The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 2 · Christ's two natures · Question 49
ON THE 18. SABBATH.Queſt. 49. What fruit doth the aſcenſion of Chriſt into heaven bring us?
Anſw. Firſt, that he maketh interceſſion to his Father in heaven for usa1 John 2.1. Rom. 8.34.. Next, that we have our fleſh in heaven, that we may be confirmed thereby, as by a ſure pledge, that it ſhall come to paſſe, that he who is our head, will lift up his members unto himbJohn 14.2. & 17.24. & 20.7. Epheſ. 2.6.. Thirdly, that he ſendeth us his Spirit inſtead of a pledge between him and uscJohn 14.16. & 16 7. Acts 2.33. 2 Cor. 1.21. & 5.5., by whoſe forcible working we ſeek after, not earthly, but heavenly things, where he himſelfe is ſitting at the right hand of GoddCol. 3.1..
The Explication.
5. What are the fruits of Chriſts aſcenſion?
1 His interceſsion; which hath three parts.THe chiefe fruits of Chriſts aſcenſion, are: firſt, His interceſſion; which ſignifieth, 1. The perpetuall vertue and ſtrength of Christs ſacrifice. 2. Both wils in Christ, both humane and divine, propitious and favourable unto us, whereby he will that for his ſacrifice we be received of his Father. 3. The aſſent of his Father, approving this his Sons will, and accepting of the value of his ſacrifice as a ranſome for our ſins: and as the Father receiveth us, ſo doth he alſo. In ſum, it is the will both of the Father and the Son, that Chriſts oblation and ſacrifice ſhould be available unto us for ever. Object. But before Chriſts aſcenſion, yea before his coming, there was interceſsion. Anſ. 1. That depended of this which was to be after the aſcenſion; that is, it was made in reſpect of his interceſſion to come, as alſo the whole receiving into favour from the beginning of the world. For he our Mediatour, made interceſſion before, with this condition, that he, accompliſhing his ſacrifice,Hebr. 5.6. ſhould appear for ever in the heavenly Sanctuary. Thou art a Prieſt for ever after the order of Melchiſedech. 2. That interceſſion in the Old Teſtament was not ſuch as it is now in heaven. For in the Old Teſtament the Mediatour made interceſſion for the worth of his ſacrifice and ranſome one day hereafter to be paid: and the Father received the Fathers of the old Church into favour, in regard of this ranſome afterwards to be paid: but now he receiveth us for Chriſts ranſome already paid. So alſo ſins in the time of the Law were remitted, and the holy Ghoſt given, for the ſacrifice which was to come: but now both theſe are ſealed unto us for Chriſts ſacrifice already performed. And the value of Chriſts ſacrifice continueth for ever, becauſe,Hebr. 10.14. With one offering he hath conſecrated for ever them that are ſanctified. And the ſurceaſe of Chriſt from offering any moe ſacrifices, is no argument of an imperfect, but rather of a perfect ſacrifice. For if he ſhould often ſacrifice after the manner of the Levitical Prieſts, he ſhould therefore ſacrifice often, becauſe he is not able with one ſacrifice to make perfect them which come unto God. But he made all perfect with one ſacrifice: wherefore he now executeth the office of his Prieſthood, not by often offering and meriting, but by often applying to us (through the infinite worth of his ſacrifice) grace, righteouſneſſe, and his holy ſpirit; which is a weightier work, than if he iterated his ſacrifice. Our aſcenſion into Heaven. John 14.2.Our glorification or aſcenſion: For ſeeing Chriſt our head is aſcended, we are certaine, that we alſo ſhall aſcend into heaven, as being his members. I go to prepare a place for you. And though I go to prepare a place for you, I will come againe, and receive you unto my ſelfe, that where I am, there may yee be alſo. Object. But Elias and Enoch aſcended before Chriſt: Therefore Chriſt is not by his aſcenſion the cauſe of our aſcenſion. Anſw. They aſcended in reſpect of Chriſts aſcenſion, which was to come. Chriſts aſcenſion and glorification, is the cauſe and example of our aſcenſion and glorification; becauſe, except he were glorified, we ſhould not be glorified. For the Father hath decreed to give us all things by the Meſſias, and hath put all things in his hands. And how ſhould Chriſt have given us a Kingdome, except himſelfe firſt, as being the firſt-borne, had taken poſſeſſion thereof? but for this cauſe alſo he aſcended into heaven, that he might there reign: Therefore he will tranſlate his Citizens thither. And ſeeing wee are his members, and he our head is already aſcended, and glorified: Therefore ſhall we alſo aſcend, and be glorified. Where I am, there ſhall alſo my ſervant be. John 12.26. & 14.3.I will receive you unto my ſelfe, that where I am, there may yee be alſo.
