1. The Apostles Creed, like the bible does not stop with the trial, death and burial of the Redeemer. “On the third day He rose again from the dead” [1 Cor 15:4]. There must be more than death for our salvation; there must be resurrection.
2. Why? Calvin explains. “For since only weakness appears in the cross, death, and burial of Christ, faith must leap over all these things to attain its full strength. We have in His death the completed fulfilment of salvation, for through it we are reconciled to God, His righteous judgment is satisfied, the curse is removed, and the penalty paid in full. Nevertheless, we are said to ‘have been born anew to a living hope,’ not through His death but ‘through His resurrection’ [1 Pet 1:3]” (Pg., 520).
3. There would have been no hope of the glorious resurrection if Christ had been conquered by death rather than conquering death. [Rom 1:4; 2 Cor 13:4; 1 Cor 15:54-57]
4. The resurrected Christ is our Mediator [Rom 8:34]; the believer is raised with Christ [Rom 6:4; Col 3:1-5]. These words tell us plainly that we are to follow after holiness, and that we have been “reborn into righteousness through Christ’s power” (Pg., 522).
5. By his resurrection, “we are assured of our won resurrection by receiving a sort of guarantee substantiated by His” (Pg., 522). [1 Cor 15:12-26]
6. The Apostles Creed declares that Christ “ascended into heaven.” Calvin says that at this event “He truly inaugurated His Kingdom” (Pg., 522).
Calvin gives five reasons for this statement.
a) Jesus ascended into heaven that he might fill all things. (Eph 4:10)
b) He left us that he might be more useful to us; being our Mediator, our Advocate, and Intercessor. See section 16 on page 524.
c) Jesus went to the Father that he might send the fullness of the Spirit. (Jn 16:7)
d) Jesus was fully glorified. (Jn 7:39)
e) He went away so that he might come again in glory. (Jn 14:18-19; 16:14)
7. Calvin sums it up this way: “Carried up into heaven, therefore, He withdrew His bodily presence from our sight [Acts 1:9], not to cease to be present with believers still on their earthly pilgrimage, but to rule heaven and earth with more immediate power. But by His ascension He fulfilled what He had promised: that He would be with us even unto the end of the world” (Pg., 523).
8. The Apostles Creed then follows with the declaration that Jesus was “seated at the right hand of the Father.” Clearly this is the seat of sovereign authority. From here King Jesus rules His kingdom. [Eph 1:20-22 cf. Phil 2:9; 1 Cor 15:27]
9. Jesus the Redeemer is “sitting, enthroned that both heavenly and earthly creatures may look with admiration upon His majesty, be ruled by His hand, obey His nod, and submit to His power” (Pg., 524).
10. This Apostles Creed also gives us wonderful, yet sober news concerning the judging activity of our Redeemer: “From whence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.” In that last day, Christ will visibly come to judge and consequently, “No one - living or dead - shall escape His judgment” (Pg., 525). Hebrews 9:27 “And it is appointed for man to die once, but after this the judgment.”
11. Calvin gave wonderful consolation to the redeemed by telling them that the redeemed will never be destroyed by the great judge of heaven and earth.
12. “We perceive judgment to be in the hands of Him who has already destined us to share with Him the honour of judging [cf. Matt 19:28]! Far indeed is He from mounting His judgment seat to condemn us! How could our most merciful Ruler destroy His people” (Pg., 526).
13. From what the creed heralds concerning the work of the Redeemer, it is obvious that all of salvation and reconciliation is achieved and found in Christ alone. [Acts 4:12; 1 Cor 1:30]
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