The Shorter Catechism, 10
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Q28: Wherein consisteth Christís exaltation?
A: Christís exaltation consisteth 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.
The exaltation of Christ consists in these four degrees.
1. His rising again from the dead on the third day.
2. His ascending up into heaven.
3. His sitting at the right hand of God the Father.
4. His coming to judge the world at the last day.
1. His rising again from the dead on the third day.
When the third day broke, the time of the beginning of His exaltation was there. He rose again from the dead. As Paul wrote: Christ "rose again the third day according to the scriptures", 1 Cor. 15:4.
2. His ascending up into heaven.
After forty days, and "after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven", Mark 16:19.
3. His sitting at the right hand of God the Father.
Like the important people sit at the right hand of the kings, so also Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father, the King of kings. It is a place of honour. The Lord, after he was taken up in heaven, "sat on the right hand of God." Mark 16:19.
4. His coming to judge the world at the last day.
At the last day of the world, Christ will come back and judge the entire world. As is written of Christ: "He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." (Act. 17:31). This is a very high degree of exaltation, because then it will be visible for everybody, also to the present deniers of Christís Kingship and Godhead, that He is the eternal God and the Judge of the quick and of the dead. To this day, we all long with great longings.
Q29: How are we made partakers of the redemption 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.
Christ bought for all His people their redemption. He did so by the shedding of His blood. Through that He payed the price to the Judge of the world, and redeemed all the elect, that were given to Him. But though Christ has once bought that redemption for us, yet we arenít automatically partakers of that. The redemption is bought, but it must still be given to us. We must be made partakers of that redemption. How is that done? How have we a part in that precious redemption? It is through the work of the Holy Spirit. He applies that redemption to us, so that we partake in it. After that application; after that work of the Spirit, we have that redemption, and may call it our own. Paul wrote that we are renewed through the Holy Ghost. "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." (Tit. 3:5) So, it is through the effectual application of the redemption, through the Holy Spirit, that we become partakers of it.
Q30: How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
A: The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.
When the Spirit is going to make us partaker of the benefits purchased by Christ, then He does so by working faith in us. As is written: "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Eph. 2:8. The faith is a gift of God. The Holy Ghost is working that in us. And through that faith, once worked in us, we are saved. So, you note two steps. First, God works the faith in us, and secondly, we are saved by that faith. It is through faith, that Christ dwells in our hearts, as is written, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith," Eph. 3:17.
Q31: What is effectual calling?
A: Effectual calling is the work of Godís Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
The effectual calling, whereby we are united to Christ, contains much.
1. It is the work of Godís Spirit.
2. We are convinced of our sin and misery.
3. Our minds are enlightened in the knowledge of Christ.
4. Our wills are renewed.
5. We are persuaded and enabled to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
1. It is the work of Godís Spirit.
The Spirit of God is working in us with His influences and renewing power. It is the Spirit, Who has called us with a holy calling, 2 Tim. 1:9.
2. We are convinced of our sin and misery.
While Peter was preaching the gospel to the hearers, the Spirit was powerfully working in their hearts. Read what happened. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Act. 2:37. They were so much convinced of their sins, that they didnít know anymore what to do. "What shall we do?" they asked.
3. Our minds are enlightened in the knowledge of Christ.
While before we saw nothing in Christ, except what we knew of Him through our upbringing or our study, yet, after God had enlightened our minds, we saw all in Him. He became our only Rock, our Hope and our Redeemer. "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures," Luke 24:45.
4. Our wills are renewed.
Were we formerly unwilling to obey the gospel, after the renewing of our inward parts, also our wills are renewed, so that we willingly embrace the free gift of grace. As is said through the prophet, "I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." Ezek. 36:26.
5. We are persuaded and enabled to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
No man is of himself able to embrace Jesus Christ, because "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him", said Jesus in Joh. 6:44. And in the next verse He continues with, "Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." He excludes all that are not drawn by the Father, from coming unto Himself. But He, on the other hand, says that everybody will come, whoever has learnt the truth of the Father.
End.
