Together, we have faith

April 25, 2025
Week #16 — Day 6
Jesus Exalted in His Return (1)
Q. 28. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation?
A. Christ’s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in
ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.
1 Cor. 15:4; Mark 16:19; Eph. 1:20; Acts 1:11; 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.”
“The Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works” (Matt. 16:27). Christ first came to earth as a tender child; He will return as a terrible warrior. He first came to earth to be judged. He will return to judge every person. On that day, “for the first time in all human history, absolute justice is going to be dispensed to the human race.”
Excerpt From
Glorifying and Enjoying God: 52 Devotions through the Westminster Shorter Catechism (Boekestein & Cruse & Miller)
Jesus exalted in his Return— “and in coming to judge the world at the last day.” The emphasis is placed on “restorative justice” in the Return of Jesus Christ. Yet we must not think of this as “getting back” at those who mistreated or misused us. That is personal vengeance not restorative justice. God will come back in the Person of Jesus Christ to make things right.
The three words used in Scripture for Christ’s Return are “parousia,” the most common word for Christ’s Return (Matt. 24; 1 Thess. 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:1; James 5:7, 8; 2 Pet. 3:4); “Apocalypsis” (2 Thess 1:7; 1 Peter1:7, 13)’ and, “Epiphaneia” which is the word for “appearing.” Jesus’s return is described as “the appearance of his coming” (2 Thess. 2:8) and as “the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Tim. 6:14).
A Puritan Prayer —
“THOU GREAT I AM,
Fill my mind with elevation and grandeur at the thought of a Being
with whom one day is as a thousand years,
and a thousand years as one day,
A mighty God, who, amidst the lapse of worlds,
and the revolutions of empires,
feels no variableness,
but is glorious in immortality.
May I rejoice that, while men die, the Lord lives;
that, while all creatures are broken reeds,
empty cisterns,
fading flowers,
withering grass,
he is the Rock of Ages, the Fountain of living waters.
Turn my heart from vanity,
from dissatisfactions,
from uncertainties of the present state,
to an eternal interest in Christ.
Let me remember that life is short and unforeseen,
and is only an opportunity for usefulness;
Give me a holy avarice to redeem the time,
to awake at every call to charity and piety,
so that I may feed the hungry,
clothe the naked,
instruct the ignorant,
reclaim the vicious,
forgive the offender,
diffuse the gospel,
show neighbourly love to all.”
Excerpt From
The Valley of Vision
Edited by Arthur Bennett