Exposition of the Apostles Creed, Exposition · Part 2 · Section 13
The third day he roſe from the dead.
Teſtimonies out of the Prophetes and Apoſtles concerning the reſurrection of Chriſt.
Pſal. 16, 20.THou wilt not ſuffer thy holy one to ſee corruption. Actes 2. Men and brethren (ſaith Peter) I may boldely ſpeake vntounto you of the patriarche Dauid, that he is both dead and buried, and his ſepulchre remaineth with you till this day. Therefore ſeeing he was a Prophet, and God had ſworne with an oath vntounto him, that of the fruite of his loines he would raiſe vp Christ concerning the fleſh, whom he would place vponupon his throne, he knowing this before, ſpake of the reſurrection of Chriſt, that his ſoule ſhould not be left in graue, neither ſhould his fleſh ſee corruption: This Ieſus hath God raiſed vp, whereof we are all witneſſes. The figure of Ionah (Cap. 2) is manifeſt and expounded of Chriſt himſelfe. Math. 12.…9 40. Eſay 53.8. He was taken out from priſon and iudgement, and who ſhall reckon his age and generation? And in the 10. verſe, when he ſhall make his ſoule an offeringe for ſinne, he ſhall ſee the ſeede that ſhall prolong his daies, and the will of Iehouah ſhall proſper in his handes. There is alſo cited of Paul, Acts 13. the 55. Chapter of Eſay, and the 2. Pſal. and the 16. to the ende hee may ſhewe that Chriſt muſt riſe againe, that he might declare himſelfe to be the very ſonne of God (Rom. 1.) and that that ſame couenant of God made with Dauid might be firme and euerlaſting. Nowe Paules ſermon is on this ſorte, Men and brethren, you ſonnes of the ſtocke of Abraham, and thoſe amongest you that feare God, to you is this worde of ſaluation ſent. For the inhabitantes of Jeruſalem and their rulers, becauſe they knewe him not, nor yet the wordes of the prophetes which are read eueryevery Sabboth day, they hauehave fulfilled them in condemning him, and though they found no cauſe of death in him yet deſired they Pilate to kill him. And when they had fulfilled all thinges which were written of him, they put him beeing taken downe from the tree into a ſepulchre, but God raiſed him from the dead, and he was ſeene many daies of them, which came vp with him from Galile to Hieruſalem which are his witneſses vntounto the people. And we preach vntounto you that touching the promiſe made vntounto the fathers, God hath fulfilled it vntounto vsus their children, in that he raiſed vp Ieſus, euen as it is written in the ſecond Pſalme, Thou art my ſonne, this day hauehave I begotten thee. Nowe in aſmuch as he hath raiſed him vp from the dead, and he ſhall no more returne into corruption, he hath ſaide, I will giuegive you thoſe ſame firme and good things of Dauid. Wherefore he ſaith alſo in an other place, Thou wilt not ſuffer thine holy one to ſee corruption. Howbeit Dauid after he had ſerued his time by the counſaile of God, he ſlept & was laide with his fathers, & ſawe corruption: but he whom God raiſed vp ſawe no corruption. Be it knowne vntounto you therefore men and brethren, that through this man is preached vntounto you the forgiuenes of ſinnes; and from all things from which you could not be iuſtified by the lawe of Moſes, by him eueryevery one that beleeueth is iustified: Beware therefore least that come vponupon you which is ſpoken of in the Prophet Daniel, and other Prophetes foreſhewe both: that both the Meſſias is to be cut of, and yet notwithstanding that he ſhall raigne for euer. Therefore he must be quickened againe. For abiding in death, he raigneth not. Daniel 7. and 9.
