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

Everything's Coming Up Irish: Irish Articles of Religion

The Irish Articles of Religion are an important piece in the history of Protestantism in Ireland, and, as we will see, in the history of Protestantism as a whole. These 104 articles were put together by James Ussher, and adopted, as it's introduction says,

by the Archbishops and Bishops
and the rest of the clergy of Ireland.
In the Convocation held at Dublin in the year of our Lord God 1615,
for the avoiding of Diversities of Opinions,
and the establishing of consent touching true Religion.

This document was a rule of public doctrine, and all Irish Protestent ministers were expected to teach in conformity to it. It served this purpose for twenty years, until public opinion turned against its strict Calvinism during the rein of Charles I. In 1635, the Irish Convocation adopted The Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England, and although it was agreed at the time that both The Thirty-Nine Articles and The Irish Articles would be used, that was the beginning of the end of the use of The Irish Articles as a rule of doctrine.

But that wasn't the end of this historic document's influence. It's generally agreed that The Irish Articles served as the framework for The Westminster Confession of Faith, with the WCF using the general order of The Irish Articles, and retaining some of its language while expanding upon its ideas.

See for yourself. Here's Article 11 of The Irish Articles of Religion:

11. God from all eternity did by his unchangeable counsel ordain whatsoever in time should come to pass: yet so, as thereby no violence is offered to the wills of the reasonable creatures, and neither the liberty nor the contingency of the second causes is taken away, but established rather.

If you've spent much time reading The Westminster Confession of Faith, that paragraph probably sounds familiar to you. Chapter 3, Article 1 of the WCF says this:

1. God from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.

Let's move on to the next section in The Irish Articles and compare that with Chapter 3, articles 3 and 4 of the WCF.

• From The Irish Articles:

  12. By the same eternal counsel God hath predestinated some unto life, and reprobated some unto death: of both which there is a certain number, known only to God, which can neither be increased nor diminished.
  

• From The Westminster Confession of Faith:
  

  3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others fore-ordained to everlasting death.

  4. These angels and men, thus predestinated and fore-ordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed; and their number is so certain and definite that it can not be either increased or diminished.

And you thought those Westminster Divines drew up the WCF all on their own, didn't you?

Unfortunately for James Ussher, he might be remembered more for being the man who dated the creation of the world to 4004 BC than for his role in creating The Irish Articles, or for contributing, through them, to The Westminster Confession of Faith.

Would you like to this month's Everything's Coming Up Irish theme? Post anything related to Ireland or Irish things and send me the link (You can email me, or leave your link in the comments to this post.), then look for a link to your post in one of the upcoming ECUI posts. No blog? No problem. Email me your contribution or leave it in the comments and I'll post what you've contributed in one of the Irish posts.

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.