Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 12

To call someone a “Christian” is not merely to label their religion. It’s to say they belong to Christ (to the Anointed One) and that somehow, mysteriously and beautifully, they share in His anointing. That’s what this week’s catechism questions open for us.

It’s easy to think of Jesus’ titles—Christ, Prophet, Priest, King—as lofty theological terms. But the Catechism wants us to go deeper. What if those titles weren’t only descriptions of Jesus, but invitations into a new identity? What if being a Christian means that, in Him, we become something profoundly new?

Question 31

Why is He called “Christ,” meaning “Anointed”?
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 perfectly reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God for our deliverance;
• our only high priest, who has set us free 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.¹

¹ Luke 3:21–22; Acts 3:22; Hebrews 7:17; John 15:15; Matthew 28:18

Question 32

But why are you called a Christian?
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 good conscience against sin and the devil in this life, and afterward to reign with Christ over all creation for all eternity.²

² Acts 11:26; 1 John 2:27; 1 Peter 2:9; Romans 12:1; Ephesians 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:12

Anointed to Be His

To be a Christian is not to adopt a lifestyle or merely to believe a set of doctrines. It is to be joined to Christ in such a way that His calling shapes yours.

Jesus is the Anointed One (the Christ) and in Him, you are anointed too. That means your life has a purpose that stretches far beyond career plans or personal dreams. You are called to represent Him. To speak truth with grace, like a prophet. To love sacrificially and intercede for others, like a priest. And to live under His reign while helping others taste the freedom of His kingdom.

These aren’t roles we perform to earn His love. They are identities we receive because we already belong to Him.

You are not just called a Christian. You are one. And that means something.

Called to Confess and to Reign

There is a quiet boldness in this catechism answer. You are called to confess His name. That’s not just public profession, but daily alignment. In a world increasingly suspicious of faith, confessing Christ isn’t always easy, but it is beautiful. It says to the world, I know the One who is true and good. And I belong to Him.

But the catechism doesn’t stop there. It adds a vision of resistance and victory: to strive against sin and the devil now, and to reign with Christ forever.

That’s not triumphalism. It’s hope. Even as you battle temptation or feel the weight of darkness in the world, Christ’s victory defines your story. His Spirit empowers your fight. And one day, you will reign with Him, not because you’re strong, but because He is.

A New Identity, A New Mission

In a culture obsessed with identity (what we do, what we feel, what others say about us) how freeing it is to hear a deeper truth: You are Christ’s.

And in Him, you are anointed with meaning and mission. You may not be a prophet, priest, or king by title, but by grace, you live into those roles every day:

• When you speak truth in love,
• When you carry the burdens of others in prayer,
• When you walk in obedience and hope,
• When you live for the good of others and the glory of Christ.

This is not about becoming something spectacular. It’s about becoming someone faithful.

A Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ: You are the Anointed One—our Prophet, our Priest, our King.
And by Your grace, I share in Your anointing.

Thank You for calling me Your own and giving my life a purpose I could never have imagined. Help me to confess Your name with joy and courage. Teach me to live as a sacrifice of thanks. Strengthen me to fight sin, resist the devil, and walk in holiness. And when I grow weary, remind me of the glory to come: that in You, I will reign forever.

I am Yours. Anointed, not by merit, but by mercy.

Amen.

Daily Bible Readings

New Testament in a Year
March 23 – Mark 16:1–20
March 24 – Luke 1:1–25
March 25 – Luke 1:26–56
March 26 – Luke 1:57–80
March 27 – Luke 2:1–21
March 28 – Luke 2:22–52
March 29 – Luke 3:1–20

The Bible in a Year
March 23 – Joshua 21–22; Mark 16:1–20
March 24 – Joshua 23–24; Luke 1:1–25
March 25 – Judges 1–2; Luke 1:26–56
March 26 – Judges 3–5; Luke 1:57–80
March 27 – Judges 6–7; Luke 2:1–21
March 28 – Judges 8–9; Luke 2:22–52
March 29 – Judges 10–11; Luke 3:1–20