What doth the resurrection of Christ profit us?
Answer. First, by his resurrection he has overcome death, that he might [a] make us partakers of that righteousness which he had purchased for us by his death; secondly, we are also by his power [b] raised up to a new life; an lastly, the resurrection of Christ is a [c] sure pledge of our blessed resurrection.
[a]: 1Cor. 15:16
[b]: Rom. 6:4; Col. 3:1ff
[c]: 1Cor. 15; Rom. 8:11
How dost thou understand these words, "he ascended into heaven"?
Answer. That Christ, in sight of his disciples, was [a] taken up from earth into heaven; and that he continues [b] there for our interest, until he comes again to judge the quick and the dead.
Is not Christ then with us even to the end of the world, as he hath promised?
Answer. Christ is very man and very God; with respect to his [c] human nature, he is no more on earth; but with respect to his Godhead, majesty, grace and spirit, he is at no time absent from us.
But if his human nature is not present wherever his Godhead is, are not then these two natures in Christ separated from one another?
Answer. Not at all, for since the Godhead is illimitable and [d] omnipresent, it must necessarily follow that [e] the same is beyond the limits of the human nature he assumed, and yet is nevertheless in this human nature, and remains personally united to it.
Of what advantage to us is Christ's ascension into heaven?
Answer. First, that he is our [g] advocate in the presence of his Father in heaven; secondly, that we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that he, as the head, will also [h] take up to himself, us, his members; thirdly, that he [i] sends us his Spirit as an earnest, by whose power we "seek the things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, [j] and not things on earth."
[a]: Acts 1:9; Mark 16:19
[b]: Heb. 4:14; Rom 8:34; Eph. 4:10
[c]: Acts 3:21; John 3:13; John 16:28; Mat. 28:20
[d]: Acts 7:49; Mat. 24:30
[e]: Mat. 28:20; John 16:28; John 17:11; John 3:13
[g]: Heb. 9:25; 1John 2:2; Rom. 8:34
[h]: John 14:2; Eph. 2:6
[i]: John 14:16; 2Cor. 1:22; 2Cor. 5:5
[j]: Col. 3:1; Phil. 3:20
Why is it added, "and sitteth at the right hand of God"?
Answer. Because Christ is ascended into heaven for this end, that he might [a] appear as head of his church, by whom the Father [b] governs all things.
What profit is this glory of Christ, our head, unto us?
Answer. First, that by his Holy Spirit he [c] pours our heavenly graces upon us his members; and then that by his power he defends [d] and preserves us against all enemies.
What comfort is it to thee that "Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead"?
Answer. That in all my sorrows and persecutions, with uplifted head [e] I look for the very same person, who before offered himself for my sake, to the tribunal of God, and has removed all curse from me, to come as judge from heaven: who shall cast all his [f] and my enemies into everlasting condemnation, but shall translate [g] me with all his chosen ones to himself, into heavenly joys and glory.
[a]: Eph. 1:20,21,22; Col. 1:18
[b]: Mat 28:18; John 5:22
[c]: Eph. 4:8
[d]: Psa. 2:9; John 10:28
[e]: Luke 21:28; Rom. 8:23,24; 1Thes. 4:16
[f]: 2Thes. 1:6,7,8,9; Mat. 25:41
[g]: Mat. 25:34
What dost thou believe concerning the Holy Ghost?
Answer. First, that he is true and co-eternal God with the Father and the [a] Son; secondly, that he is also given [b] me, to [c] make me by a true faith, partaker of Christ and all his benefits, that he may [d] comfort me and [e] abide with me for ever.
[a]: Gen. 1:2; Isa. 48:16; 1Cor. 3:16
[b]: Mat. 28:19; 2Cor. 1:22
[c]: Gal. 3:14; 1Pet. 1:2
[d]: Acts 9:31
[e]: John 14:16; 1Pet. 4:14
What believest thou concerning the "holy catholic church" of Christ?
Answer. That the Son of God [a] from the [b] beginning to the end of the world, gathers, [c] defends, and [d] preserves to himself by his [e] Spirit and word, out of the [f] whole human race, a [g] church chosen to everlasting life, agreeing in true faith; and that I am and for ever shall remain, a [h] living member thereof.