Iohn 2. Deſtroy this Temple, and I will raiſe it vp againe in three daies, where alſo is propheſied concerning the fulfilling of that propheſie in the 2. of Aggei. Iohn addeth when he was ariſen from the deade, his diſciples remembred that he had ſaide this vntounto them, and they beleeued the ſcripture and the word which Ieſus had ſpoken vntounto them. 1. Cor. 15. doth witneſse at large the reſurrrection of Chriſt and the fruite of it. And the Euangeliſtes they beare witneſse concerning the reſurrection, they ſet it out and confirme it by the teſtimonies of Angels. Math. 28. Mark 16. Iohn 20. 21. Luk 24.
The meaning of this article, The third day he roſe againe from the dead.
I Beleeue that it was impoſſible that that ſame holie Ieſus, the Chriſt and annointed of God, ſhould be holden of death, which entred into the worlde for ſinne onelyonly: Actes 2. aſwel becauſe he was pure in himſelfe from all blot of ſinne, as alſo becauſe he aboliſhed our ſinnes which were laide vponupon him: and alſo becauſe the humanitie beeing perſonally vnited to the diuine nature or to that ſame ſubſtantial quickening worde, and that therefore the bondes of death beeing looſed that he aroſe againe the thirde day by his diuine power and appeared againe to his diſciples in life, deuoide of al paſſion and mortalitie, and ſo declared himſelfe in verie deede, the conquerour of our ſinne and of death, Matth. 28. Marke. 16.
Of the vſe or fruite of the reſurrection of Chriſt.
THe vſe or fruite whereof we be partakers of the reſurrection of Chriſt is fourefold. The firſt is that the reſurrection of Chriſte is a publike teſtimonie, that by the Meſſias, as Daniel ſpeaketh, there is brought a perfect and euerlaſting righteouſnes vponupon all and ouer all that doe beleeue. For ſeeing that he is deade not in his owne but in our ſinnes that were laide vponupon him, and that out of them he is ariſen againe to a life that ſhall neuer die, hence there ſhineth to the mindes of all beleeuers a wonderfull light, that not ſo much as one of all their ſinnes remained vnwaſhed or vnſatiſfied. For if ſo be that there had remained but one of all their ſinnes, which (none excepted Chriſte tooke vponupon him) either not thoroughly puniſhed, or imperfectly puniſhed: then could not Chriſt our pledge and truce-maker riſe againe: for aſmuch as where there is but one ſinne, there of neceſſitie muſt death be: for ſo hath the vnchangeable trueth, and righteouſnes of God decreed, Rom. 6. The wages of ſinne is death. Neither yet doth the reſurrection of Chriſt ſo make to our iuſtification, as it is onelyonly a publike teſtimonie thereof: but alſo in a more highe conſideration, and that ſound & perfect, euerie manner of waie, to wit that that ſame raiſing vp of the Sonne, is (as I may ſay) an actual remiſſion from the ſinnes of all them which beleeue. For euen as the Father by deliuering Chriſt to death, hath in deede condemned our ſinnes in Chriſt, Rom. 8. verſe 3. ſo alſo by raiſing him from death, he hath in the ſame deed abſolued Chriſt from our ſinnes and vsus in Chriſt. There is a moſt ſure demonſtration of this doctrine in the 1. Cor. 15. If Chriſt (ſaith he) be not riſen againe, in vaine is our faith, & ye are yet in your ſinnes, that is to ſay, ye are yet guiltie before God. Therefore becauſe Chriſt is ariſen, we are not any longer in our ſinnes, that is, we are in very deede abſolued from them, in this very thing that the father hath raiſed him from the dead, that they might not be laide to our charge. 