Heidelberg Catechism

LORD’S DAY 19

Question 50: Why is it added, “and sitteth at the right hand of God”?

Answer: Because Christ is ascended into heaven for this end, that He might appear as head of His church,1 by whom the Father governs all things.2

Question 51: What profit is this glory of Christ, our Head, unto us?

Answer: First, that by His Holy Spirit He pours out heavenly graces upon us His members;3 and then that by His power He defends and preserves us against all enemies.4

Question 52: What comfort is it to thee that “Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead”?

Answer: That in all my sorrows and persecutions, with uplifted head I look for the very same person, who before offered Himself for my sake to the tribunal of God, and has removed all curse from me, to come as judge from heaven;5 who shall cast all His and my enemies into everlasting condemnation,6 but shall translate me with all His chosen ones to Himself, into heavenly joys and glory.7

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1Eph. 1:20–22, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church.

Col. 1:18, And He is the Head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.

2Matt. 28:18, And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.

John 5:22, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.

3Eph. 4:8, Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

4Ps. 2:9, Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

John 10:28, And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.

5Luke 21:28, And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Rom. 8:23–24, And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

1 Thes. 4:16, For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

62 Thes. 1:6–9, Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.

Matt. 25:41, Then He shall say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

7Matt. 25:34, Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.