The Westminster Larger Catechism

Questions 46—56: On Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation

Q. 46. What was the estate of Christ's humiliation?

A. The estate of Christ's humiliation was that low condition, wherein he for our sakes, emptying himself of his glory, took upon him the form of a servant, in his conception and birth, life, death, and after his death, until his resurrection^a.

^a Phil. 2:6-8; Luke 1:31; 2 Cor. 8:9; Acts 2:24

Q. 47. How did Christ humble himself in his conception and birth?

A. Christ humbled himself in his conception and birth, in that, being from all eternity the Son of God, in the bosom of the Father, he was pleased in the fulness of time to become the son of man, made of a woman of low estate, and to be born of her; with divers circumstances of more than ordinary abasement^a.

^a John 1:14,18; Gal. 4:4; Luke 2:7 

Q. 48. How did Christ humble himself in his life?

A. Christ humbled himself in his life, by subjecting himself to the law^a, which he perfectly fulfilled^b; and by conflicting with the indignities of the world^c, temptations of Satan^d, and infirmities in his flesh, whether common to the nature of man, or particularly accompanying that his low condition^e.

^a Gal. 4:4 ^b Matt. 5:17; Rom. 5:19 ^c Ps. 22:6; Heb. 12:2,3 ^d Matt. 4:1-12; Luke 4:13 ^e Heb. 2:17,18; Heb. 4:15; Isa. 52:13,14

Q. 49. How did Christ humble himself in his death?

A. Christ humbled himself in his death, in that having been betrayed by Judas^a, forsaken by his disciples^b, scorned and rejected by the world^c, condemned by Pilate, and tormented by his persecutors^d; having also conflicted with the terrors of death, and the powers of darkness, felt and borne the weight of God's wrath^e, he laid down his life an offering for sin^f, enduring the painful, shameful, and cursed death of the cross^g.

^a Matt. 27:4 ^b Matt. 26:56 ^c Isa. 53:2,3 ^d Matt. 27:26-50; John 19:34 ^e Luke 22:44; MAtt. 27:46 ^f Isa. 53:10 ^g Phil. 2:8; Heb. 12:2; Gal. 3:13 

Q. 50. Wherein consisted Christ's humiliation after his death?

A. Christ's humiliation after his death consisted in his being buried^a, and continuing in the state of the dead, and under the power of death till the third day^b; which hath been otherwise expressed in these words, He descended into hell.

^a 1 Cor. 15:3,4 ^b Ps. 16:10 compared with Acts 2:24-27,31; Rom. 6:9; Matt. 12:40

Q. 51. What was the estate of Christ's exaltation?

A. The estate of Christ's exaltation comprehendeth his resurrection^a, ascension^b, sitting at the right hand of the Father^c, and his coming again to judge the world^d.

^a 1 Cor. 15:4 ^b Mark 16:19 ^c Eph. 1:20 ^d Acts 1:11 ; Acts 17:31

Q. 52. How was Christ exalted in his resurrection?

A. Christ was exalted in his resurrection, in that, not having seen corruption in death, (of which it was not possible for him to be held^a,) and having the very same body in which he suffered, with the essential properties thereof^b, (but without mortality, and other common infirmities belonging to this life,) really united to his soul^c, he rose again from the dead the third day by his own power^d; whereby he declared himself to be the Son of God^e, to have satisfied divine justice^f, to have vanquished death, and him that had the power of it^g, and to be Lord of quick and dead^h: all which he did as a public personⁱ, the head of his church^k, for their justification^l, quickening in grace^m, support against enemiesⁿ, and to assure them of their resurrection from the dead at the last day^o.

^a Acts 2:24 ,27 ^b Luke 24:39 ^c Rom. 6:9; Rev. 1:18 ^d John 10:18 ^e Rom. 1:4 ^f Rom. 8:34 ^g Heb. 2:14 ^h Rom. 14:9 ⁱ 1 Cor. 15:21,22 ^k Eph. 1:20,22,23; Col. 1:18 l Rom. 4:25 ^m Eph. 2:1,5,6; Col. 2:12 ⁿ 1 Cor. 15:25-27 ^o 1 Cor. 15:20

Q. 53. How was Christ exalted in his ascension?

A. Christ was exalted in his ascension, in that having after his resurrection often appeared unto and conversed with his apostles, speaking to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God^a, and giving them commission to preach the gospel to all nations^b, forty days after his resurrection, he, in our nature, and as our head^c, triumphing over enemies^d, visibly went up into the highest heavens, there to receive gifts for men^e, to raise up our affections thither^f, and to prepare a place for us^g, where himself is, and shall continue till his second coming at the end of the world^h.

^a Acts 1:2,3 ^b Matt. 28:19,20 ^c Heb. 6:20 ^d Eph. 4:8 ^e Acts 1:9-11; Eph. 4:10; Ps. 68:18 ^f Col. 3:1,2 ^g John 14:3 ^h Acts 3:21 

Q. 54. How is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God?

A. Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favour with God the Father^a, with all fulness of joy^b, glory^c, and power over all things in heaven and earth^d, and doth gather and defend his church, and subdue their enemies; furnisheth his ministers and people with gifts and graces^e, and maketh intercession for them^f.

^a Phil. 2:9 ^b Acts 2:28 compared with Ps. 16:11 ^c John 17:5 ^d Eph. 1:22; 1 Pet. 3:22 ^e Eph. 4:10-12; Ps. 110 ^f Rom. 8:34

Q. 55. How doth Christ make intercession?

A. Christ maketh intercession, by his appearing in our nature continually before the Father in heaven^a, in the merit of his obedience and sacrifice on earth^b, declaring his will to have it applied to all believers^c; answering all accusations against them^d, and procuring for them quiet of conscience, notwithstanding daily failings^e, access with boldness to the throne of grace^f, and acceptance of their persons^g and services^h.

^a Heb. 9:12,24 ^b Heb. 1:3 ^c John 3:16; John 17:9,20,24 ^d Rom. 8:33,34 ^e Rom. 5:1,2; 1 John 2:1,2 ^f Heb. 4:16 ^g Eph. 1:6 ^h 1 Pet. 2:5

Q. 56. How is Christ to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world?

A. Christ is to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world, in that he, who was unjustly judged and condemned by wicked men^a, shall come again at the last day in great power^b and in the full manifestation of his own glory, and of his Father's, with all his holy angels^c, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God^d, to judge the world in righteousness^e.

^a Acts 3:14 ,15 ^b Matt. 24:30 ^c Luke 9:26; Matt. 25:31 ^d 1 Thess. 4:16 ^e Acts 17:31