The Doctrinal Heading for this section of questions (Q38) is The Resurrection and the Judgment. (see Harmony Index)
WSC Q38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
In our last study, we looked at the benefits which believers receive from Christ at death. Now we consider the resurrection, in this final question of the first division of the catechism—the section on “what man must believe” (WSC Q3). Again, we pray that the Lord would bless time spent in these things, that we might truly grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit glorify our Father in all that we think, say, and do.
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Westminster Shorter Catechism Q38
Illustrations by John Whitecross – #4 of 6:’I remember,’ says the writer of John Janeway’s Life, ‘once there was a great talk that one had foretold that doomsday should be on such a day. Although he blamed their daring folly that could pretend to know that which was hid, yet, granting their suspicion to be true, “what then?” said he; “what if the day of judgment were come, as it will most certainly come shortly? If I were sure the day of judgment were to come within an hour, I should be glad with all my heart. If at this very instant, I should hear such thundering, and see such lightning, as Israel did at Mount Sinai, I am persuaded my very heart would leap for joy. But this I am confident of through infinite mercy, that the very meditation of that day hath even ravished my soul; and the thought of the certainty and nearness of it is more refreshing to me than the comforts of the whole world.”
John Whitecross – 1828
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WSC Q38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
Answer: At the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory[a], shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment[b], and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God[c] to all eternity[d].
[a] I Cor. 15:42-43
[b] Matt. 25:33-34, 46
[c] Rom. 8:29; I John 3:2
[d] Ps. 16:11; I Thess. 4:17
Question # 38 asks what benefits believers receive from Christ at the resurrection, and answers that at the resurrection, believers, raised in glory, will be publicly recognized and declared not guilty on the day of judgment, and will be made completely happy in the full enjoyment of God forever.
Comments and considerations:
In our study of WSC Q3 (“What do the Scriptures principally teach?), it began with the following two paragraphs, which now serve as a good conclusion to the first section of the catechism:
My godly stepfather once told me that if people were to fully understand the first four words of the Bible, everything else would fall correctly into place: “In the beginning, God…” A wise man, my stepfather.
The first scripture reference associated with this catechism question is Gen. 1:1, and it must be our starting point for understanding the authority of God’s inspired Word. This catechism question mentions two things—our beliefs and our actions, our faith and our practice. This is, in fact, how the entire Shorter Catechism is arranged. Questions 1-38 deal with what are we to believe, and Questions 39-107 deal with our duties, the sacraments, and prayer.
It is appropriate that this section of the catechism closes with the doctrine of the resurrection. It is a doctrine central to the church and the followers of Christ:
“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty” (I Cor. 15:14 -15).
For far too many, this teaching on the resurrection is hard to believe:
“And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, ‘We will hear you again on this matter’” (Acts 17:32).
In the face of this unbelief we are reminded that faith comes by hearing, and that we believe in order that we might understand. Therefore, though we may not be able to comprehend how a decayed or destroyed human body could one day “stand again” (the literal definition of resurrection), physically raised from the dead and reunited with the soul, we must nevertheless believe it. From beginning to end, nothing changes with our immutable God; he is able and to him who made all things out of nothing, no thing is impossible: “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible’” (Mark 10:27).
Apart from the fact that God is able, there are so many “miracles” of nature that show God’s design and purpose. Jesus himself used the illustration of the grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies, yet springs forth after its kind (John 12). The Apostle Paul used this same analogy in I Cor. 15 to explain the workings of the resurrection; “the body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption” (15:42), and “death is swallowed up in victory” (15:54). As our catechism rightly teaches, “believers being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity.”
Then will all God’s people finally reach our “chief end.” We will fully, completely, freely, and joyfully, glorify God and enjoy him forever.
Training Hearts and Teaching Minds Questions:
- At the resurrection, God will bring this sinful world to an end. Jesus Christ will return in power and glory, and he will destroy his enemies. Read John 6:39-40. What great promise for the believer is mentioned here? To whom and to what extent is this promise made?
- At the resurrection, those who have died in Christ will be raised up from the dead in new and glorified bodies. But what about those who are alive at his coming? See I Thess. 4:16-17 and I Cor. 15:51-52.