The ſending of the holy Ghoſt.The ſending of the holy Ghoſt, by whom he gathereth, comforteth, and defendeth his Church to the worlds end. Hee was given alſo to the godly which were under the Law, before Chriſts aſcenſion and coming. But that was, 1. In reſpect of this aſcenſion and glorification of Chriſt, which was then to come, and whereof that ſending and powring out of the holy Ghoſt is not a fruit only, but alſo a part: and ſo in reſpect alſo of this ſending, which was now after Chriſts aſcenſion accompliſhed, the holy Ghoſt was given unto the godly in the Old Teſtament. 2. Now after Chriſts glorification it was given more abundantly, as in the day of Pentecoſt: that which alſo was fore-told; And it ſhall be in the laſt dayes, ſaith God, I will powre out my ſpirit upon all fleſh. Now,J…el 2.28. Acts 2.17. that Chriſt did not powre out the holy Ghoſt in ſuch plenty before his aſcenſion, that befell only, as before was ſaid, in reſpect of the decree of God: For God would that the holy Ghoſt ſhould be given by the Meſſias, as well man as God: wherefore man alſo was to be glorified, who ſhould doe this. It is expedient for you, that I goe away; for if I goe not away, the Comforter will not come unto you: but if I depart, I will ſend him unto you. John 16.7.By the efficacy and working of this his ſpirit we ſeek things above, becauſe there is our treaſure, there are our goods; and that becauſe Chriſt hath therefore aſcended, that he might make thoſe good things ours, which were there long before. And this is the Apoſtles argument, Col. 3.1. There are other fruits alſo of Chriſts aſcenſion: For, Remiſsion of ſins. John 16.10.it is a teſtimony, That our ſins are fully pardoned us, who doe beleeve. For except hee had ſuffered the puniſhment for ſins, he could not have entered into the throne of God: For where ſinne is, there is death alſo. Hee ſhall reprove the world of righteouſneſſe, becauſe I goe to my Father. Conqueſt or victory over death.It is a teſtimony, That Chriſt is indeed Conquerour of death, ſinne, and the Divell. The comfort of the Church. John 16 7. Eph. 4 8.It is a teſtimony, That wee ſhall never be left destitute of comfort: becauſe he therefore aſcended, to ſend the holy Ghoſt. If I goe not away, the Comforter will not come. When hee aſcended up on high, hee led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. The defence of the Church.It is a teſtimony, That Chriſt will for ever defend us, becauſe wee know that our head is a glorious head, and placed above all principalities.
The meaning of the Article, He aſce…ded into heaven.Now what it is to beleeve in Jeſus Chriſt, which aſcended into heaven? Anſw. It is to beleeve, 1. That he did truly, and not in ſhew only aſcend into heaven, and now is there reſident in his humanity; and, ſitting at the right hand of his Father, untill he thence returne unto judgment, would be called on by us. 2. That he hath aſcended for our ſakes, and now appeareth in the preſcence of God, maketh interceſſion for us, ſendeth us his holy Spirit, and will one day take us unto himſelfe, that wee may be where he is, and reigne with him in glory.