Question 45. How does Christ execute the office of a king?

 

Question 45. How does Christ execute the office of a king?

Answer. Christ executes the office of a king by calling a people to himself out of the world, and giving them clergy, laws, and power, and by which he governs them visibly. He gives the grace of salvation to the elect, rewards their obedience, and chastises their transgressions. He preserves and defends them in all their trials and afflictions, and overcomes and conquers all their enemies, disposing all things by his power for his own glory and good, and taking vengeance on the rest who do not know God and obey the gospel.

 

Jesus is the King of kings. Colossians 1:16-17 "For by him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

However, among the people, there are those who do not think of Jesus as a king, but there are also saints who accept Jesus as a king. Colossians 1:18 "And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might have the preeminence." The church means saints. The head of the saints is Jesus Christ.

The word king means ruler, and his kingdom is heaven. Heaven is the kingdom of God in the soul, and the saint who believes that he died with Jesus and was resurrected with him has a temple built in his soul, and Jesus Christ is present. This is the word heaven, and the saint lives under the rule of Jesus Christ, the king.

Matthew 22:2 says, "For the kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son." The king sent out invitations to a wedding banquet in heaven, but no one came. So he ordered his servants to bring anyone they pleased to the wedding banquet. When the king arrived at the wedding hall, he threw everyone out because they were not wearing wedding attire.

If Jesus Christ is the king in the hearts of the saints, the saints must put on the clothes of Christ. The clothes of Christ are also called the clothes of righteousness, and they mean the spiritual body with the life of resurrection. In order for the saints to put on the clothes of Christ, they must be united with Jesus who died on the cross and become dead. The Bible expresses the death of one’s old self and being reborn as a new self as putting on a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:44 “It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”

However, the last days will judge those who reject Jesus as king. 1 Corinthians 15:22-25 『For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then those who are Christ's at his coming. Then the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all enemies under his feet.』

 

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