Dart Estuary, Dartmouth
Let's hit #28 this week.
Q. 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.
John Flavel's exposition on this is simply stated but first-rate:
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 prophecies accomplished in him; 1 Corinthians 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 Corinthians 15:17. And if Christ be not risen, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Q. 4. What other end was there of Christ’s resurrection?
A. To declare his divine power; Romans 1:4. 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 the fulness of his satisfaction; John 16:10. Of righteousness, 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; John 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 our resurrection after death; 1 Corinthians 15:20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.
Q. 7. What is the second step of Christ’s exaltation?
A. His ascension 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 commandment unto the apostles, whom he had chosen: 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. Why 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; John 17:5. And now, 0 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, Hebrews 6:20. Whither the Fore-runner is for us entered, even Jesus, &c.
Q. 10. In what manner did Christ ascend?
A. Triumphantly, and magnificently; Psalm 47:5. God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
Q. 11. What doth his ascension teach us?
A. Heavenly-mindedness; Colossians 3:1-2. If ye then 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 on things on the earth. And an encouragement iii our Christian race; Hebrews 12:1-2. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset 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 despising the shame, and is set down at the right-hand of the throne of God.
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