Chapter 22: Of Christ's Session at God's Right Hand and His Return to Judgment

Q: Besides the Resurrection and ascension of Christ, what further degree is there of his exaltation?

A. His sitting at the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1; Mark 16:19; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3, 13; and 8:1; and 10:12, 13).

Q. What are we to understand by Christ's sitting at the right hand of God?

A. That fullness of excellent majesty and glorious dominion whereto he is now advanced, far above the most glorious Angels and every other creature (Ephesians 1:20, 21, 22; Hebrews 1:13).

Q. But divine dominion and sovereignty over all creatures belonging to the Father and to the Holy Ghost, why is this peculiarly ascribed to Christ?

A. Not in respect of right but the actual and immediate exercise thereof; for the former belonging to all the divine persons, this latter is now peculiarly committed to Christ (John 5:22, 27; Acts 10:42; and 17:31).

Q. Who gave Christ this great authority thus to sit at the right hand of God?

A. He did not come to it by any unjust usurpation, but it was given to him by God (Ephesians 1:20; Philippians 2:10; John 5:22, 27; and 17:2).

Q. And why did God give this great advancement to Christ?

A. Because the Son did voluntarily humble himself to the greatest degree of obedience and humiliation; therefore the Father gave to him this exaltation and advancement, as a reward and recompense of that his humiliation (Philippians 2:10, 11; Isaiah 5:3, 12).

Q. Does Christ sit at the right hand of God in respect of his divine nature only or in regard of his manhood also?

A. This dignity belongs to Christ as God and man in one person, and not in respect of one of his natures alone.

Q. How may that appear?

A. Because it is given to him immediately upon his Ascension into heaven, and is to be exercised by him both as David's Lord, and also as he is the Son of man.

Q. How long shall this sitting of Christ at God's right hand continue?

A. Until all his enemies be made his footstool (Psalm 110:1; 1 Corinthians 15:25).

Q. Shall it never cease and have an end?

A. If we speak of his reigning and ruling in a way and manner peculiar and appropriate to his person, so we may safely say that when all his enemies are put under his feet, then shall be the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to the Father, and himself be subject to him (1 Corinthians 15:24, 25, 28).

Q. What shall be the last act of this glorious power and authority of Christ, and so the last degree of his exaltation?

A. His return to judgment at the last day, when he shall come a second time into this world with unspeakable majesty and glory, to judge the quick and dead (2 Timothy 4:1; Acts 10:42; and 17:31; and Matthew 25:31; and 26:64; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8, 9).