2. Cor. 5.19. So alſo is that ſame place to be taken. Ro. 4. For it was written, not for Abraham alone, for that this was imputed vntounto him, but alſo for vsus, to whome it ſhoulde come to paſſe that it ſhould be imputed, that is to ſay, to them which beleue in him who hath raiſed vp our Lorde Ieſus from the dead, who was deliuered for our ſinnes, & raiſed vp againe for our iuſtification. What hath the father done by deliuering Chriſt to death? He hath deliuered him for our ſinnes, he hath puniſhed our ſinnes in him. And what hath he done by raiſing him vp? He hath iuſtified all in him: for when he had deliuered him, that is the beleeuers, ſo that their ſins ſhal be no more laide to their charge, but righteouſnes ſhall be imputed vntounto them. For theſe wordes raiſed vp for our iustification, are to be vnderſtoode of imputation, as by this it is eaſie to bee ſeene, becauſe that in the laſt verſe ſauing one he hath ſaide that righteouſnes is imputed of him who hath raiſed him vp, and in this laſte verſe he nameth it our iuſtification in him who is raiſed vppe. Loe that which before he had called imputation of righteouſnes, this hee nameth now our iuſtification. What, for that the ſame Apoſtle in the 1. Timoth. 3. ſaith, And without controuerſie great is the myſterie of godlineſſe, God manifeſted in the fleſh iuſtified in ſpirite, ſeene of Angels, preached vntounto the Gentiles, beleued on in the world, & receyued vp into glorie: doth he not manifeſtly ſhewe that that ſame true God who was manifeſted in the fleſhe wherein alſo he ſuffered: by the ſpirite which he oppoſeth againſt the fleſhe, that is by the power of his owne diuinitie whereby he raiſed vp the fleſhe from the deade, was iuſtified, and that not from his owne ſinnes, but from ours which he had taken vppon him? After which raiſing vp and iuſtification of him their folowed ye teſtimonie of Angels, ye publike preaching of the remiſſion of ſins through him vntounto the gentiles, the beleefe which was giuen vntounto him, and to be ſhort the receiuing of him vp into glorie: all which teſtimonies verely coulde not hauehave followed, vnleſſe he had beene iuſtified from our ſinnes, by riſing againe thorowe the power of his diuinitie. For neither coulde the Angels giuegive witnes of him as of the Sauiour if he had remained oppreſſed in our condemnation: neither remiſſion of ſinnes hauehave ben preched in his name, if frō thē in our name he had not beene fully iuſtified: neither faith hauehave bene giuen to him, if oppreſſed of ſinne & death he could not hauehave giuē ye holy goſt, which is ye author of faith: neither could he hauehave ben receiued vp into glory vnleſſe yt ſame fleſh, vponupon which all our ſinnes had beene caſt (Eſay 53.) had beene iuſtified from them, when it was raiſed vp from death, to which by the counſaile of death it was condemned. This is that ſame power of the reſurrection of Chriſt, whereby ye righteouſnes which is not of the lawe, but the righteouſnes which is of God, is brought forth through faith, concerning which Paul Phil. 3. in an vndoubted and full perſuaſion of faith, glorieth after this manner: as touching ye righteouſnes which is in the lawe, I was blameleſſe, but the things which were vantage vntounto mee, thoſe things I accounted loſſe, in reſpect of Chriſt, yea doubtles I thinke all things loſſe for the excellent knowledge ſake of Chriſte Ieſus my Lorde, for whom I depriue my ſelfe of al theſe things, & accoumpt them for doung, that I may gaine Chriſt, and may be founde in in him not hauing my righteouſnes which is of the lawe, but that which is of Chriſt through faith, the righteouſnes which is of GOD through faith, that I may knowe him, & the force and power of his reſurrection. Therefore alſo Paul, Rom. 8. not onelyonly oppoſeth