Lord's Day 12 — Saturday: Sharing in Christ's Anointing
Lord's Day 12: The Name 'Christ' - Three Offices
Saturday — Sharing in Christ's Anointing
The Catechism
Q31. Why is he called 'Christ,' meaning 'anointed'?
Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief prophet and teacher who fully reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our deliverance; our only high priest who has delivered us by the one sacrifice of his body, and who continually pleads our cause with the Father; and our eternal king who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us.
Q32. But why are you called a Christian?
Because by faith I am a member of Christ and so I share in his anointing. I am anointed to confess his name, to present myself to him as a living sacrifice of thanks, to strive with a free conscience against sin and the devil in this life, and afterward to reign with Christ over all creation for eternity.
Today's Emphasis
We are called 'Christians' because by faith we are members of Christ and share in his anointing. As Christ is prophet, priest, and king, so we are anointed to confess his name, offer ourselves as living sacrifices, fight against sin, and reign with him forever.
Scripture Readings
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Romans 12:1
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Revelation 5:9-10
And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.'
From the Reformers
Zacharias Ursinus (Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism)
"Christians are so called from Christ, their head, whose members they are by faith. They are also partakers of his anointing: for they also are by Christ anointed with the Holy Spirit, that they may confess his name, offer themselves unto him as living and spiritual sacrifices, and fight against sin and Satan with a free and good conscience."
Reflection Questions
• How are you exercising your prophetic calling to 'confess his name' in your daily life—at home, at work, in your community?
• What does it mean practically for you to 'strive with a free conscience against sin and the devil' while resting in the freedom Christ has won?
Growing in grace through the Catechism — The Hearthside Team 🔥