Of Christ's exaltation,
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism.
3. Forconsiderhim that endured such contradiction offinners against himself.
Q. 8. Wherein was Christ humbled in his death ?
A. His death was painful and ignominious ; Gal. iii. 13 .
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: For it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. Made a curse for us, and deserted in it ;
Matth. xxvii. 46. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama fabacthani ; that is to say, My God, My God,why hat thou forsaken me ?
Q. 9. What is the first inference from hence ?
A. That lowhness and humility becomes Christ's followers ; Matth . xi. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of ine, for I am meek and lowly in heart.
Q. 10. What is the second inference ?
A. That Christ's love to sinners is astonishingly great ; 2Cor. viii. 9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our fakes he became poor, that ye through his povertymightbe made rich.
Q. 11. What is the third inference ?
A. Christians should be ready to suffer for Christ ; 1 Peter iv. 1. Forasmuch as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the fame mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh, hath ceased from fin.
Q. 12. What is the last inference ?
A. That humiliation is the true way to exaltation ; Matth. xxiii. 12. And whosoever shall exalthimself, shall be abased ; and he that shall humble himself, shall be exalted.
Quest. 28.W Of Christ's exaltation .
HEREIN 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 fitting at the right hand of God the Father,and in coming to judge the world at the lift day.
Q1 . What is the first step of Christ's exaltation ?
A. His resurrection from the dead.
Q2. How doth his resurrection appear ?
A. By the scripture prophecies accomplished in him ; 1 Cor. xv. 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 fins ; 1 Cor. xv.
17. And if Christ be not risen, your faith is vain ; ye are yet in your fins.
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism.
9 .
Q. 4. What other end was there of Christ's resurrection ?
A. To declare his divine power ; Rom. i. 4. And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. And to evidence thefulness of his satisfaction ; John xvi. 10. Of righteousness, because I goto my Father, and ye see me no more.
Q. 5. Did Christ rise in the samebody he laid down ?
A. It was substantially the same ; John xx. 27. Then faith 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 refurrectionteach us ?
A. The certainty of our resurrection after death ; 1 Cor. xv. 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 ascension after forty days into heaven ; Acts i. 2, 3. Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the holy Ghost, had given commandment unto the apostles, whom he had chosen : To whom also he shewed himfelfalive 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. Why did Christ stay so long on earth ?
A. To assure the truth of his resurrection, and to fettle the due government of his church, Acts i. 2, 3 .
Q. 9. For what end did he ascend ?
A. To takepoffeffion of his glory ; John xvii. 5. And now, O Father, glorifythoume with thine ownself, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was .
And that as our fore-runner, Heb. vi. 20. Whither the Fore-runner is for us entered, even Jesus, &c.
Q. 10. Inwhatmanner did Christ ascend ?
A. Triumphantly, and magnificently; Psalm xlvii. 5. God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the found of a trumpet.
Q. 11. What doth his ascension teach us ?
A. Heavenly-mindedness ; Col. iii. 1, 2. Ifye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ fitteth at the right handofGod; set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth. And an encouragement in our Christian race ; Heb. xii. 1, 2. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sinwhichdoth so ea-
VOL. VIII.
Yo An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism. filybeset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our
! faith ; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, defpifingthe shame, and is fetdown at the right hand of the throne of God.
The second Part of the 28th Question, of Christ's Exaltation.
Quest. 1.
HAT was the third degree of Christ's exW altation?
A. His fitting at God's right hand in heaven; Heb. i. 3 .
Whenhehadbyhimselfpurged our fins, fatdownonthe right hand of the majesty on high.
Q2. What doth God's right hand signify?
A.Aftateofhonour; Heb. i. 13. Buttowhichofthe angels faidhe at any time, Sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thyfootstool ? And power ; Matth. xxvi. 64. Hereafter shallyesee the Son of man fitting ontherighthandofpower.
Q. 3. What is implied in Christ's fitting there?
A. That his work on earth is finished; Heb. x. 12. But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for fin, for ever fat down on the right hand of God.
Q. 4. What else doth it signify ?
Christ's power over all enemies ; Psalm cx. 2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion : Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies .
Q. 5. What learn we from Christ's fitting there?
A. The high honour believers are advanced to by Christ; Eph . ii. 6. And hath raised us up together, and made us fit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Q. 6. What is the last step of Christ's exaltation?
A. His coming to judgment; Acts x. 42. And he commanded us topreachunto the people, andtoteftifythat it is he which was ordainedofGod to be theJudgeofquickanddead.
Q. 7. Is it certain there shall be a judgment-day ?
A.. Yes; the scripture assures it; 2 Cor. v. 10. For we must all appear before the judgment-feat of Christ. And every man'sconfcience witnessethto it; Rom. ii. 16. Inthedaywhen
God fhalljudgethe secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
Q. 8. What is the first property of Christ's judgment?
A. It will be awful and solemn , 1 Thef. iv. 16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch-angel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first Q. 9. What is the second property of it ?
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism.
H A. It will be exact and critical ; Rom. ii. 16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. Matth. xii. 36. But I say unto you,
That everyidleword that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Q. 10. What is the third property of it ?
A. It will be an universal judgment; Rev. xx. 12. And I saw the dead, small and great, standbeforeGod,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 ; Matth. xxv. 34. Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Comeyeblessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. And this will roll away the reproach of his enemies ; Rev. i. 7. Behold, hecometh with clouds ; and every eye shall see him, and they alsowhichpierced him.
Q. 12. What learn we from Christ's being judge ?
A. That believers shall not be cast in judgment; Rom. viii.
1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are inChriftJefus.
Q. 13. What learn we from hence ?
A. The deplorable state of Christless persons ; Luke xix.
27. But those mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them,bring hither, and slay them before me.
Q. 14. What else learn we from Christ'sjudgment ?
A. To give all diligence to be foundofhim in peace; 2 Pet. iii . 14. Wherefore, beloved, seeing thatye look for such things, be diligent, thatye may be found of him in peace.
Of the Application of Christ.
HOW are we made partakers of the redemption on purchased by Christ?
A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his holy Spirit.
Quest. 29.
Q. 1. What did our redemption cost Christ?
A. It cost him his own blood to obtain it; Heb. ix. 12.
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into theholyplace,having obtained eternal redemption for us .
Q. 2. Can none have the benefit of it, except it be applied to them ?
A. No, if Christ be not applied,we cannot be saved;John B 2
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism. i. 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 is the office and work of God's Spirit ; Titus iii . 4, 5. 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. What means doth the Spirit use in applying Christ ?
A. The external means he makes use of, is the ministry of the gospel ; 1 Cor. iii. 5. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed ?
Q. 5. Is this sufficient of itself ?
A. No, the blessing and power of the Spirit must accompany it, or Christ cannot be applied; 1 Theff. i. 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 xiii. 48. And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. John xiv. 17. Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it feeth 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 finished at once?
A. Tho' the first act of faith unites the soul to Christ, yet it is a continued act ; 1 Pet. ii. 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 is out of Christ ; Rev. iii. 18. Because thou sayest I am rich, and inereafed 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 else doth it teach us ?
A. The riches and dignity of believers.
Christ, and all his Whether Paul, or or death, or things purchases are theirs ; 1 Cor. iii . 22, 23 .
Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, present, or things to come ; all are yours, an dye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.