2. The effects of Christ’s resurrection, which respect his people, consist more especially in four things.
(1.) Their justification is owing hereunto. And we are said sometimes to be justified by his death, or by his blood, Rom. v. 9. so elsewhere we are said to be justified, both by his death and resurrection, in different respects, Who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, chap. viii. 34. by which some understand, that Christ, by his death paid the debt, which we had contracted, to the justice of God; and, by his resurrection, he received a discharge, or acquittance, in their behalf, for whom he died, and rose again; so that when he was discharged, his people might be said to be discharged in him, as their public Head and Representative. This is well expressed in our large English Annotations,[[234]] viz. that “our justification, which was begun in his death, was perfected in his resurrection. Christ did meritoriously work our justification and salvation, by his death and passion; but the efficacy and perfection thereof, with respect to us, dependeth on his resurrection. By his death, he paid our debt; in his resurrection, he received our acquittance, Isa. liii. 8. Being taken from prison, and from judgment. When he was discharged, we, in him, and together with him, received our discharge from the guilt and punishment of all our sins;” which is very agreeable to what is said in this answer, that he did all this as a public Person, the Head of his church. Nevertheless, there is another notion of our justification, which consists in our apprehending, receiving, or applying his righteousness by faith, which, as will be observed in its proper place,[[235]] cannot, from the nature of the thing, be said to be before we believe.
(2.) Another effect of Christ’s resurrection, is our quickening in grace; as it is said, When we were dead in sins, he hath quickened us together with Christ, Eph. ii. 5. This implies either that his death, being the procuring cause of all inherent grace begun in regeneration, and carried on in sanctification; his was the first step taken in order to his applying what he had purchased; and that afterwards we are raised, as the consequence thereof, from the death of sin, to a spiritual life of holiness; or else it denotes that communion which believers have with Christ in his resurrection, as well as his death, as he is the Head and they the members; which is agreeable to that peculiar mode of speaking, often used by the apostle Paul, who, in several places of his epistles, speaks of believers, as crucified, dead, and buried, risen, and ascended into heaven, and sitting at God’s right hand, in heavenly places, in, or with Christ.[[236]]
(3.) This is also a means for our support against our enemies, whose utmost rage can extend itself no farther than the grave. They, for whom Christ died, and rose again, shall obtain a glorious resurrection and eternal life with him; and therefore he advises his people not to be afraid of them that kill the body, and, after that have no more power that they can do, Luke xii. 4. which will farther appear, if we consider another effect of Christ’s resurrection, viz.
(4.) That they are hereby assured of their resurrection from the dead at the last day. Christ’s resurrection is, as it were, the exemplar and pledge of their’s; as hereby he conquered death in his own Person, so he gives them ground to conclude, that this last enemy, which stands in the way of their complete blessedness, shall be destroyed, 1 Cor. xv. 26. accordingly it is said, that he is risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept, ver. 20. But this will be farther considered, under a following answer.[[237]]
Quest. LIII., LIV.
Quest. LIII. How was Christ exalted in his ascension?
Answ. Christ was exalted in his ascension, in that having, after his resurrection, often appeared unto, and conversed with his apostles, speaking to them of those things pertaining to the kingdom of God, and giving them commission to preach the gospel to all nations; forty days after his resurrection, he, in our nature, and as our Head, triumphing over enemies, visibly went up into the highest heavens, there to receive gifts for men, to raise up our affections thither, and to prepare a place for us, where himself is, and shall continue, till his second coming at the end of the world.
Quest. LIV. How is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God?
Answ. 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, with all fulness of joy, glory, and power over all things in heaven and earth, and doth gather and defend his church, and subdue their enemies, furnish his ministers and people with gifts and graces, and maketh intercession for them.