Benefits of Christ's ascension

46 What do you confess when you say, he ascended into heaven?

46 That Christ, before the eyes of his disciples, was taken up from the earth into heaven, 1 and that he is there for our benefit 2 until he comes again to judge the living and the dead. 3

47 Is Christ, then, not with us until the end of the world, as he has promised us? 1

47 Christ is true man and true God. With respect to his human nature he is no longer on earth, 2 but with respect to his divinity, majesty, grace, and Spirit he is never absent from us. 3

48 But are the two natures in Christ not separated from each other if his human nature is not present wherever his divinity is?

48 Not at all, for his divinity has no limits and is present everywhere. 1 So it must follow that his divinity is indeed beyond the human nature which he has taken on and nevertheless is within this human nature and remains personally united with it. 2

49 How does Christ's ascension into heaven benefit us?

49 First, he is our Advocate in heaven before his Father. 1 Second, we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that he, our Head, will also take us, his members, up to himself. 2 Third, he sends us his Spirit as a counter-pledge, 3 by whose power we seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God, and not the things that are on earth. 4

Footnotes

Question 46 · Footnote 1

Mark 16:19

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

Luke 24:50-51

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

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."

Question 46 · Footnote 2

Romans 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.

Hebrews 4:14

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Hebrews 7:23-25

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 9:24

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.

Question 46 · Footnote 3

Matthew 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.

Acts 1:11

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."

Question 47 · Footnote 1

Matthew 28:20

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Question 47 · Footnote 2

Matthew 26:11

For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.

John 16:28

I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father."

John 17:11

And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.

Acts 3:19-21

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 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.

Hebrews 8:4

Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.

Question 47 · Footnote 3

Matthew 28:18-20

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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."

John 14:16-19

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

John 16:13

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Question 48 · Footnote 1

Jeremiah 23:23-24

"Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.

Acts 7:48-49

Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, "'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?

Question 48 · Footnote 2

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 3:13

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

Colossians 2:9

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

Question 49 · Footnote 1

Romans 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.

1 John 2:1

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.

Question 49 · Footnote 2

John 14:2

In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

John 17:24

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.

Ephesians 2:4-6

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 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,

Question 49 · Footnote 3

John 14:16

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

Acts 2:33

Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22

And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

2 Corinthians 5:5

He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

Question 49 · Footnote 4

Colossians 3:1-4

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. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Redemption