By Gary Ray Branscome
The words, This is a
trustworthy statement, worthy of complete acceptance, that Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners; of whom I am the worst, tell us the reason
Christ came into the world (1Timothy 1:15). You will notice that He did not
come to make us righteous through works, He came to
save us from our sins. As it is written, The Son of man has come to seek
and to save that which was lost (Luke
In teaching us the way of
salvation He functioned as a prophet, and that prophetic role was
foretold in the words. The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet
like me from the midst of you, from your brethren; you must listen to him
(Deuteronomy 18:15). In making atonement for our sins He functioned as a priest,
and that priestly role was foretold in the words, The LORD has sworn, and
will not change, You are a priest forever after the
order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4). [See Hebrews 5:6.] As head over His
church He functions as a king, and that role was foretold in the
words, I installed my king upon my holy hill of Zion
Blessed are all those
who put their trust in him (Psalm 2:6,12). That
is why we say that Christ has a threefold office, the office of Prophet, Priest
and King. [See, John 17:4 and 3:16, Matt. 18:11, Luke 1:30-31, Matt.
1:21,25, Luke 2:21, Luke 4:18, John 1:18, Heb. 1:1, Matt. 17:2, 2Cor. 5:18-19,
Matt. 20:28, Rom. 5:10, 1John 2:2, Luke 1:33, Eph. 1: 20-23, John 18:33-37,
Deut. 18:15-19, Ps. 110:2 and 6-12, Heb. 6:20 and 7:17.]