Heidleberg Catechism

Question 49. Of what benefit to us is Christ’s ascension into heaven?

Answer: First, he is our advocate before his Father in heaven. (a) Second, we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that he, as Head, will also take us, his members, up to himself. (b) Third, that he sends us his Spirit as an earnest, (c) by whose power we “seek, not on things that are on earth, but the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” (d)

(Scriptural proofs after the fold.)

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What the Resurrection Does

The resurrection of Jesus

• serves as indisputable proof that the message the he is Judge and Saviour is true (Acts 17:31; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, 20).
• demonstrates his victory over death (Acts 2:24; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
• vindicates him as righteous (John 16:10).
• indicates his divine identity (Romans 1:4).
• guarantees the believer’s present forgiveness and justification (Romans 4:25).
• provides the basis of resurrection life in Christ for the believer here and now (John 11:25-26; Romans 6; Ephesians 1:18-2:10; Colossians 2:9-15; Colossians 3:1-4).

I’ve been doing research for my next post at Out of the Ordinary. While taking notes from the section on the resurrection of Jesus in J. I. Packer’s Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs, I found this list [page 127]. 

I changed things up a bit, formatting it as list and adjusting the wording to make the items parallel, but the info and prooftexts are all Packer’s.

Sunday's Hymn: Come Thou Almighty King

Come, thou Almighty King,
Help us thy name to sing,
Help us to praise:
Father, all glorious,
O’er all victorious,
Come, and reign over us,
Ancient of days.

Come, thou Incarnate Word,
Gird on thy mighty sword,
Our prayer attend:
Come and thy people bless,
And give thy Word success;
Spirit of holiness,
On us descend.

Come, Holy Comforter,
Thy sacred witness bear
In this glad hour:
Thou who almighty art,
Now rule in every heart,
And ne’er from us depart,
Spirit of power.

To the great One in Three
Eternal praises be,
Hence evermore.
His sovereign majesty
May we in glory see,
And to eternity
Love and adore.

Other hymns, worship songs, prayers, sermons excerpts, or quotes posted today:

• Not What My Hands Have Done at By Grace Alone
• All Beautiful the March of Days at Graces Daily
• Eternal Father, Strong to Save at The Happy Wonderer
• Lord, Help Us Understand the Times from Trevin Wax
• Knowledge vs understanding at Blogging Theologically
• Lifting Up Our Hearts - 36 at The Upward Call
• Love in Our Hearts at Tried With Fire
• Lord’s Day 33, 2014 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Your weekly dose of Spurgeon: “Tell them that again” at Pyromaniacs

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.