Lesson #26—Christ the King

Shorter Catechism Q & A #26

Q. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?

A. 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.

Memorize Q & A—Exposition

Christ governs us as his elect people, appointing officers who, by his grace and teaching, encourage us to obedience and faithfulness through the study and practice of his Word and Law. Christ preserves us in restraining us from sin and defending us from his enemies and ours.

What does it mean?

Discuss the appointment of Christ as king [Psa. 2:6–7; Heb. 1:8–9 (Psa. 45:6–7)]; as ruler (Matt. 2:6); as shield (Psa. 3:3); as judge (Isa. 33:22); as deliverer (personally, 2 Tim. 4:18), (Rev.6:2, 19:11).

What is our practice?

How does the knowledge of Christ as king encourage us in our faith? What activities of the Church are encouraged by Christ as king? How is our relationship to the nation and its governors affected by the knowledge that Christ is the sovereign king over nations?

Quotes for thought and discussion:

“Christ preserves his church as a spark in the ocean, as a flock of sheep among wolves. That the sea should be higher than the earth, and yet not drown it, is a wonder; so, that the wicked should be so much higher than the church in power, and not devour it, is, because Christ has this inscription on his vesture and his thigh, King of kings. ‘If it had not been the Lord, who was on our side, they had swallowed us up.’ Psa cxxiv 2,3.” They say, lions are insomnes, they have little or no sleep; it is true of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, he never slumbers or sleeps, but watches over his church to defend it, ‘Sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine. I the Lord do keep it; lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.’ Isa xxvii 2, 3.” (Thomas Watson)

“We wish particularly to stress the fact that Christ is in the truest sense of the word our King today, that, having established His Church as the fellowship of believers, He now is seated on the throne of the universe from whence He directs the affairs of His advancing kingdom, that He animates His people with new spiritual life and defends them against all forces of evil, and that He is thus to continue until all His enemies have been placed under His feet. It is our duty never to despair of the Church, nor of the world, which eventually is to be conquered by the Church.” (Loraine Boettner)

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