An Exposition of the Assembly's
Shorter Catechism

by

John Flavel

Q. 28 Wherein consists Christ’s exaltation?
A. Christ’s exaltation consists 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.

Of Christ’s Exaltation.

Q. 1. What is the first step of Christ’s exaltation?
A. His resurrection from the dead.

Q. 2. How doth his resurrection appear?
A. By the scripture prophecies accomplished in him; 1 Corinthians 15:4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, according to the scriptures.

Q. 3. Why did Christ rise again?
A. To establish our faith, and abolish our sins; 1 Corinthians 15:17. And if Christ be not risen, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Q. 4. What other end was there of Christ’s resurrection?
A. To declare his divine power; Romans 1:4. and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. And to evidence the fulness of his satisfaction; John 16:10. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more.

Q. 5. Did Christ rise in the same body he laid down?
A. It was substantially the same; John 20:27. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing.

Q. 6. What doth Christ's resurrection teach us?
A. The certainty of our resurrection after death; 1 Corinthians 15:20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.

Q. 7. What is the second step of Christ’s exaltation?
A. His ascension after forty days into heaven; Acts 1:2-3. Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost, had given commandment unto the apostles, whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Q. 8. Why did Christ stay so long on earth?
A. To assure the truth of his resurrection, and to settle the due government of his church, Acts 1:2-3.

Q. 9. For what end did he ascend?
A. To take possession of his glory; John 17:5. And now, 0 Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. And that as our fore-runner, Hebrews 6:20. Whither the Fore-runner is for us entered, even Jesus, &c.

Q. 10. In what manner did Christ ascend?
A. Triumphantly, and magnificently; Psalm 47:5. God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

Q. 11. What doth his ascension teach us?
A. Heavenly-mindedness; Colossians 3:1-2. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right-hand of God; set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth. And an encouragement iii our Christian race; Hebrews 12:1-2. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the despising the shame, and is set down at the right-hand of the throne of God.

The second Part of the 28th Question of Christ’s exaltation.

Q. 1. What was the third degree of Christ’s exaltation?
A. His sitting at God’s right-hand in heaven; Hebrews 1:3. When he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right-hand of the majesty on high.

Q. 2. What doth God’s right-hand signify?
A. A state of honour; Hebrews 1:13. But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right-hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool? And power; Matthew 26:64. Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right-hand of power.

Q. 3. What is implied in Christ’s sitting there?
A. That his work on earth is finished; Hebrews 10:12. But this man after he had offered one sacrifice, for sin, for ever sat down on the right-hand of God.

Q. 4. What else doth it signify?
4. Christ’s power over all his enemies; Psalm 110:2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

Q. 5. What learn we from Christ’s sitting there?
A. T he high honour believers are advanced to by Christ; Ephesians 2:6. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Q. 6. What is the last step of Christ’s exaltation?
A. His coming to judgment; Acts 10:42. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

Q. 7. Is it certain there shall be a judgment-day?
A. Yes; the scripture assures it; 2 Corinthians 5:10. For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ. And every man’s conscience witnesseth to it; Romans 2:16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

Q. 8. What is the first property of Christ’s judgment?
A. It will be awful and solemn; 1 Thessalonians 4:16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

Q. 9. What is the second property of it?
A. It will be exact and critical; Romans 2:16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. Matthew 12:36. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment.

Q. 10. What is the third property of it?
A. It will be an universal judgment; Revelation 20:12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened.

Q. 11. How is this a part of Christ’s exaltation?
A. He now acts in the fulness of his kingly power; Matthew 25:34. Then shall the king say unto them on his right-hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. And this will roll away the reproach of his enemies; Revelation 1:7. Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him.

Q. 12. What learn we from Christ’s being judge ?
A. That believers shall not be cast in judgment; Romans 8:1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.

Q. 13. What learn we from hence?
A. The deplorable state of Christless persons; Luke 19:27. But those mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

Q. 14. What else learn we from Christ’s judgment?
A. To give all diligence to be found of him in peace; 2 Peter 3:14. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace.