Institutes of Christian religion - Calvin - XXVIII - Chapter 15 of Book 2

Required reading
Institutes of Christian religion by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 15 of Book 2.

My summary
Today Calvin looks at the offices of Christ.

Firstly Calvin teaches that Christ is a prophet: 'We see that he was anointed by the Spirit to be a herald and witness of his Father’s grace, and not in the usual way; for he is distinguished from other teachers who had a similar office.'

Secondly Calvin tells us that Christ is a king: 'I come to the Kingly office, of which it were in vain to speak, without previously reminding the reader that its nature is spiritual; because it is from thence we learn its efficacy, the benefits it confers, its whole power and eternity.'

Thirdly Calvin speaks about Christ as a priest: 'With regard to his Priesthood, we must briefly hold its end and use to be, that as a Mediator, free from all taint, he may by his own holiness procure the favour of God for us.'

What grabbed me
I enjoyed Calvin's teaching on Christ's kingship: 'But to prevent those who were already more than enough inclined to the earth from dwelling on its pomp, he bids them enter into their consciences, for “the kingdom of God” is “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost,” (Rom. 14:17). These words briefly teach what the kingdom of Christ bestows upon us. Not being earthly or carnal, and so subject to corruption, but spiritual, it raises us even to eternal life, so that we can patiently live at present under toil, hunger, cold, contempt, disgrace, and other annoyances; contented with this, that our King will never abandon us, but will supply our necessities until our warfare is ended, and we are called to triumph: such being the nature of his kingdom, that he communicates to us whatever he received of his Father. Since then he arms and equips us by his power, adorns us with splendour and magnificence, enriches us with wealth, we here find most abundant cause of glorying, and also are inspired with boldness, so that we can contend intrepidly with the devil, sin, and death. In fine, clothed with his righteousness, we can bravely surmount all the insults of the world: and as he replenishes us liberally with his gifts, so we can in our turn bring forth fruit unto his glory. '

With Jesus as our king, we having nothing to fear.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 16 of Book 2.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.