An Orthodox Catechism

    Apostles’ Creed

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    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), which expounds this clause

    Question 45

    How understand you that he ascended into Heaven?

    That Christ, his Disciples looking on, was taken up from the Earth into Heaven, and yet still is there for our sakes, and will be until he come again to judge the quick and the dead.

    Question 46

    Is not Christ with us then until the end of the World, as he hath promised?

    Christ is true God, and true Man, and so according to his Manhood is not now on Earth, but according to his Godhead, his Majesty, his Grace, and Spirit is at no time from us.

    Question 47

    Are not by this means the two natures in Christ pulled assunder, if his Humanity be not wheresoever his Divinity is?

    No; for seeing his Divinity is incomprehensible, and every where present, it followeth necessarily that the same is without the bounds of his humane Nature which he took unto him, and yet is nevertheless in it, and abideth personally united to it.

    Question 48

    What Fruit doth the Ascension of Christ into Heaven bring unto us?

    First that he maketh Intercession to his Father in Heaven for us; next that we have our Flesh in Heaven, that we may be confirmed thereby, as by a sure Pledge, that it shall come to passe that he who is our Head will lift us up, his Members, unto him: thirdly, that he sendeth us his Spirit instead of a Pledge between him and us, by whose forcible working we seek after not earthly but heavenly things, where he himself is sitting at the Right-Hand of God.

    Question 49

    Why is it further said, he sitteth at the Right-Hand of God?

    Because Christ therefore is ascended into Heaven, to shew there that he is the Head of his Church, by whom the Father governeth all things.

    Question 50

    What profit is this Glory of our Head Christ unto us?

    First, that through his Holy Spirit he poureth upon us his Members heavenly Graces, then that he shieldeth and defendeth us by his Power against all our Enemies.

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), which expounds this clause

    Question 46

    How dost thou understand these words, “he ascended into heaven?”

    That Christ, in sight of his disciples, was taken up from earth into heaven; and that he continues there for our interest, until he come again to judge the quick and the dead.

    Question 47

    Is not Christ then with us even to the end of the world, as he hath promised?

    Christ is very man and very God: with respect to his human nature, he is no more on earth; but with respect to his Godhead, majesty, grace and spirit, he is at no time absent from us.

    Question 48

    But if his human nature is not present, wherever his Godhead is, are not then these two natures in Christ separated from one another?

    Not at all; for since the Godhead is incomprehensible and omnipresent, it must necessarily follow that the same is not limited with the human nature he assumed, and yet remains personally united to it.

    Question 49

    Of what advantage to us is Christ’s ascension into heaven?

    First, that he is our advocate in the presence of his Father in heaven: secondly, that we have our flesh in heaven, as a sure pledge that he, as the head, will also take up to himself, us, his members: thirdly, that he sends us his spirit as an earnest, by whose power we “seek the things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, and not things on earth.”

    Question 50

    Why is it added, “and sitteth at the right hand of God?”

    Because Christ is ascended into heaven for this end, that he might there appear as head of his church, by whom the Father governs all things.

    Question 51

    What profit is this glory of Christ, our head, unto us?

    First, that by his holy spirit he poureth out heavenly graces upon us his members: and then that by his power he defends and preserves us against all enemies.

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