Q. 54. How is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God?
A. Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favour with God the Father [m], with all fulness of joy [n], glory [o], and power over all things in heaven and earth [p]; and does gather and defend his church, and subdue their enemies; furnisheth his ministers and people with gifts and graces [q], and maketh intercession for them [r].
[m] Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
[n] Acts 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
Compared with Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
[o] John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
[p] Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
[q] Ephesians 4:10-12 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) Ver.11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Ver.12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Psalm 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool, etc. [See the Psalm throughout.]
[concerning our "enemies," recall Q.45: Christ executes the office of King by "restraining and overcoming all their enemies," quoting Psalm 110:2, The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
[also recall Q. 38: it was necessary that the Mediator should be God so that He could "conquer all the enemies" of His peculiar people, quoting the Christmas narrative:
Luke 1:68-69 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; Ver.71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; Ver.74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear
[r] Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Q. 55. How doeth Christ make intercession?
A. Christ maketh intercession, by his appearing in our nature continually before the Father in heaven [s], in the merit of his obedience and sacrifice on earth [t], declaring his will to have it applied to all believers [v]; answering all accusations against them [w], and procuring for them quiet of conscience, notwithstanding daily failings [x], access with boldness to the throne of grace [y], and acceptance of their persons [z] and services [a].
[s] Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Ver.24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
[t] Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
[v] John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. Ver.20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; Ver.24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
[w] Romans 8:33-34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
[x] Romans 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Ver.2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: Ver.2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
[y] Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
[z] Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
[a] 1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Q. 56. How is Christ to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world?
A. Christ is to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world, in that he, who was unjustly judged and condemned by wicked men [b], shall come again at the last day in great power [c], and in the full manifestation of his own glory, and of his Father's, with all his holy angels [d], with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God [e], to judge the world in righteousness [f].
[b] Acts 3:14-15 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; Ver.15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
[c] Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
[d] Luke 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
Matthew 25:31 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:
[e] 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:
[f] Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
End of Lesson, Day 35
For Further Study
We must remember that the Westminster Standards are not infallible. Sometimes they make claims which are not true. Sometimes they make claims which are true, but offer a prooftext from Scripture which does not actually support the claim. Question 56 may contain examples of this. The Catechism says that
Christ is to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world, in that he, who was unjustly judged and condemned by wicked men, shall come again at the last day in great power, and in the full manifestation of his own glory, and of his Father's, with all his holy angels, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, to judge the world in righteousness.
What the Catechism may have failed to understand in some cases, is that the "wicked men" who "unjustly judged and condemned" Christ were in fact judged in power and glory with the "angels," when God sent Titus and his Roman Army to destroy Jerusalem. See this special study on this blog: "Christ's Coming to Judge the World."
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