This section contains the historical facts about which the gospel testifies. This is the basis of the faith. In these passages, Christianity is laid out for all to see. It is of some interest that there are any Old Testament verses in this section, but there are a few. Of course, 1 Corinthians 15 features prominently as do all of the Gospels and Paul.
17. Lord's DayQuestion 45. What does the "resurrection" of Christ profit us?
Answer: First, by his resurrection he has overcome death, that he might make us partakers of that righteousness which he had purchased for us by his death; (1 Corinthians 15:16; Romans 4:25; 1 Peter 1:3) secondly, we are also by his power raised up to a new life; (Romans 6:4; Colossians 3:1; Ephesians2:5-6) and lastly, the resurrection of Christ is a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:12, 20-21; Romans 8:11)
As you can see, only one question for this Lord’s Day is offered. That is probably because this is one of the more important questions. Just guessing. Ephesians 2 and 1 Corinthians 15 should be read once a month each in every church.
18. Lord's DayQuestion 46. How dost thou understand these words, "he ascended into heaven"?
Answer: That Christ, in sight of his disciples, was taken up from earth into heaven; (Acts 1:9; Matthew 26:64; Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51) and that he continues there for our interest, (Hebrews 7:25, 4:14, 9:24; Romans 8:34; Ephesians4:10; Colossians 3:1) until he comes again to judge the quick and the dead. (Acts 1:11; Matthew 24:30)
Question 47. Is not Christ then with us even to the end of the world, as he has promised? (Matthew 28:20)
Answer: Christ is very man and very God; with respect to his human nature, he is no more on earth; (Hebrews 8:4; Matthew 26:11; John 16:28, 17:11;Acts 3:21) but with respect to his Godhead, majesty, grace and spirit, he is at no time absent from us. (John 14:17-19, 16:13; Matthew 28:20; Ephesians 4:8, 12)
Question 48. 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 as all, for since the Godhead is illimitable and omnipresent, (Acts 7:49; Jeremiah 23:24) it must necessarily follow that the same is beyond the limits of the human nature he assumed, (Colossians 2:9; John3:13, 11:15; Matthew 28:6) and yet is nevertheless in this human nature, and remains personally united to it.
Question 49. Of what advantage to us is Christ's ascension into heaven?
Answer: First, that he is our advocate in the presence of his Father in heaven; (1 John 2:1; Romans 8:34) secondly, that we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that he, as the head, will also take up to himself, us, his members; (John 14:2, 17:24, 20:17; Ephesians 2:6) thirdly, that he sends us his Spirit as an earnest, (John 14:16, 16:7; Acts 2:1-4, 33; 2 Corinthians 1:22,5:5) by whose power we "seek the things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God, and not things on earth." (Colossians 3:1; Philippians3:14)
While this whole section is important, these last two questions speak specifically to a couple of ancient heresies. The Greeks loved to separate things into this world and the spiritual world. Question #48 points out that Jesus remains both God and human even after the resurrection. Question #49 ties the troublesome passages in Acts 2 concerning the Holy Spirit to Jesus in His role as our Advocate. I wrote on this topic in the word study on perichoresis and paraclete. This is also a great link to the next section on the Holy Spirit. BTW, the quoted version of Acts 2:4 is great: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
19. Lord's DayQuestion 50. Why is it added, "and sits at the right hand of God"?
Answer: Because Christ is ascended into heaven for this end, that he might appear as head of his church, (Ephesians 1:20-21, 23; Colossians 1:18) by whom the Father governs all things. (Matthew 28:18; John 5:22)
Question 51. What profit is this glory of Christ, our head, unto us?
Answer: First, that by his Holy Spirit he pours out heavenly graces upon us his members; (Acts 2:33; Ephesians 4:8) and then that by his power he defends and preserves us against all enemies. (Psalms 2:9, 110:1-2; John 10:28;Ephesians 4:8)
Question 52. 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 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: (Luke 21:28; Romans 8:23; Philippians 3:20; Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians4:16) who shall cast all his and my enemies into everlasting condemnation, (2 Thessalonians1:6, 8-10; Matthew 25:41-43) but shall translate me with all his chosen ones to himself, into heavenly joys and glory. (Matthew 25:34; 2 Thessalonians 1:7)
I actually expected to find some OT prophets and some Revelation in this section. It just goes to show you that eschatology is found throughout the New Testament, not just in the last book.
We have now covered the first two parts of the Trinity. In the next section, we will be looking at the Holy Spirit.
--Troll--
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