Exposition of the Shorter Catechism, Question 38
Of Christ's acknowledging Believers.
Quest. 38. WHAT benefit do Believers recieve from Christ at the Resurrection?
A. At the Resurrection Believers being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged, and acquitted in the Day of Iudgment, and made perfecth blessed in the full enjoying of God to all Eternity.
Q. 1. What is it to be acknowledged by Christ?
A. It is Christ's owning of the special relation betwixt hi… and them. Mat. 25.34. Come ye blessed of my father, inher… the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the worl…
Q. 2. Whom will Christ acknowledge for his?
A. Such as confess Christ now. Mat. 10.32. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my father which is in heaven.
Q. 3. Before whom will Christ confess them?
A. Before his Father, Angels and Men. Rev. 3.5. He that overcometh, the same shall be cloathed in white Raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before Angels.
Q. 4. Who shall be denied by Christ in that Day?
A. All that now deny Christ, shall be denied by him. 2 Tim. 2.12. If we deny him, he also will deny us.
Q. 5. Why will Christ openly acknowledge them?
A. To wipe off all Aspersions and Censures that now are cast upon them Isa. 66.5. Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my names sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified; but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
Q. 6. What will be the effect of Christ's Acknowledgment?
A. 'Twill put a full end to all Doubts, Fears, and Jealousies of themselves. 1 Cor. 4.3, 4. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment; yea, I judge not my own self, for I know nothing by my self; yet am I not hereby justified, but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
Q. 7. What other effect will it produce in them?
A. Joy unspeakable and transcendent: hence called time of refreshing. Acts 3.19. When the time refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Q. 8. Is this the only time Christ acknowledgeth them?
A. No, he acknowledgeth them by his Spirit's Testimony now; but that's private in their Bosoms. Rom. 8.16. The spirit it self beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God.
Q. 9. What is the first Inference from hence?
A. To warn all how they pass rash Censures on Christ's Servants. Psal. 73.15. If I say, I will speak this, Behold I should offend against the generation of thy children.
Q. 10. What is the second Inference?
A. Let none be a…raid or ashamed to confess the Person, Office, or any truth of Christ, for any loss or danger, that may threaten them. Luke 12.8, 9. Also I say unto you Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the son of man also confess before the Angels of God. But he that denieth me before men, shall be denied before the Angels of God.
Q. 11. What is the third Inference?
A. Let Christians abound in good works. Every act of Charity for Christ, shall be acknowledged by him in the Day of Judgment. Mat. 25.35. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in.
Q. 12. What is the last inference?
A. Let all Christians love and long for the day of Christ's appearing. 2 Tim. 4.8. Hence forth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Iudge shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto them also that love his appearing.
Of Christ's acquitting Believers.
Quest. 1. WHat is it to be acquitted by Christ?
A. It is to be discharged and cleared from all the guilt of Sin, and punishent due to it by the Law, upon the account of Christ's Righteousness imputed by God, and received by Faith. Rom. 5.1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ. Rom. 8.1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus.
Q. 2. How many ways are Believers acquitted?
A. They are acquitted now in the Court of Heaven. Rom. 8.33. Who shall lay any thing to the change of God's Elect? It is God that justifieth. In the court of their own Consciences. 1 Iohn 3.21. Beloved, if our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God. And in the Day of Judgment. Both particular; Heb. 9.27. As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. And general. Acts 3.19. Repeat ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. Their Sins are then blotted out.
Q. 3. How doth Christ's acquittance now, differ from that at Iudgment?
A. They differ in respect of publickness; this is secret in the Believer's bosom, and that open before Men and Angels. Rev. 3.5. I will confess his name before my Father, and before his Angels.
Q. 4. What is the second Difference?
A. They differ in respect of subjective certainty and assurance. A Believer may doubt of this, but not of that. 1 Cor. 4.4, 5. For I know nothing of my self, yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord; therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come.
Q. 5. What is the third Difference betwixt them?
A. They differ in point of consolation. This always bears proportion to the certainty of it. Hence that day is called the time of refreshing; when Christ blots out their Sins by Sentencial Justification. Acts 3.19. Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Q. 6. Do Believers then lie under condemnation till that Day?