death as the price and redemption againſt condemnation but alſo of the reſurrection as the abſolution, and as it were a higher degree. For ſo he ſaith, Who is it that ſhall condemne? It is Chriſt which is deade, or rather which is riſen againe. Why alſo doth Peter recken ye reſurrection of Ieſus Chriſt to be the couenaunt of a good cōſcience: vnleſſe it be becauſe then the conſcience is clere and reſtored into libertie, when that ſame light of iuſtification in the reſurrection of Ieſus Chriſt ſhall ſhine vntounto it? Therefore then at length the couenaunt of Baptiſme is ratified in beleeuers, when faith ſhall hauehave obtayned this victorie in our heartes, ſee the 1. Pet. 3 And hitherto maketh that ſame courſe and order of propounding the Goſpell, which the Apoſtles kept in the Actes, to witte, why they ſo greatly vexed, that hee whome they had crucified, was raiſed vp againe from the deade, and why they ſet out in him being raiſed vp frō ye deade, iuſtification or rather forgiuenes of ſins: to wit, becauſe as our ſins are condēned in the death of Chriſt: ſo our abſolutiō is in his reſurrection: Therfore whē Paul Act. 13. ſhewed forth ye death of Chriſt, and proued his reſurrectiō by many reaſons, at the length he concludeth, Brethren, be it therefore knowen vntounto you, that through this man is preached vntounto you, forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, and from all thinges from which you coulde not be iuſtified by the lawe of Moſes, by him euerie one that beleeueth is iuſtified. And thoſe ſame wordes that went before, doe ſhewe that Paul doth gather that ſame concluſion concerning iuſtification, not onelyonly of the death, but alſo of the reſurrection of Chriſt, which wordes are in this ſort, Wee alſo preach vntounto you the ſame promiſe, which was made vntounto the fathers, which God hath fulfilled vntounto their children, that is to ſay to you, hauing raiſed vp Ieſus. And ſurely that ſame courſe or maner of propounding of the Goſpel, was agreeable to the commaundement. For why, by the commandement of Chriſt was the full goſpell ſent at length after the reſurrection, to the gentiles and to euerie creature, as Chriſte ſaith in Luke: For ſo it behooued that Chriſt ſhoulde ſuffer and riſe againe from the dead the thirde day, and remiſſion of ſinnes be preached in his name to all nations: to wit becauſe then at the length theſe things might be fullie publiſhed in his name, after he had borne our ſinnes in his body vppon the tree, and had riſen againe being iuſtified from them. For then was the Goſpell full all manner of wayes, (1. Cor. 15.1.2.17.) and the grace of iuſtification moſt full and abounding ouer euerie fault in all and ouer all that do beleeue. The ſumme therefore of the firſt fruit of the reſurrection of Chriſt, is that our ſinnes can no more bee laide to our charge then to Chriſte himſelfe: and that in Chriſt we are accounted as righteous and innocent as Chriſt was when he roſe from the dead. Foraſmuch as by his death going before, hee had taken away our ſinnes through obedience, nowe hereof it followeth ſeeing he aroſe iuſtified, who before as a ſinner was condemned, & accurſſed of God in our perſon, that hee was iuſtified in our name from our ſinnes. Neither is there any cauſe, that any man ſhoulde meruell that Chriſt by riſing from the deade, was iuſtified from our ſinnes, and we in Chriſt before we were borne, foraſmuch as the Apoſtle ſaith 2. Tim. 1. that that ſame grace was giuen vntounto vsus before all worldes, but manifeſted in the ſon and yet alſo manifeſted in the Goſpell, ſee alſo Epheſ. 1.
Of the ſeconde fruite of the reſurrection of Chriſt.
