How do we come to be made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured?

We are made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured,[1] by the application of them unto us, which is the work especially of God the Holy Ghost.[2]

1. John 1:11-12

   He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God . . . .
   

2. Titus 3:5-6

   . . . he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior . . . .
   

Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 58

What benefits hath Christ procured by his mediation?

Christ, by his mediation, hath procured redemption,[1] with all other benefits of the covenant of grace.[2]

1. Heb. 9:12

   . . . he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

2. II Cor. 1:20

   For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

Question 57, Westminster Larger Catechism

How is Christ to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world?

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,[1] shall come again at the last day in great power,[2] and in the full manifestation of his own glory, and of his Father's, with all his holy angels,[3] with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God,[4] to judge the world in righteousness.[5]

1. Acts 3:14-15

   But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

2. Matt. 24:30

   Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

3. Luke 9:26

   For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

   
   Matt. 25:31

   When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

4. I Thess. 4:16

   For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

5. Acts 17:31

   because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.

Question 56, Westminster Larger Catechism

How doth Christ make intercession?

Christ maketh intercession, by his appearing in our nature continually before the Father in heaven,[1] in the merit of his obedience and sacrifice on earth,[2] declaring his will to have it applied to all believers;[3] answering all accusations against them,[4] and procuring for them quiet of conscience, notwithstanding daily failings,[5] access with boldness to the throne of grace,[6] and acceptance of their persons [7] and services.[8]

1. Heb. 9:12, 24

   . . . he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

2. Heb. 1:3

   He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high . . . .

   
   
3. John 3:16

   For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

   John 17:9, 20, 24

   I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
   
   I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word . . .
   
   Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

4. Rom. 8:33-34

   Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

5. Rom. 5:1-2

   Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

   
   I John 2:1-2

   My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

6. Heb. 4:16

   Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

7. Eph. 1:6

   . . .to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

8. I Peter 2:5

   . . . you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Question 55, Westminster Larger Catechism

How is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God?

Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favor with God the Father,[1] with all fulness of joy,[2] glory,[3] and power over all things in heaven and earth;[4] and doth gather and defend his church, and subdue their enemies; furnisheth his ministers and people with gifts and graces,[5] and maketh intercession for them.[6]

1. Phil. 2:9

   Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name . . .

2. Acts 2:28

   You have made known to me the paths of life;
   you will make me full of gladness with your presence.

   Psa. 16:11

   You make known to me the path of life;
   in your presence there is fullness of joy;
   at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

3. John 17:5

   And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

4. Eph. 1:22

   And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church . . . .
   

   I Peter 3:22

   . . . who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

5. Eph. 4:10-12

   He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ . . . .
   

   Psa. 110:1

   The Lord says to my Lord:
   “Sit at my right hand,
   until I make your enemies your footstool.”

6. Rom. 8:34

   Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Question 54, Westminster Larger Catechism

How was Christ exalted in his ascension?

Christ was exalted in his ascension, in that having after his resurrection often appeared unto and conversed with his apostles, speaking to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God,[1] and giving them commission to preach the gospel to all nations,[2] forty days after his resurrection, he, in our nature, and as our head,[3] triumphing over enemies,[4] visibly went up into the highest heavens, there to receive gifts for men,[5] to raise up our affections thither,[6] and to prepare a place for us,[7] where himself is, and shall continue till his second coming at the end of the world.[8]

1. Acts 1:2-3

   . . . until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

2. Matt. 28:19-20

   Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

3. Heb. 6:20

   . . .where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

4. Eph. 4:8

   Therefore it says,

   “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
   and he gave gifts to men.”

5. Acts 1:9-11

   And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

   
   Eph. 4:10

   He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.

   
   Psa. 68:18

   You ascended on high,
   leading a host of captives in your train
   and receiving gifts among men,
   even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.

6. Col. 3:1-2

   If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

7. John 14:3

   And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

8. Acts 3:21

   whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

Question 53, Westminster Larger Catechism.

How was Christ exalted in his resurrection?

Christ was exalted in his resurrection, in that, not having seen corruption in death (of which it was not possible for him to be held),[1] and having the very same body in which he suffered, with the essential properties thereof [2] (but without mortality, and other common infirmities belonging to this life), really united to his soul,[3] he rose again from the dead the third day by his own power;[4] whereby he declared himself to be the Son of God,[5] to have satisfied divine justice,[6] to have vanquished death, and him that had the power of it,[7] and to be Lord of quick and dead:[8] all which he did as a public person,[9] the head of his church,[10] for their justification,[11] quickening in grace,[12] support against enemies,[13] and to assure them of their resurrection from the dead at the last day.[14]

1. Acts 2:24, 27

   God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.
2. Luke 24:39

   See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.

3. Rom. 6:9

   We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.

   
   Rev. 1:18

   . . . I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

4. John 10:18

   No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.

5. Rom. 1:4

   . . . and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord . . . .
   

6. Rom. 8:34

   Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

7. Heb. 2:14

   Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil . . . .

   
   
8. Rom. 14:9

   For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

9. I Cor. 15:21-22

   For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

10. Eph. 1:20, 22-23

    . . . that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. . . .

    And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

    
    Col. 1:18

    And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

11. Rom. 4:25

    . . . who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

12. Eph. 2:1, 5-6

    And you were dead in the trespasses and sins . . .
    

    . . . even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus . . .

    
    Col. 2:12

    . . . having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

13. I Cor. 15:25-27

    For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.

14. I Cor. 15:20

    But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Question 51, Westminster Larger Catechism.