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. . .

And in one lord, Jesus Christ, the son of God, begotten from the father, only-begotten, that is from the being* of the father, God from God, light from light, True God from True God, begotten not made, one in being** with the father, through whom all things came to be, both those in heaven and those on the earth,

who because of us human beings and because of our salvation descended, became enfleshed, became human, suffered and rose on the third day, ascending to the heavens, coming to judge the living and dead.

www.arimathea.co.uk/nicene.htm

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Lord's Day 18

Q & A 46 Q. What do you mean by saying,
"He ascended to heaven"?

A. That Christ,
while his disciples watched,
was lifted up from the earth to heaven^1
and will be there for our good^2
until he comes again
to judge the living and the dead.^3

^1 Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:9-11
^2 Rom. 8:34; Eph. 4:8-10; Heb. 7:23-25; 9:24
^3 Acts 1:11



Q & A 47 Q. But isn't Christ with us
until the end of the world
as he promised us?^1

A. Christ is truly human and truly God.
In his human nature Christ is not now on earth;^2
but in his divinity, majesty, grace, and Spirit
he is not absent from us for a moment.^3

^1 Matt. 28:20
^2 Acts 1:9-11; 3:19-21
^3 Matt. 28:18-20; John 14:16-19



Q & A 48 Q. If his humanity is not present
wherever his divinity is,
then aren't the two natures of Christ
separated from each other?

A. Certainly not.
Since divinity
is not limited
and is present everywhere,^1
it is evident that
Christ's divinity is surely beyond the bounds of
the humanity he has taken on,
but at the same time his divinity is in
and remains personally united to
his humanity.^2

^1 Jer. 23:23-24; Acts 7:48-49 (Isa. 66:1)
^2 John 1:14; 3:13; Col. 2:9



Q & A 49 Q. How does Christ's ascension to heaven
benefit us?

A. First, he pleads our cause
in heaven
in the presence of his Father.^1

Second, we have our own flesh in heaven—
a guarantee that Christ our head
will take us, his members,
to himself in heaven.^2

Third, he sends his Spirit to us on earth
as a further guarantee.^3
By the Spirit's power
we make the goal of our lives,
not earthly things,
but the things above where Christ is,
sitting at God's right hand.^4

^1 Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1
^2 John 14:2; 17:24; Eph. 2:4-6
^3 John 14:16; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5
^4 Col. 3:1-4



Lord's Day 19

Q & A 50 Q. Why the next words:
"and is seated at the right hand of God"?

A. Christ ascended to heaven,
there to show that he is head of his church,^1
and that the Father rules all things through him.^2

^1 Eph. 1:20-23; Col. 1:18
^2 Matt. 28:18; John 5:22-23



Q & A 51 Q. How does this glory of Christ our head
benefit us?

A. First, through his Holy Spirit
he pours out his gifts from heaven
upon us his members.^1

Second, by his power
he defends us and keeps us safe
from all enemies.^2

^1 Acts 2:33; Eph. 4:7-12
^2 Ps. 110:1-2; John 10:27-30; Rev. 19:11-16

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Since, then, Christ's Ascension is our elevation, and the body’s hope is summoned to where the glory of the head has already gone, let us exult, best beloved, with fitting celebration and rejoice to offer dutiful thanks. For to-day not only are we confirmed as possessors of paradise, but in Christ we have even penetrated heaven’s height, and by Christ’s ineffable grace have gained abundantly, far beyond what we lost through the devil’s envy. The poisonous enemy drove us from the bliss of our first home, but the Son of God has incorporated us in Himself and placed us at the right hand of the Father, with Whom He lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.

Amen.

http://www.arimathea.co.uk/ascensio.htm

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