Question 49

Of what advantage to us is Christ’s ascension into heaven?

First, that he is our Advocate in the presence of his Father in heaven (Heb. 9;24): secondly, that we have our flesh in heaven, as a sure pledge that he, as the head, will also take up to himself, us, his members (John 14;2, 3): and thirdly, that he sends us his Spirit, as an earnest, by whose power we “seek the things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God, and not things on earth” (John 16;7).

Scripture references for paragraph 1

Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.

Hebrews 9:24
24For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.

1 John 2:1
1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

Romans 8:34
34Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.

John 14:2
2In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

John 14:3
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.

Ephesians 2:4-6
4But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 1:22
22And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church,

1 Corinthians 12:27
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.

John 16:7
7But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

Ephesians 1:13
13And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

Ephesians 1:14
14who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.

2 Corinthians 1:22
22placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.

Colossians 3:1-3
1Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Philippians 3:20
20But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Source and edition

Heidelberg Catechism. RCA English, E. R. Good & Bro., Tiffin, 1879. RCA English, E. R. Good & Bro., Tiffin, 1879

Public Domain (historic text); CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikisource transcription). Source transcription.

Transcription licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0.

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