- What does it mean that resurrected believers will be “openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment?” See Matt. 10:32 and Matt. 25:32-33.
- What does it mean that resurrected believers will be made “perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity?” See Rev. 21:3-4 and 22:3-5.
Harmony of the Standards: WSC Q38, WLC Q88-90, & WCF XXXIII
WSC Q38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
A. At the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory[a], shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment[b], and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God[c] to all eternity[d].
[a] I Cor. 15:42-43
[b] Matt. 25:33-34, 46
[c] Rom. 8:29; I John 3:2
[d] Ps. 16:11; I Thess. 4:17
WLC Q88. What shall immediately follow after the resurrection?
A. Immediately after the resurrection shall follow the general and final judgment of angels and men[a]; the day and hour whereof no man knoweth, that all may watch and pray, and be ever ready for the coming of the Lord[b].
[a] 2Pet. 2:4, 6-7, 14-15; Mat. 25:46
[b] Mat. 24:36, 42, 44; Luke 21:35-36
WLC Q89. What shall be done to the wicked at the day of judgment?
A. At the day of judgment, the wicked shall be set on Christ’s left hand[a], and, upon clear evidence, and full conviction of their own consciences[b], shall have the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them[c]; and thereupon shall be cast out from the favourable presence of God, and the glorious fellowship with Christ, his saints, and all his holy angels, into hell, to be punished with unspeakable torments, both of body and soul, with the devil and his angels forever[d].
[a] Matt. 25:33
[b] Rom. 2:15-16
[c] Mat. 25:41-43
[d] Luke 16:26; 2Thes. 1:8-9
WLC Q90.What shall be done to the righteous at the day of judgment?
A. At the day of judgment, the righteous, being caught up to Christ in the clouds [a], shall be set on his right hand, and there openly acknowledged and acquitted[b], shall join with him in the judging of reprobate angels and men[c], and shall be received into heaven[d], where they shall be fully and forever freed from all sin and misery[e]; filled with inconceivable joys[f], made perfectly holy and happy both in body and soul, in the company of innumerable saints and holy angels[g], but especially in the immediate vision and fruition of God the Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, to all eternity[h]. And this is the perfect and full communion, which the members of the invisible church shall enjoy with Christ in glory, at the resurrection and day of judgment.
[a] 1Thes. 4:17
[b] Mat. 25:33; 10:32
[c] 1Cor. 6:2-3
[d] Mat. 25:34, 46
[e] Eph. 5:27; Rev. 14:13
[f] Ps. 16:11
[g] Heb.12:22-23
[h] 1John 3:2; 1Cor. 13:12; 1Thes. 4:17-18
CHAPTER. XXXIII.
Of the Last Judgment.
I. God hath appointed a day, wherein he will judge the world, in righteousness, by Jesus Christ[a] to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father.[b] In which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged,[c] but likewise all persons that have lived upon earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds; and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil[d].
[a] Acts 17:31
[b] John 5:22, 27
[c] Jude 6; II Pet. 2:4
[d] II Cor. 5:10; Ecc. 12:14; Rom. 2:16; Rom. 14:10, 12; Matt. 12:36-37
II. The end of God’s appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of his justice, in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient. For then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fullness of joy and refreshing, which shall come from the presence of the Lord: but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power[e].
[e] Matt. 25:31-46; Rom. 2:5-6; Rom. 9:22-23; Matt. 25:21; Acts 3:19; II Thess. 1:7-10
III. As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin; and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity:[f] so will he have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen[g].
[f] II Pet. 3:11, 14; II Cor. 5:10-11; II Thess. 1:5-7; Luke 21:27-28; Rom. 8:23-25
[g] Matt. 24:36, 42-44; Mark 13:35-37; Luke 12:35-36; Rev. 22:20
Questions for further study:
The instruction of WSC Q38 ends the first half instruction of the shorter catechism, rehearsing the benefits that believers receive from Christ at the resurrection. What other aspects regarding the resurrection does the Larger Catechism and Confession of Faith bring out? Are there motivations to this life surrounding the doctrine of the resurrection, and if so what might they be?
