Of Christ's Acknowledging Believers
Q. 12. What is the last inference?
A. Employ your bodies for good now.
Of Christ's Acknowledging Believers Quest. 38. WHAT benefit do believers receive 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 judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment 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 him and them; Mat 25:34. Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
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 clothed 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 his 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, Tit. 1:16. They profess that they know
God; but in works hey deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
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 name's 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. It will 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 myself, yet I am 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 of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Q. 8. Is this the only time Christ acknowledged! them?
A. No; he acknowledged them by his Spirit's testimony now, but that is private in their bosoms; Rom. 8:16. The Spirit itself 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 thus; behold I should offend against the generation of thy children.
Q. 10. What is the second inference?