An Exposition of the Assembly's
Shorter Catechism

by

John Flavel

Q22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
A. Christ the Son of God became man by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin.

Of Christ's Incarnation

Q. 1. Who is the only Redeemer of God's elect?
A. The Lord Jesus Christ is their only Redeemer, and there is no other Redeemer besides him; Acts 4:12. Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Q. 2. How is he the Son of God, or can be, as no other is so?
A. He is the Son of God by nature, from all eternity, and so no angel or saint is; Hebrews 1:5. For unto which of the angels said heat any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?

Q. 3. Why was it necessary he should become man?
A. That he might be capable to suffer death in our room; Hebrews 2:15-17. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham; wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest, in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Q. 4. Why must the Redeemer be God as well as man?
A. Because the blood of a mere man could not satisfy and redeem us; Acts 20:28. Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Q. 5. Do these two natures make two persons?
A. No, the human nature is united to the second person, and subsists in union with it; John 1:14. And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Q. 6. Was the union only for a time?
A. No, it continues and abides for ever; Hebrews 7:24. But this man, because he continueth ever, bath an unchangeable priesthood.

Q. 7. What is the first instruction from hence?
A. Hence we learn the transcendent love of God to poor sinners; John 3:16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Q. 8. What is the second instruction?
A. Hence we learn the matchless love of Christ, that he should stoop to such a condition for us; 2 Corinthians 8:9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be made rich.

Q. 9. What is the third instruction?
A. That the greatest sins are capable of remission to believers; John 1:29. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.

Q. 10. What is the fourth instruction?
A. That those that be in Christ need not fear the denial or want of any other mercy; Romans 8:32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all; how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Q. 11. What is the fifth instruction?
A. Hence we learn how impious it is to ascribe any part of the glory of redemption to any other besides Christ.

Q. 12. What is the sixth instruction?
A. This teaches us the miserable condition of all that are out of Christ, and the necessity of their damnation, he being the only Redeemer.

Of the manner of Christ's Incarnation.

Q 1. Was Christ's incarnation a voluntary act in him?
A. Yes, it was; for though he had a command to die for us, John 10:18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. Yet he came willingly; Psalm 40:6, 7. Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire, mine ears hast thou opened; burnt-offerings and sin-offerings hast thou not required; lo, I come; in the volume of thy book, it is written of me. Ver. 8. 1 delight to do thy will, O my God, yea, thy law is within my heart.

Q. 2. Was the body of Christ a real and true human body?
A. Yes, it was a true and real body, not the appearance and shape of a body only; Luke 25:58. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Ver. 89. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have.

Q. 3. Had he a true human soul as well as a body?
A. Yes, he had a real human soul also, and all the natural faculties and powers thereof; Matthew 26:38. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.

Q. 4. Was he then in all respects like to other men?
A. No, his conception was not like others; Isaiah 7:14. Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his name EMMANUEL. And he had no sin in him as others have; Hebrews 7: 26. For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.

Q. 5. Did Christ put off the human nature at his ascension?
A. No, he did not,, but carried it up to glory, and now is in our nature in heaven; 1 Timothy 3:16. Received up into glory.

Q. 6. Why did he assume our nature?
A. That he might die in it for our salvation; Hebrews 2:15. And deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Q. 7. Why did he rise in it after death?
A. He raised it from the dead for your justification; Romans 4:25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Q. 8. Why did he ascend in our nature into heaven?
A. To be a Mediator of intercession in our nature; Hebrews 7:25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Q. 9. What is the first instruction from hence?
A. That the body of Christ is not every where, but is contained in heaven; Acts iii. 21. Whom the heaven must receive, until the times of restitution of all things.

Q. 10. What is the second instruction?
A. That Christ is full of tender compassion to his peoples infirmities; Hebrews 4:15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Q. 11. What is the third instruction?
A. That great and admirable is the glory designed for the bodies of believers; Philippians 3:21. Who shall change your vile bodies, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Q. 12. What is the last instruction?
A. That the bodily eyes of believers after the resurrection, shall see Christ in glory; Job 19:26, 27. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.