Exposition of the Shorter Catechism, Question 28 – Question 29
Of Christ's Exaltation.
Quest. 28. WHerein consists Christ's Exaltation?
A. Christ's Exaltation consists in his rising again from the dead on the third day; in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the World at the last day.
Q. 1. What is the first step of Christ's Exaltation?
A. His Resurrection from the dead.
Q. 2. How doth his Resurrection appear?
A. By the Scripture Prophesies accomplisht in him. 1 Cor. 15.4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, according to the scriptures.
Q 3. Why did Christ rise again?
A. To establish our Faith, and abolish our Sins. 1 Cor. 15.17. And if Christ be not risen, your faith is vain, you are yet in your sins.
Q. 4. What other end was there of Christ's Resurrection?
A. To declare his Divine Power. Rom. 1.4. And declare… to be the son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead. And to evidence the fulness of his satisfaction. John 16.10. Of rihgteousness, because I go to my father, and ye see me no more.
Q. 5. Did Christ rise in the same Body he laid down?
A. It was substantially the same. Iohn 20.27. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing.
Q. 6. What doth Christ's Resurrection teach us?
A. The certainty of Resurrection after death. 1 Cor. 15.20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.
Q. 7. What was the second step of Christ's Exaltation?
A. His Ascention after forty days into Heaven. Acts 1.2, 3. Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the Apostles, whom he had …hosen, to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Q. 8. VVhy did Christ stay so long on Earth?
A. To assure the truth of his Resurrection, and to settle the due Government of his Church. Acts 1.2, 3.
Q. 9. For what end did he ascend?
A. To take possession of his glory. Iohn 17.5. And now, O father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. And that as our fore-runner. Heb. 6.20. VVhither the fore-runner is for us entred, even Iesus, &c.
Q. 10. In what manner did Christ ascend?
A. Triumphantly, and magnificently. Psal. 47.5. God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with a sound of a trumpet.
Q. 11. VVhat doth his ascension teach us?
A. Heavenly-mindedness. Col. 3.1, 2. If ye them be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God; set your affections on things above, and not o… things on the earth. And an encouragement in our Christian race. Heb. 12.1, 2. VVherefore seeing we also are compas…ed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every …eight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with …atience the race that is set before us, looking unto Iesus the au…hor and finisher of our faith. VVho for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is sate down at the right hand of the Throne of God.
The Second Part of the 28th Question of Christ's Exaltation.
Quest. 1. WHat was the Third degree of Christ's Exaltation?
A. His sitting at God's right hand in Heaven. Heb. 1.3. VVhen he had by himself purged our sins, sate down on the right hand of the majesty on high.
Q. 2. VVhat doth God's right hand signify?
A. A State of Honour. Heb. 1.13. But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool? And Power. Mat. 26.64. Hereafter shall ye see the son of man sitting on the right hand of power.
Q. 3. VVhat is implied in Christ's sitting there?
A. That his work on earth is finished. Heb. 10.11, 12. But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sin, for ever sate down on the right hand of God.
Q. 4. VVhat else doth it signify?
A. Christ's power over all enemies. Psal. 110.2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Sion; rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Q. 5. VVhat learn we from Christ's sitting there?
A. The high honour Believers are advanced to by Christ. Eph. 2.6. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Iesus.
Q. 6. VVhat is the last step of Christ's Exaltation?
A. His coming to Judgment. Acts 10.42. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God, to be judge of quick and dead.
Q. 7. It is certain there shall be a Iudgment-day?
A. Yes, the Scripture assures it. 2 Cor. 5.10. For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ. And every man's conscience witnesses to it. Rom. 2.16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Iesus Christ, according to my Gospel.
Q. 8. What is the first property of Christ's Iudgment?
A. It will be awful and solemn. 1 Thes. 4.16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Arch-angel, and with the Tr…mp of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
Q. 9. VVhat is the second Property of it?
A. It will be exact and critical. Rom. 2.16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Iesus Christ, according to my Gospel. Mat. 12.36. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of Iudgment.
Q. 10. What is the third Property of it?
A. It will be an universal Judgment. Rev. 20.12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened.
Q. 11. How is this a part of Christ's Exaltation?
A. He now acts in the fulness of his Kingly Power. Mat. 25.34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. And this will rowl away the reproach of his enemies. Rev. 1.7. Behold he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him.
Q. 12. What learn we from Christ's being Iudge?
A. That Believers shall not be cast in Judgment. Rom. 8.1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus.
Q. 13. What learn we hence?
A. The deplorable State of Christless Persons. Luke 19.27. But those mine en…mies that would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
Q. 14. What else learn we from Christ's Iudgment?
A To give all diligence to be found of him in peace. 2 Pet. 3.14. Wherefore beloved, seeing that ye lock for such things, …e diligent, that ye may be sound of him in peace.
Of the Application of Christ.
Quest. 29. HOW are we made partakers of the Redemption purchased by Christ?
A. We are made par…akers of the Redemption purchased by Chri…t, by the effectual Application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.
Q. 1. What did our Redemption cost Christ?
A. It cost him his own Blood to obtain it. Heb. 9.12. Neither by the blood of Goats and Calves, but by his own blood, he entred once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Q. 2. Can none have the benefit of it, exceept it be applied to them?
A. No; if Christ be not applied, we cannot be saved. Iohn 1.12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the… Sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
Q. 3 Whose work or office is it to apply Christ to us;
A. It's the office and work of God's Spirit. Tit. 3.45. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done; but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Q. 4. W…at Means doth the Spirit use in applying Christ?
A. The external means he makes use of, is the Ministry of the Gospel. 1 Cor. 3.5. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollo, but Ministers by whom ye believed?
Q. 5. Is this s…fficient of it self?
A. No; the Blessing and Power of the Spirit must accompany it, or Christ cannot be applied. 1 Thes. 1.5, 6. For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.
Q. 6. To whom doth the Spirit apply Christ?
A. To those that were given him of the Father before the world was. Acts 13.48. And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. John 14.17. Even the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Q. 7. Is the Application of Christ to a Soul finisht at once?
A. Tho the first act of Faith unites the Soul to Christ, yet it is a continued act. 1 Pet. 2.4. To whom coming as unto a living stone.
Q. 8. What learn you from hence?
A. What a destitute thing the Soul is that's out of Christ. Rev. 3.17, 18. Because thou sayest I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.
Q. 9. What els… doth it teach us?
A. The riches and dignity of Believers. Christ, and all his purchases are theirs. 1 Cor. 3.22, 23. Whether Paul, or Apollo, or C…phas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
Q. 10. What else doth it teach us?
A. The Righteousness of God in the destruction of all unbelievers. Iohn 5.40. Mark 16.16. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned.