The Anointed King and Saviour
The name Christ is not a surname but a divine title derived from the Greek word Christos ($\text{Xristos}$), meaning “Anointed One.” It is the direct Greek equivalent of the Hebrew title Messiah ($\text{Māšîaḥ}$). To confess Jesus as the Christ is to confess that He is the long-awaited, sovereign King sent by God to perfectly fulfill all the Old Testament offices and prophecies.
The Three Offices of the Anointed One
In the Old Testament, the act of anointing with oil consecrated individuals for three distinct, high offices within Israel. Jesus Christ perfectly embodies all three, fulfilling the entire prophetic demand:
1. Prophet
Christ is the ultimate Prophet, the one spoken of by Moses:
“The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;” (Deuteronomy 18:15, KJV)
As Prophet, Christ is the spokesman of God, the ultimate divine revelation (Hebrews 1:1-2). He did not just speak the Word of God; He is the Word made flesh (John 1:14).
2. Priest
Christ is the eternal High Priest, the one who offered the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice for sin, establishing a new and better covenant:
“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17, KJV)
As Priest, Christ mediates between God and man, and His sacrifice is the only atonement for apostasy and sin.
3. King
Christ is the rightful King of Israel, descended from the line of David, whose reign is eternal and universal:
“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:32-33, KJV)
As King, Christ rules over His church now and will establish His glorious earthly Kingdom upon His return.
The Confession of Faith
The question of “Who is Christ?” is the foundational question of all Christianity. The very essence of saving faith is the confession that Jesus is the Anointed One:
“Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” (1 Corinthians 12:3, KJV)
This confession is the “rock” upon which the church is built, distinguishing true believers from all forms of false religion and antichrist doctrine:
“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” (1 John 2:22, KJV)
Christ and the End Times
The title of Christ is inseparable from the promise of the Lord’s Return. Prophecy concerning the end times centers entirely on the final, physical return of the Anointed King to Earth:
- The greatest deceivers will attempt to usurp this title, confirming its centrality to God’s plan: “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:5, KJV)
- The final, blessed hope of the Church is the glorious appearing of the “great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13, KJV).
To know Christ is to know the full truth of Scripture, the perfect plan of salvation, and the glorious hope of the kingdom to come.