1st. Through the union of the divine and human natures, the outward manifestations of the glory of his person had been veiled from the eyes of creatures. 2d. As Mediator he occupied officially a position inferior to the Father, condescending to occupy the place of sinners. He had been inconceivably humbled, and, as a reward consequent upon his voluntary self-humiliation, the Father highly exalted him, Phil, ii., 8, 9 ; Heb. xii., 2 ; Eev. v., 6. 3d. His human soul and body were inconceivably exalted, Matt, xvii., 2 ; Eev. i., 12-16 ; xx., 11.
25. Wliat are the various sources of proof by which the resur- rection of Christ is established f
1st. The Old Testament predicted it. Compare Ps. xvi., 10, and Acts ii., 24-31. All the other predictions concerning the Messiah were fulfilled in Christ, therefore this.
2d. Christ predicted it, and therefore, if he was a true prophet, he must have risen, Matt, xx., 19 ; John x, 18.
3d. The event, his extraordinary origin and character consid- ered, is not antecedently improbable.
4th. The testimony of the eleven apostles. These men are proved by their writings to have been good, intelligent and seri- ous, and they each had every opportunity of ascertaining the fact, and they sealed their sincerity with their blood, Acts i., 3.
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5th. The separate testimony of Paul, who, as one born out of due time, saw his risen Lord, and derived his revelation and commission from him in person, 1 Cor. xv., 8 ; Gal. i., 12 ; Acts ix., 3-8.
6th. He was seen by five hundred brethren at once, to whom Paul appeals, Cor. xv., 6.
7th. The change of the Sabbath, from the last to the first day of the week, is a monument of the concurrent testimony of the whole of the first generation of Christians, to the fact that they believed that Christ rose from the dead.
8th. The miracles wrought by the apostles were God's seals to their testimony that he had raised Christ, Heb. ii., 4.
9th. The accompanying witness of the Holy Ghost, honoring the apostles' doctrine and ministry not merely by miraculous gifts, but by his sanctifying, elevating and consoling power, Acts v., 32.— Dr. Hodge.
26. By whose power did Christ rise from the dead f
The Scriptures ascribe his resurrection- ist. To himself, John ii., 19 ; x., 17. 2d. To the Father, Acts xiii., 33 ; Kom. x., 9 ; Eph. i., 20. This is reconciled upon the principle that all acts of divine power, terminating upon objects external to the Godhead, may be attributed to either of the divine persons, or to the Godhead abso- lutely, John v., 17-19.
27. On what ground does the apostle declare that our faith is vain if Christ be not risen, (1 Cor. xv., 14) ?
1st. If Christ be risen indeed, then he is the true Messiah, and all the prophecies of both dispensations have in that fact a pledge of their fulfillment. If he has not risen, then are they all false.
2d. The resurrection proved him to be the Son of God, Eom. i., 4, for (1.) he rose by his own power, (2.) it authenticated all his claims with respect to himself.
3d. In the resurrection of Christ the Father publicly declared his approbation and acceptance of Christ's work as surety of his people, Horn. iv.? 25.
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4th. If Christ has risen, we have an advocate with the Father, Kom. viii., 34 ; Heb. ix., 11, 12, 24.
5th. If Christ be raised, we have assurance of eternal life ; if he lives, we shall live also, John xiv., 19 ; 1 Pet. i., 3-5.
6th. Owing to the union between Christ and his members, which is both federal and spiritual, his resurrection secures ours, (1.) because, as we died in Adam, so we must live in Christ, 1 Cor. xv., 21, 22 ; (2.) because of his Spirit, that dwelleth in us, Rom. viii., 11 ; 1 Cor. vi., 15 ; 1 Thess. iv., 14.
7th. Christ's resurrection illustrates and determines the na- ture of our resurrection as well as secures it, 1 Cor. xv., 49 ; Phil, iii., 21 ; 1 John, iii., 2. — Dr. Hodge.
28. When, at what place, and in whose presence did Christ ascend ?
He ascended forty days after his resurrection, from a portion of the Mount of Olives, near to the village of Bethany, in the presence of the eleven apostles, and possibly of other disciples, while he was in the act of blessing them, and while they beheld him, and were looking steadfastly. Luke says, moreover, that there were two glorified men present, who are conjectured by Professor J. A. Alexander to have been Moses and Elijah. He was attended also with angels celebrating his victory over sin, and his exaltation to his mediatorial throne, Luke xxiv., 50, 51 ; Mark xvi., 19 ; Acts i., 9-11 ; Eph. iv., 8 ; Col. ii., 13-15 ; Ps. xxiv., 7-10 ; lxviii., 18.
29. What are the different opinions as to the nature of Christ's ascension ?