Chapter 18: Of the Kingly Office of Christ
Scripture referenced in this chapter 8
Q. Has Christ also the office of a King?
A. Yes, for he is often expressly so called, and has the ornaments of a King.
Q. What are those ornaments?
A. To sit upon a throne, to wear a crown upon his head, and to have a scepter in his hand.
Q. How is he King of his people? as God only, or as man also?
A. Not as God only, but as Mediator, God and man in one person.
Q. How is that proved?
A. Because he that was born and given to us has the government upon his shoulders, and he that was crucified is made Lord and Christ; now to be born, and given, and crucified, cannot be said of God only.
Q. How else may it appear that Christ is King not as God only, but as man also?
A. Because the time will come when he shall deliver up the kingdom to the Father, but as God he shall reign with the Father to all eternity.
Q. Is any work of Christ as King anywhere expressly ascribed to him as man?
A. Yes, authority to execute judgment as a kingly work; and this belongs to Christ as man (John 5:27).
Q. Over whom is Christ a King?
A. Over all creatures in general, over the visible Church in special, and over the elect in a most special manner above all other.
Q. How is he King over all creatures?
A. In sustaining and disposing of them all by his providence, as may be for his glory, and the good of the elect (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Proverbs 8:15-16; Isaiah 43:14-15).
Q. And how is he King of the visible Church?
A. In that he gathers men into it, appoints ordinances and officers to it, and prescribes laws for the manner of carrying on all things therein.
Q. How does Christ all these things in the Church?
A. He does them all by his word, which is therefore called the word of the kingdom (Matthew 13:19).
Q. And how is Christ King of the elect?
A. Not only by his providence, as over all creatures: nor only by his word and ordinances, as to the visible Church, but also by the special working of the grace of his holy Spirit in their hearts (Ezekiel 36:26; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18).
Q. Has not the kingly office of Christ some that are enemies to it?
A. Yes, sin and the world, the devil and death.
Q. What are the acts of Christ's kingly office in respect of those his enemies, and the enemies of his Church and elect people?
A. To bridle and subdue them all.
Q. What are the properties of Christ's kingdom?
A. It is lawful, spiritual, powerful, righteous, large, and everlasting.