THe ſeconde fruite is viuification or quickening: becauſe as Chriſt, is iuſtified from our ſinnes by riſing againe, and therewithall is quickened: ſo he that beleeueth in Chriſt, is both iuſtified and quickened, as the Apoſtle teacheth Epheſ. 2. vntill the 11. verſe. Therefore Paul Rom. 5. calleth the ſame iuſtification of life, and oppoſeth it to the fault of condemnation; and maketh an antitheſis or matching of contraries betwene ſinne that raigneth to death, and the righteouſnes of Chriſt, which whoſoeuer receiue, they raigne in life, verſes, 17.18.21. And in deede ſo, as not onelyonly Chriſt worketh in vsus not onelyonly that ſame newe life: but alſo Chriſt is that life himſelfe, as him ſelfe ſaith: I am the way, the trueth, and the life. Iohn. 14.6. And Gala. 2.20. Nowe I liue no more, But Christ liueth in me. Viuification therefore is the ſeconde fruit of the reſurrection of Chriſt, to wit, for that Chriſt himſelfe alwayes liuing is become our life through faith, and becauſe by the vertue which we drawe from our heade Chriſte through the ſpirite of faith, we ariſe in this life into newnes of life, that by liuing purely and holily, wee might wholy conſecrate our ſelues to the will of God. This thing the Apoſtle teacheth Col. 3. If yee be riſen with Chriſt▪ ſeeke thoſe thinges that are aboue, where Chriſt is ſitting at the right hande of God. Care for heauenly thinges and not for earthly. For this cauſe alſo the ſelfe ſame Apoſtle ſaith, Rom. 6. that We are planted into the ſimilitude of the death of Chriſt that being partakers of his reſurrection, we might walke in newnes of life, In which wordes he not onelyonly ſetteth out the reſurrection of Chriſt, as an example for vsus to followe: but alſo eſpecially teacheth that this thing eſpecially wrought in vsus, that by the vertue of the reſurrection of Chriſt, wee might riſe agayne into a newe life.
Of the third fruit of the reſurrection of Chriſt.
The thirde fruit which is ioyned with the ſecond, is the aſſurance of our perſeuerance in faith and of full victorie againſt ſinne and death. For euen like as Chriſt dyeth no more, but liueth the life which neuer can faile, (for in that he is dead, he is once dead to ſinne, but in that he liueth, he liueth to God, death ſhal hauehave no further dominion ouer him. Rom. 6.) ſo they that are engraffed into Chriſt through faith, do drawe out of him a ſpirituall life, from which they can neuer fal: and which no not in the verie ſeparation of the body and of ſoule can bee extinguiſhed, as Chriſt ſaith, If any man keepe my word he ſhall neuer ſee death. Iohn 8.51. Therefore ſeeing the faithfull liue this life of Chriſt in an entrance or beginning, the force and nature whereof ſhed into their minds from Chriſt is ſuch as it can neuer altogether die: they are alſo aſſured of the full conſummation and perfecting of it. The ſelfe ſame thing alſo Peter teacheth 1. Epiſt. 1. Bleſsed be God and the father of our Lord Ieſus Christ, who of his great merciemercy hath begotten vsus into a liuely hope through the reſurrection of Ieſus Chriſt from the dead: And verſe 4. & 6. he laieth the cauſe & foundation of a liuely hope in the merciemercy of ye father & reſurrectiō of Chriſt: becauſe as Chriſt after yt hee aroſe in our name by the merciemercy of ye father he alwaies liueth: ſo hope alſo hath a permanent and indurable life in him, partly regeneration being begone, and partly it loketh for it in that ſame full conſummation and finiſhing. In the firſt to the Epheſians verſes 19.20.23. there is a notable place moſt fit and agreeable vntounto this doctrine: to wit that God doeth ſhewe foorth yt ſelfe ſame power in vsus, whiles he giueth vsus faith, which hee wrought and declared in his ſonne, when he raiſed him vp from the dead, and that ſame ſubſtantiall word it ſelfe to be that, which filleth all in all thinges, The ſame alſo 1. Pet. 1. verſe 3.5. 2 Cor. 4.14.16. And from hence floweth that ſame certaintie concerning full victorie againſt ſinne, againſt the aſſaultes of ſathan and death. For like as that euerlaſting worde in fleſh which it tooke, and which in it owne power it raiſed from the deade, Iohn 10. ouercame our ſinne imputed vntounto him & death: ſo alſo that ſame euerlaſting worde ſhall not ceaſe, dwelling by grace in the faithfull, but vtterly to aboliſh in thoſe alſo the remnauntes of ſinne and death, already ouercame by his vertue and power. 1. Corinthians. 15. verſ. 54.57.58. 1. Iohn 5.4.5. For by no other vertue and power, but by the verie ſame whereby that euerlaſting worde in that receiued lumpe ouercame our ſin and death, we know alſo according to the promiſe the ſame worde alſo working in vsus, that wee ſhall vanquiſhe and ouercome. Io. 4. Becauſe he is mightier that is in vsus then he that is in the worlde. This certayntie of our perſeueraunce in true faith, and of a full victorie through faith bringeth to paſſe that we take all thinges from his hande, whether they be thinges proſperous or full of aduerſitie, being fully perſuaded that all thoſe thinges doe haſten the fruition of that ſame victorie, which now is gotten for vsus by Chriſt. 1. Cor. 15. Thankes be to God, who hath giuen vsus victorie through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. The ſame is in the 2. Cor. 4.15.
