A Scripture Catechism
in the
Method of the Assembly's
by Matthew Henry
Q. 38.What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
A. At the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God to all eternity.
1. Shall the dead bodies of believers be raised? Yes: For the dead shall be raised, 1 Cor. 15:52, Is it possible that the same body should return to life again? Yes: Why should it seem a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead? Acts 26:8. Is it certain that they shall be raised? Yes: for if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen, 1 Cor. 15:13. Has Christ undertaken for the resurrection of believers? Yes: I am the resurrection and the life, John 11:15. Are they in error who deny it? Yes: Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God, Matt. 22:29.
2. Shall the believer's body be raised up in glory? Yes: it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory, 1 Cor. 15:43. Shall it be the glory of Christ's glorified body? Yes: he shall change our vile bodies, that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, Phil. 3:21. Shall they be raised by virtue of their union with Christ? Yes: Together with my dead body shall they arise, Isa. 26:19. Shall they be raised to such a life as we now live? No: for in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, Matt. 22:30. Shall they be raised to an immortal life? Yes: for this mortal must put off immortality, 1 Cor. 15:53. Shall they that are found alive be changed? Yes: Behold, I show you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 1 Cor. 15:51.
3. Shall all the saints at that day be brought to Jesus Christ? Yes: at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ there shall be a gathering together unto him, 2 Thess. 2:1. Shall they be separated from the wicked? Yes: as the Shepherd divideth the sheep from the goats, Matt. 25:32. Shall all the saints be then together? Yes: for he shall gather his elect from the four winds, Matt. 24:31. And none but saints? Yes: for he shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, Matt. 13:41. And saints made perfect? Yes: for then that which is perfect is come, 1 Cor. 13:10. Shall they attend upon Christ at his coming? Yes: Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, Jude 14. Shall they be assessors with him in his judgment Yes: for the saints shall judge the world, 1 Cor. 6:2.
4. Shall they be openly acknowledged in the day of judgment? Yes: Him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven, Matt. 10:32. Will God own them as his own? Yes: They shall be mine, saith the Lord, in that day when I make up my jewels, Mal. 3:17. And will that be their honour? Yes: If any man serve me, him will my Father honour, John 12:26. Shall they be openly acquitted? Yes: for their sins shall be blotted out when the times of refreshing come, Acts 3:19.
5. Shall the wicked be condemned then? Yes: he shall say to them on his left hand, Depart from me. Shall they be sent away with a blessing? No: Depart ye cursed. Shall they go into a place of ease? No: into fire. Into ordinary fire? No: into fire prepared. Shall it be for a short time? No: but into everlasting fire. Shall they have good company? No: but the devil and his angels, Matt. 25:41. Will the salvation of the saints aggravate their condemnation? Yes: for they shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, Luke 13:28.
6. Shall the saints at the day of judgment be put in possession of eternal life? Yes: the righteous into life eternal, Matt. 25:4,6. Shall they be blessed? Yes: Come, ye blessed of my Father, Matt. 25:34. Shall they be perfectly blessed? Yes: for in thy presence is fulness of joy, Ps. 16:11. Shall there be any sin in heaven? No: for they are as the angels of God in heaven, Matt. 22:30. Shall there be any sorrow there? No: for God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, Rev. 21:4. Shall there be any dying there? No: there shall be no more death, Rev. 21:4.
7. Is heaven a place of rest? Yes: there remaineth a rest for the people of God, Heb. 4:9. Is it light? Yes: it is the inheritance of the saints in light, Col. 1:12. Is it honour? Yes: it is a crown of glory that fades not away, 1 Pet. 5:4. Is it wealth? Yes: it is an inheritance incorruptible, 1 Pet. 1:4. Is it joy? Yes: Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord, Matt. 25:21.
8. Shall we in heaven see God? Yes: when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is, 1 John 3:2. Shall we see him clearly? Yes: now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face, 1 Cor. 13:12. Shall we enjoy him? Yes: God himself shall be with them, and be their God, Rev. 21.
Shall we be satisfied in the vision and fruition of God? Yes: I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness, Ps. 17:15. Shall this be everlasting? Yes: So shall we ever be with the Lord, 1 Thes.4:17.
9. Is this happiness purchased? Yes: it is the purchased possession, Eph. 1:14. Is it promised? Yes: it is eternal life which God, that cannot lie, promised, Tit. 1:2. Is it sure to all good Christians? Yes: even the poor in the world, if rich in faith, are heirs of the kingdom, Jam. 2:5. Should we not be solicitous that it may be sure with us? Yes: What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? Luke 18:18. Should we not then have it much in our eye? Yes: for we look not at the things that are seen, but the things that are not seen, 2 Cor. 4:18. And should we not be comforted and encouraged with the prospect of it? Yes: for the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed, Rom. 8:18.