A. No, they are truly and fully justified now. Iohn 5.24. He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. But this Sentence is not yet publisht by Christ's own mouth, as it shall be then.
Q. 7. On what account shall they be acquitted in that Day?
A. On the very same account and score they are now, viz. For the imputed Righteousness of Christ in the way of Free-grace. Eph. 1.7. In wham we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
Q. 8. Must the Saints be summoned to Christ's Bar in that Day?
A. Yes, they must appear as well as others. 2 Cor. 5.10. For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ. But not to the same end. Iohn 5.29. And shall come forth, they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life: and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Q 9. What is the first Inference hence?
A. How sure is a Believer's Justification, being so ratified privately and publickly, in this World, and that to come!
Q. 10. What is the second Inference?
A. Though the Day of Judgment be awfully solemn, it should not be dreadful to Believers. They should look for, and hasten to the coming of the Day of God. 2 Pet. 3.12. Looking for, and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, &c.
Q. 11. What is the third Inference?
A. That Faith is a Grace of absolute necessity, and unspeakable excellency. Rom. 5.1, 2. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.
Q. 12. What is the last Inference?
A. All unbelievers are in a miserable State now. Iohn 3.18. He that believeth not, is condemned already. And worse in the world to come. Mat. 25.41. Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels.
Of the full Enjoyment of God.
Quest. 1. WHAT doth perfect Blessedness suppose and imply?
A. It supposes the total Freedom of Believers from all the moral evil of Sin. Eph. 5.27. That he might present you to himself a glorious Church, not having spot nor wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy, and without blemish. And from all the penal evils of suffering. Rev. 21.4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.
Q. 2 What else is implied in perfect Blessedness?
A. It implies the full and perfect enjoyment of God. 1 Cor. 15.28. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Q 3. What is it for God to be all in all?
A. It implies three things in it. First, That all the Saints shall be filled and satisfied from God alone. Secondly, That there shall be no need of other things out of which they were wont to fetch comfort. Thirdly, That all other things, as Heaven, Angels, Saints, should be loved and enjoyed in God.
Q. 4 In what respect shall they Enjoy God in Heaven?
A They shall have the glorious and immediate presence of God with them. Rev. 21.3. God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Q 5. In what other respects shall they Enjoy God?
A They shall see him as he is. 1 Iohn 3.2. We shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Q 6. What will such a vision of God produce?
A It will produce perfect conformity in them to God. 1 Iohn 3.2. When he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And perfect joy will result from hence. Psal. 16.11. In thy presence is fulness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Q. 7. Do not the Saints enjoy God here?
A. Yes, they do; but not so as they shall enjoy him in Heaven. 1 Cor. 13.12. Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Q. 8. What are the special differences between the Saints Communion with God here, and that in Heaven?
A. Their Communion with God here is clogg'd with Sin. Rom. 7.21. I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. Here it is not constant. Psal. 22.1. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Nor is it satisfyîng: but in Heaven it will be pure, constant and satisfying.
Q. 9. How long shall they there enjoy God?
A. Not for days, years, ages, but for ever and ever. 1 Thes. 4.17. And so shall we be ever with the Lord.
Q 10. What is the first Instruction from hence?
A. That the World is not the place of the Saints rest and satisfaction. Heb. 4.9. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 2 Cor. 5.2, 6. For in this we groan earnestly, desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from heaven; therefore we are always confident, knowing that whilst we are at home in the body, we we are absent from the Lord.
Q. 11. What is the second Instruction from hence?
A. That Death is a singular benefit to the Saints; and though it be an enemy to Nature, yet it is the medium to Glory. 2 Cor. 5.4. For we that are in this Tabernacle do groan, being burthened, not for that we would be uncleathed, but cloathed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
Q. 12. What is the third Instruction hence?
A. The necessity of Faith and Regeneration in this World. None shall be raised up in glory, acknowledged, acquitted, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God, but Believers. Rom. 8.30. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Heb. 12.14. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.