
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 12
Jesus himself is anointed as prophet, priest and king, with each of those three offices relating to freedom for the believer. As prophet, Jesus reveals God's desire to deliver us; as priest, Jesus delivers us through his sacrifice and pleads our cause; and as king, he governs us and preserves us in the freedom that he has won. Glorious.]
Q31. Why is he called “Christ,”
meaning “anointed”?
A31. Because he has been ordained by God the Father
and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit
to be our chief prophet and teacher
who fully reveals to us
the secret counsel and will of God concerning our deliverance;
our only high priest
who has delivered us by the one sacrifice of his body,
and who continually pleads our cause with the Father;
and our eternal king
who governs us by his Word and Spirit,
and who guards us and keeps us
in the freedom he has won for us.
Q32. But why are you called a Christian?
A32. Because by faith I am a member of Christ
and so I share in his anointing.
I am anointed
to confess his name,
to present myself to him as a living sacrifice of thanks,
to strive with a free conscience against sin and the devil
in this life,
and afterward to reign with Christ
over all creation
for eternity.