The Shorter Catechism
of the Westminster Assembly
Explained and Proved
from Scripture

by Thomas Vincent

XXVIII. Quest. Wherein consisteth Christ's exaltation?
Ans. Christ's exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up to heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.

Q. 1. What is the first part of Christ's exaltation?
A. The first part of Christ's exaltation is his resurrection from the dead.

Q. 2. How do you prove that Christ rose again from the dead?
A. 1. By the many witnesses who saw him, and conversed with him after his resurrection. "He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve; after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once." — 1 Cor. 15:5, 6. 2. Because otherwise our faith would be in vain, the guilt of sin would still remain upon us, and there would be no hope for us. "If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins." — 1 Cor. 15:17.

Q. 3. By whom was Christ raised from the dead?
A. Christ was raised from the dead by his own power and Spirit, whereby he was declared to be the Son of God. "I lay down my life, that I might take it again. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." — John 10:17, 18. "Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." — Rom. 1:4.

Q. 4. How soon did Christ rise after his death?
A. Christ rose again from the dead on the third day. "He was buried, and rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures." — 1 Cor. 15:4.

Q. 5. Did Christ rise again with the same body which was buried?
A. Christ did rise again with the same body, for he bore the print of the nails in his hands and his feet, and of the spear in his side. "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side." — John 20:27.

Q. 6. Was not Christ's body corrupted in the grave, like the bodies of others?
A. No; for God did not suffer him to see corruption. "He whom God raised again saw no corruption." — Acts 13:37.

Q. 7. Was not Christ's body mortal after his resurrection?
A. No; for then his body did put on immortality. "Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him." — Rom. 6:9.

Q. 8. What doth the resurrection of Christ teach us?
A. The resurrection of Christ doth teach us to walk in newness of life. "Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of his Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." — Rom. 6:4.

Q. 9. What doth the resurrection of Christ assure us of?
A. The resurrection of Christ doth assure us, that our bodies shall be raised again from the dead on the last day. "Now is Christ raised from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept." — 1 Cor. 15:20.

Q. 10. What is the second part of Christ's exaltation?
A. The second part of Christ's exaltation is his ascension into heaven.

Q. 11. How do you prove that Christ ascended into heaven?
A. By the Scripture record of the witnesses who saw him. "And he led them out as far as Bethany; and be lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." — Luke 24:50, 51.

Q. 12. How long after Christ's resurrection was his ascension?
A. Christ's ascension was forty days after his resurrection. "Until the day in which he was taken up, after he had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen; to whom he showed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days." — Acts 1:2, 3.

Q. 13. Wherefore did Christ ascend into heaven?
A. Christ ascended into heaven — 1. That his person (God-man) might be glorified there with that glory which (as God) he had with the Father before the world. "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." — John 17:5. 2. That he might (as Head of the Church) take possession of heaven for all his members. "Whither the forerunner is for us entered."— Heb. 6:20.

Q. 14. What doth Christ's ascension into heaven teach us?
A. Christ's ascension into heaven doth teach us to set our affections on things above, where Christ is. "Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth." — Col. 3:2.

Q. 15. What is the third part of Christ's exaltation?
A. The third part of Christ's exaltation, is his sitting at the right hand of God the Father.

Q. 16. What is meant by Christ's sitting at the right hand of God?
A. By Christ's sitting at the right hand of God is meant, his being exalted unto the highest honour, and power, and favour in heaven.

Q. 17. What doth Christ do for his people which are on the earth, at the right hand of God in heaven?
A. Christ, at the right hand of God in heaven — 1. Doth make continual intercession for his people. "Who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." — Rom. 8:34. 2. He is preparing a place in heaven for them. "In my Father's house are many mansions: I go to prepare a place for you." — John 14:2.

Q. 18. What is the fourth part of Christ's exaltation?
A. The fourth part of Christ's exaltation, is his coming to judge the world. "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; and before him shall be gathered all nations," &c. — Matt. 25:31, 32, &c

Q. 19. When is it that Christ will come to judge the world?
A. Christ will come to judge the world at the last day; then the world shall be at an end, and all things shall be dissolved. "But the day of the Lord will come, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up." — 2 Pet. 3:10.

Q. 20. In what glory will Christ come to judge the world at the last day?
A. Christ will come to judge the world with his own glory, and his Father's, and the holy angels. "He shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels." — Luke 9:26.

Q. 21. How will Christ judge the world at this his glorious appearance?
A. Christ will judge the world at his glorious appearance, in righteousness, rendering to every one according to his deserts. "He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness." — Acts 17:31. "We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." — 2 Cor. 5:10.