What do you understand by "the communion of saints"?
Answer. First, that all and every one, who believes, being members of Christ, are in common, [i] partakers of him, and of all his riches and gifts; secondly, that every one must know it to be his duty, readily and [j] cheerfully to employ his gifts, for the advantage and salvation of other members.
What believest thou concerning "the forgiveness of sins"?
Answer. That God, for the sake of [k] Christ's satisfaction will no more [l] remember my sins, neither my corrupt nature, against which I have to struggle all my life long; but will graciously impute to me the righteousness of Christ; that I may never be [m] condemned before the tribunal of God.
[a]: John 10:11
[b]: Gen. 26:4
[c]: Rom. 9:24; Eph. 1:10
[d]: John 10:16
[e]: Isa. 59:12
[f]: Deut 10:14,15
[g]: Acts 13:48
[h]: 1Cor. 1:8,9; Rom. 8:35ff
[i]: John 1:3,4; Rom. 8:32; 1Cor. 12:13
[j]: 1Cor. 12:13
[j]: 1Cor. 13:5; Phil. 2:4,5,6
[k]: 1John 2:2; 2Cor. 5:19,21
[l]: Jer. 31:34; Psa. 103:3,4,10,11; Rom. 8:1,2,3
[m]: John 3:18
What comfort doth the "resurrection of the body" afford thee?
Answer. That not only my soul after this life shall be immediately taken [a] up to Christ its head; but also, that this my body, being raised by the power of Christ, shall be reunited with my soul, and [b] made like unto the glorious body of Christ.
What comfort takest thou from the article of "life everlasting"?
Answer. That [c] since I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, after this life, [d] I shall inherit perfect salvation, which [e] "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man" to conceive, and that, to praise God therein for ever.
[a]: Luke 23:43; Phil. 1:23
[b]: 1Cor. 15:53; Job 19:25,26
[c]: 2Cor. 5:2,3,6; Rom. 14:17
[d]: Psa. 10:11
But what doth is profit thee now that thou believest all this?
Answer. That I am righteous in Christ, before God, and an heir of eternal life. [a]
How are thou righteous before God?
Answer. Only [b] by a true faith in Jesus Christ; so that though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and [c] kept none of them, and am still [d] inclined to all evil; notwithstanding, God, without any [e] merit of mine, but only of mere [f] grace, grants [g] and [h] imputes to me, the perfect [i] satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ; even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully [j] accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me; [k] inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart.
Why sayest thou, that thou art righteous by faith only?
Answer. Not that I am acceptable to God, on account of the [l] worthiness of my faith; but because only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, is my righteousness before [m] God; and that I cannot receive [n] and apply the same to myself any other way than by faith only.
[a]: Rom. 5:1; Rom. 1:17; John 3:36
[b]: Rom. 3:22ff; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8,9
[c]: Rom. 3:9ff
[d]: Rom. 7:23
[e]: Rom. 3:24
[f]: Tit. 3:5; Eph 2:8,9
[g]: Rom. 4:4,5; 2Cor. 5:19
[h]: 1John 2:1
[i]: Rom. 3:24,25
[j]: 2Cor. 5:21
[k]: Rom. 3:28; John 3:18
[l]: Psa. 16:2; Eph. 2:8,9
[m]: 1Cor. 1:30; 1Cor. 2:2
[n]: 1John 5:10
But why cannot our good works be the whole, or part of our righteousness before God?
Answer. Because, that the righteousness, which can be approved of before the tribunal of God, must be absolutely perfect, and in all respects [a] conformable to the divine law; and also, that our best works in this life are all imperfect and [b] defiled with sin.
What! do not our good works merit, which yet God will reward in this and in a future life?
Answer. This reward is not of merit, but of grace. [c]
But doth not this doctrine make men careless and profane?
Answer. By no means: for it is impossible that those, who are implanted into Christ by a true faith, should not bring forth fruits of [d] thankfulness.
[a]: Gal. 3:10; Deut. 17:26
[b]: Isa. 64:6
[c]: Luke 17:10
[d]: Mat. 7:17,18; John 15:5
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A beautiful start to a new year. January 1, 2023. Praise God for keeping his promises!