Westminster Larger Catechism # 45
Commentary by Dr. Chuck Baynard
Q45. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
Answer: Christ executeth the office of a king in calling out of the world a people to
himself, and giving them officers, laws, and censures, by which he visibly governs them:
in bestowing saving grace upon his elect, rewarding their obedience, and correcting them
for their sins, preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings,
restraining and overcoming all their enemies, and powerfully ordering all things for his
own glory and their good; and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and
obey the gospel.
References: Acts 15:14-16; Isa. 55:4-5; Gen. 49:10; Ps. 110:3; Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Cor.
12:28; Isa. 33:22; Mt. 18:17-18; 1 Cor. 5:4-5; Acts 5:31; Rev. 22:12; Rev. 2:10; Rev.
3:19; Isa. 63:9; 1 Cor. 15:25; Ps. 110:1-2; Rom. 14:10-11; Rom. 8:28; 2 Thess. 1:8-9.
The temptation to shout Amen, leaving this statement untouched is present in abundance.
On first reading the only twinge came not from the words of the Divines, but the choice of
proof texts from the book of Revelation. These passages most view as being yet future, and
Christ as the King is not future. However the jab of the Revelation references was more
than soothed with the many references to the Old Testament. Taken as a whole then I think
in their choice of references alone the Divines have shown us this is an office past,
present, and future of our Lord and Savior.
There is so much that warms the heart and brings hope and comfort in the midst of this
temporal world in this one statement it is hard to express the joy and comfort one finds
here, much less offer a critique. Yet for that purpose we are gathered. Perhaps I would
begin with the "bestowal of grace upon His elect;" believing the understanding
of grace is a thorn in the side of the reformed church that has brought much discussion
and even division at places in our history. Personally I do not recognize common and
special grace, but God’s grace bestowed upon the elect, and that which we are want to
call common grace is the over flow of God’s abundant grace so bestowed on His elect.
And even as these words clear the pen I am drawn to the statement "and powerfully
ordering all things for his own glory. . .." For this purpose all was created, and
this purpose, grace has been bestowed. These two fit hand in glove so to speak. Having my
own beliefs vindicated would perhaps silence any further critique, but I immediately find
myself looking at the phrase "also in taking vengeance on the rest. . .." and my
heart mourns for those outside this glorious knowledge of Christ. It is at this point so
many refuse the truth and wander into error because we cannot accept that some are
"created" for this purpose. First I would deny they were created for this
purpose, though that is how the election/reprobate issue would appear to present it. Man
was created without sin, and we can blame the current situation of being dead in sin on
none other than the created, not the Creator. Only in the sense God created all can we say
some were created for hell. Hell itself being created for Satan and the fallen angels, not
man. Yet hell will be populated by men, because of the fall, not God’s perfect
creation.
Nonetheless, for this reason alone many turn away from our precious faith and many
denominations have came into being in church history. I would that I had the ability to
silence such doubt of God’s sovereign grace forever, but laboring in trust, faith,
and with much trembling, continue with the fragile ability given of our Lord toward this
end. Our logic fails because we see something of value in the creation apart from its
Creator. Our true value lies not in the substance of the dust that we are, but as image
bearers of God. Yes we were created logical and reasoning beings, and herein is our down
fall. Logic has never and never will bring one soul to bow before the Sovereign God who
created us. We stand guilty, condemned to hell, one and all. God of His pure and sovereign
grace chose some to elect in Christ Jesus for His own glory. It is not as if God caused
man to sin and be condemned, but rather that God allowed them the freedom they demanded,
whereby they condemned themselves to hell. Were it possible (and it is not possible) for
man apart from the Holy Spirit working repentance, able to turn to God, then God would be
bound to bestow grace and salvation in Christ Jesus. None have, and none will; for this
reason our Lord to could say "none come unto Me unless the Father draw them."
Were it possible (and it is not possible) for any to obey the law 100 %, some believe this
would mean salvation and bestowal of grace. This is not so, for the law was not given to
ever work salvation, but to labor as a school master showing what sin is and how fallen we
are and in need of a Sovereign King, able to guide, support, and preserve a people for
Himself; the law made the necessity of Jesus manifest in the Old Testament, so those in
the New Testament could seize the promise with even more zeal than those who had gone
before. Christ said to Thomas that those who believed and saw not would be more blessed
than he who had seen with his own eyes. Surely this added blessing extended backward to
the Old Testament saints who perceived of His day only by faith.
In short then, mankind as a whole has fallen and is condemned to hell. From this
condemned mass of humanity, Christ the King of kings has called forth a people of His own,
and proceeds to lovingly, yet sovereignly rule over them and by His almighty power, so
ordering things in the world, that all work according to His holy purpose and for the
ultimate good of His people. No monarch before or since has ever been able, nor will be
able to so preserve his kingdom as our Lord and God has His. Earthly monarchs from the
beginning have claimed kin with deity. They were near a truth in that God ordained them to
office, but our King is God. And lest we become prideful in service to the King of kings
and lord it over others, we are constantly reminded, we are saved by grace, through faith,
and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God.
Israel wanted a king to be like the nations around them. God became a King that we
might be different than all other kingdoms from eternity past to eternity future! And with
this I point not to an error, but a place where I personally would have again chosen
different words than the Divines. They ask how Christ executes the office of "a"
king, I would choose the article "the." For Christ has always been King of kings
and Lord of lords, and has never surrendered this title, this authority to none. Christ is
*the* King of Glory!
We then can trace all the troubles in this temporal world to the denial of Christ Jesus
as King. Man sets himself above men, and bows before the idols of the world in denial of
the Sovereign Ruler of all, from whom their own position and power came. Man has never for
any extended period been able to acknowledge Christ as King, for they see only self and
refuse to share the grace bestowed in their attainment of this earthly title, or position.
The price for sin is paid for in this life, not the next only, and that price today is
human misery.
Dr. Chuck Baynard - 246 Rainbow Circle, Clover, SC 29710
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