Concerning the laſt fruite of the reſurrection of Chriſt.
SEing yt not only our ſoules but alſo our bodies, are mēbers of our head Chriſt, through the bonde of the ſpirit of faith: 1. Cor. 6. ver. 5. 15. Rom. 8.11. therefore in the reſurrection of our heade Chriſt, our bodies hauehave a certaine pledge and ſeale that they are not onelyonly rayſed vp from ſinnes in this life, as was ſhewed in the ſecond fruit: but alſo ye ſelfe ſame bodies which are yet mortall, hauehave both nowe the right of euerlaſting life, and through that ſame quickening ſpirit of Chriſt, are repaired to the fruition of him, and to true immortalitie in the end of the world, and that in the ſelfe ſame ſtate and condition with the glorious body of Chriſte. Phil. 3. Who ſhall transforme our vile body that it may be faſhioned like vntounto his glorious body, according to that effectuall working whereby hee is made able to ſubdue all things vntounto himſelfe. 1. Cor. 15.49. As we hauehave borne the image of the earthly Adam, ſo ſhall we heare the image of the heauenly. The laſt fruit therefore of the reſurrection of Chriſt, is tha… immortalitie is adiudged vntounto vsus from God himſelfe, made in the rayſing vp of the Meſſiah, and offered vntounto vsus by the Goſpell, and ſealed by the ſpirite of Chriſte, 2. Tim. 1.10. Who hath aboliſhed death, and hath brought life and immortalitie vntounto light thorough the Goſpell. To the Epheſians chap. 1. In which Chriſt alſo you hauehave hoped, hauing heard the worde of trueth, euen the goſpell of your ſaluation: in which alſo after that ye beleeued, ye were ſealed with the holy ſpirite of promiſe, whiche is the earnest of our inheritaunce whiles we are redeemed into libertie to the praiſe of his glorie. Although therefore wee die, yet we ſhall riſe againe into an immortall life, becauſe both the right of life is adiudged vntounto vsus, in the raiſing vp againe of the ſonne, and wee are ingraffed into this Chriſt, rayſed vp as branches vntounto the vine, both by the outwarde teſtimonie of the Goſpell, and alſo by the inwarde witneſſe of the holy Ghoſt, 1. Corinth. 15. If Christ bee riſen againe, we alſo ſhall riſe againe. Hitherto alſo belongeth it, that he calleth him the firſte fruits of them that riſe againe, becauſe ye whole harueſt of all the faithfull, from the beginning of the worlde was ſanctified vntounto God, by the rayſing vp of that lumpe, which the ſonne of God had taken of vsus, to a bleſſed reſurrection. Hitherto alſo it belongeth, that he is called the firſt begotten from amongeſt the dead, Coloſſians 1. as elſe where it ſhall bee declared more largely. Seeing therefore, that in rayſing vppe of the ſonne, the right of life is brought to light vntounto vsus, and that ſame quickening ſpirite of Chriſt is giuen vntounto vsus, hauing heard the Goſpell, (that ſame ſpirit I ſay of faith) through which not onelyonly our ſoules but alſo our bodies are members of our head Chriſte, therefore wee hauehave an vndoubted pledge in the reſurrection of our heade Chriſte, that our bodies are to bee repayred, and reſtored to immortalitie.