Isa. 33:22; Rev. 2-3). Christ appoints church officers (Eph. 4:11ff; Matt. 16:19;18:18; Heb. 13:7,17) who serve as His ministers or underÂ-shepherds in His Kingdom, who have been entrusted with the keys of doctrine and discipline to faithfully minister Word, Sacraments, and discipline for the peace and purity of His Beloved Church. Christ calls His people, His Beloved flock to Himself to be sheltered under His wings, and to come as chicks to a mother hen to find refuge and safety from HIs and our terrible enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil! (Matt. 23:27; Psa. 91:4; cf. 1 John 2:14-18).
Jesus has defeated death, and taken the terrible sting out of death, so that now it is now a doorway not to judgement and eternal death, but to a perfect sight of Jesus (John 17:24; 1 Jo. 3:2), a glorious and living hope, a resurrection to eternal life, and a imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance that is kept in heaven for us, guarded for us by Jesus, the Lord of all, and the Resurrection and the Life! (1 Cor. 15:25, 55-58; John 5:24-26; 11:25ff; 1 Peter 1:4ff). In Jesus, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us, and nothing shall separate us from His great love for us! (Rom. 8:37-39). He is our king!
A Prayer: All Hail, King Jesus!! Let me live more wholehearted for you, O kind king and merciful Savior. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight! Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Take my heart and seal it by your Holy Spirit for your courts above! Amen.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Biggs