Question: How does Christ perform the office of a king?
Answer: Christ performs the office of a king, in subduing us to himself (Psalm 110:1-3), in ruling and defending us (Isaiah 33:22), and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies (1 Cor. 15:25).
Other Scripture: Matthew 2:6; Luke 1:32-33; Daniel 4:34-35.
Agenda
Collect memory work (Hebrews 4:14-15)
Assign memory work (1 Cor. 15:25)
Introduction; Invictus, by William Ernest Henley
Who controls Henley’s life?
Who is Henley’s king?
What is the horror that Henley boasts about not fearing in stanza 3? death
What does Henley boast about not fearing in stanza 4? judgment
What is wrong with Henley’s view? Jesus is supreme Lord and king, and so Henley is walking in unbelief, pride, and rebellion. See Psalm 14:1, 53:1 — “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’.”
Read Psalm 2, God’s answer to Invictus.
What is the parallel between verses 1-3 and the poem? Both describe rebellion against God.
What is God’s warning to rebellious men (vv. 10-12)? His wrath will one day destroy them.
Whom has God established as King?
Read segment on human kings, sovereignty, autonomy; read passage on Nebuchadnezzar (also mention Artaxerxes). A king has sovereign authority, absolute authority over life and death. We are not autonomous; define autonomy (auto, self; nomos, law).
“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’” — Abraham Kuyper
Catechism #26. Elaborate on each of Jesus’s kingly roles; perform Scripture exercise for each role:
Subduing us to himself
Ruling and defending us
Restraining and conquering all his and our enemies
Application 1 — how does this relate to the gospel?
I want to draw out 1) Jesus’s absolute authority over us as king, and our responsibility to him, and 2) Jesus’s kingly role in “subduing” us, i.e., sovereignly drawing us to him for salvation.
Application 2 — what comfort does this bring to us? We are under his powerful and good care and protection.
Application 3 — what response does this demand of us? Jesus, our king, has absolute authority over our lives. We are under his good and wise authority, and so we ought to 1) worship and 2) obey.