| Question | Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Christ’s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, 1 in ascending up into heaven, 2 in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, 3 and in coming to judge the world at the last day. 4 |
The Baptist Catechism Set to Music
Benjamin Beddome’s Exposition
Was Christ’s resurrection the first step to his exaltation?
Yes.
He was buried and rose again,
1 Corinthians 15:4
Was it foretold that Christ would rise?
Yes.
Thou wilt not suffer thy Holy One to see corruption,
Psalm 16:10
Was it necessary that he should rise?
Yes.
He loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be holden by it,
Acts 2:24
Is it certain that he did rise?
Yes.
He showed himself alive by many infallible proofs,
Acts 1:3
Have we the testimony of Christ’s apostles for this?
Yes.
Whereof we are witnesses,
Acts 3:15
And of his enemies?
Yes.
Some of the watch showed unto the chief priests all things that were done,
Matthew 28:11
And of the angels?
Yes.
He is not here, he is risen,
Matthew 28:6
And of himself?
Yes.
I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore,
Revelation 1:18
Was he seen after his resurrection?
Yes.
He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once,
1 Corinthians 15:5
May it then be depended upon as matter of fact?
Yes.
For in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established,
Matthew 18:16
Did Christ rise by his own power?
Yes.
Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again,
John 2:19
And at the precise time?
Yes.
God raised him up on the third day,
Acts 10:40
And with great majesty?
Yes.
Behold the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door,
Matthew 28:2–3
Did he rise with the same body in which he was crucified?
Yes.
Behold my hands and my feet,
Luke 24:39
Did he rise as a public person?
Yes.
As the first fruits of them that slept,
1 Corinthians 15:20
And did he rise to die no more?
Yes.
Death hath no more dominion over him,
Romans 6:9
Did Christ stay some time upon earth after his resurrection?
Yes.
He was seen of them forty days,
Acts 1:3
Did he improve this time for the instruction of his disciples?
Yes.
He gave commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen,
Acts 1:2
And after that was he received up into heaven?
Yes.
He ascended far up above all heavens,
Ephesians 4:10
Did he ascend for the good of the church?
Yes.
That he might fill all things,
Ephesians 4:10
And for his own glory?
Yes.
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
Luke 24:26
Did Christ ascend in public view?
Yes.
Whilst they beheld he was taken up,
Acts 1:19
And in a cloud?
Yes.
A cloud received him out of their sight,
Acts 1:9
Did he ascend with great pomp?
Yes.
He was attended with the chariots of God, even thousands of angels,
Psalm 68:17
Did he depart with a blessing in his mouth?
Yes.
It came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from them,
Luke 24:51
And did he meet with a welcome whither he went?
Yes.
He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him,
Daniel 7:13
Doth Christ sit at the right hand of God?
Yes.
He is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
Hebrews 8:1
And hath he a right to sit there?
Yes.
For the Lord said unto him, Sit thou at my right hand,
Exodus 1
Doth Christ’s sitting at God’s right hand denote the completion of his work?
Yes.
When he had once offered one sacrifice for sins, he sat down on the right hand of God,
Hebrews 10:12
Does it imply dignity and honour?
Yes.
To which of the angels said he at any time, Sit thou on my right hand?
Hebrews 1:13
And authority and power?
Yes.
He sits at the right hand of power,
Matthew 26:64
And safety and security?
Yes.
Thy right hand shall save me,
Psalm 138:7
And joy and satisfaction?
Yes.
For at God’s right hand are pleasures for evermore,
Psalm 16:11
Doth it also imply the continuance of this his state?
Yes.
For he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever,
Luke 1:33
Should this be a motive to us to have our hearts in heaven?
Yes.
Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God,
Colossians 3:1
Will Christ come again?
Yes.
The same Jesus, who is now taken up from you into heaven, shall so come,
Acts 1:11
Will he come quickly?
Yes.
Yet a little while and he who shall come will come and will not tarry,
Hebrews 10:37
Will he come suddenly?
Yes.
For the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night,
1 Thessalonians 5:2
Will he come publicly?
Yes.
Every eye shall see him,
Revelation 1:7
Will his coming be glorious and magnificent?
Yes.
’Tis the glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ,
Titus 2:13
Should the saints then long for and desire his coming?
Yes.
Looking for and hasting to the day of the Lord,
2 Peter 3:12
Will Christ come as a judge?
Yes.
He shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing,
2 Timothy 4:1
Is he an able and understanding judge?
Yes.
He shall not judge after the sight of the eyes,
Isaiah 11:3
Is he a righteous and impartial judge?
Yes.
He loveth righteousness and hateth wickedness,
Psalm 14:7
Will he be to the wicked a terrible judge?
Yes.
He will come in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God,
2 Thessalonians 1:8
Will he be a peremptory and inflexible judge?
Yes.
He will not alter the thing that is gone out of his lips,
Psalm 89:34
Is the time of judgment known?
No.
Of that day and hour knoweth no man,
Mark 13:32
But is it fixed and determined?
Yes.
For God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained,
Acts 17:31
Will that be a joyous day to the saints?
Yes.
For he will then be glorified in his saints, and admired by all them that believe,
2 Thessalonians 1:10
The Westminster Larger Catechism
| Question | What was the estate of Christ's exaltation? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The estate of Christ's exaltation comprehendeth his resurrection, 1 ascension, 2 sitting at the right hand of the Father, 3 and his coming again to judge the world. 4 |
| Question | How was Christ exalted in his resurrection? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Christ was exalted in his resurrection, in that, not having seen corruption in death (of which it was not possible for him to be held), 1 and having the very same body in which he suffered, with the essential properties thereof 2 (but without mortality, and other common infirmities belonging to this life), really united to his soul, 3 he rose again from the dead the third day by his own power; 4 whereby he declared himself to be the Son of God, 5 to have satisfied divine justice, 6 to have vanquished death, and him that had the power of it, 7 and to be Lord of quick and dead: 8 all which he did as a public person, 9 the head of his church, 10 for their justification, 11 quickening in grace, 12 support against enemies, 13 and to assure them of their resurrection from the dead at the last day. 14 |
| Question | How was Christ exalted in his ascension? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Christ was exalted in his ascension, in that having after his resurrection often appeared unto and conversed with his apostles, speaking to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, 1 and giving them commission to preach the gospel to all nations, 2 forty days after his resurrection, he, in our nature, and as our head, 3 triumphing over enemies, 4 visibly went up into the highest heavens, there to receive gifts for men, 5 to raise up our affections thither, 6 and to prepare a place for us, 7 where himself is, and shall continue till his second coming at the end of the world. 8 |
| Question | How is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favor with God the Father, 1 with all fulness of joy, 2 glory, 3 and power over all things in heaven and earth; 4 and doth gather and defend his church, and subdue their enemies; furnisheth his ministers and people with gifts and graces, 5 and maketh intercession for them. 6 |
| Question | How is Christ to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Christ is to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world, in that he, who was unjustly judged and condemned by wicked men, 1 shall come again at the last day in great power, 2 and in the full manifestation of his own glory, and of his Father's, with all his holy angels, 3 with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, 4 to judge the world in righteousness. 5 |