Reflections on the Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689. 23 Aug 14 began a perhaps unbroken, orderly, and personal journey through my favorite written confession of faith. This will be my personal reflections on this beloved written codification of the Christian Faith which is according to a Baptist flavor.
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Section 8, paragraph 10: “This number and order of offices is necessary; for in respect of our ignorance, we stand in need of his prophetical office; and in respect of our alienation from God, and imperfection of the best of our services, we need his priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable unto God; and in respect to our averseness and utter inability to return to God, and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries, we need his kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to his heavenly kingdom.”
It is so very appropriate to acknowledge with love every facet of Jesus’ person and ministry.
Such comprehensive statements as these here could never be made of any mere man or woman. All three offices mentioned both here and in paragraph 9 evidence the massive superiority of the very person of Jesus Christ over everyone and everything else. In Colossians 2:9, Paul said: “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” It is a true statement that Jesus is the fullness of the priesthood, the fullness of the kingship and the fullness of the prophets. From Jesus, we receive only from his fullness. John 1:16.
On his prophetic role- Moses speaks in Deuteronomy 18:15 about a great prophet to come. In John 5:46, Jesus speaks of how Moses wrote about him throughout all of his writings. This word from Moses finds its principle fulfillment in Jesus. He is the Prophet of all the prophets as much as he is the King of all kings. Revelation 19:10 reads: “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Jesus, and him illuminated in the regenerate heart, is the very capstone of all true revelation. Ephesians 2:20. He is the total perfection of revelation. It all points to Jesus. When we behold him rightly through the Scriptures we are by the Spirit transformed into what we see. Jesus has brought life and immortality to light through his gospel. He is everything. He brings light and life. Whenever the sub-prophets spoke, it was God speaking in them (2 Peter 1:20-21). When Jesus speaks, it’s him talking.
On his priestly role- The author of Hebrews is zealous to show the superiority of Jesus’ priesthood over the Old Covenant high priesthood. Jesus’ priestly work is demonstrated there as the finest example of what a priest should be. All of the high priests under the Aaronic priesthood were sinful. They had to make atonement for the sins both of themselves and for the people. Jesus’ sacrifice was different. His blood did sanctify his offering, but it was not offered for his own infirmities. It sealed it. It was a perfect offering that established his intercessory position. With all of the other offerings, “it [was] not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” Hebrews 10:4. Jesus’ did. Jesus’ priestly office is so vastly superior to the Old Covenant priesthood that he’s actually called the “great high priest” in Hebrews 4:14. It is through this work that we have been brought near to God. Like beasts who could not approach God’s holy mountain, we could not approach God without Jesus’ mediation. Hebrews 12:18-24.
On his kingship- An angel proclaimed to Mary regarding Jesus: “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:32-33. Jesus has been given that throne. He is that promised great king. He right now today sits on top a kingdom we’re awaiting to become a part of this world in the only age to come. He reigns. While there is suffering, sadness, death and sin today, because he reigns, we can have hope in the future. It will not always be so.
Jesus is the fullness of everything. Look at him deeply. Look at him in the light of every candle Scripture beams upon him. Every light casts its own glow upon his glory. Look at him as prophet, as priest, as king. He is the fullness of every good thing in the Bible.
I cherish how your individuality shines through in your writing. It establishes an immediate bond.
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