Question 52: What hope does everlasting life hold for us? Answer: It reminds us that this present fallen world is not all there is; soon we will live with and enjoy God forever in the new city, in the new heaven and earth, where we will be fully and forever free from all sin and will inhabit renewed, resurrection bodies in a renewed, restored creation. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the paradigm for our own resurrection in him. One day, when he returns, the

Question 52: What hope does everlasting life hold for us? Answer: It reminds us that this present fallen world is not all there is; soon we will live with and enjoy God forever in the new city, in the new heaven and earth, where we will be fully and forever free from all sin and will inhabit renewed, resurrection bodies in a renewed, restored creation. One of the great hopes of our redemption to come is that one day sin will be a reality we can always speak about in the past

This week we come to Question 52 of the New City Catechism, the final question, found in part 3 (questions 36-52), which focuses on the Spirit, restoration, and growing in grace. Question 52: What hope does everlasting life hold for us? Answer: It reminds us that this present fallen world is not all there is; soon we will live with and enjoy God forever in the new city, in the new heaven and earth, where we will be fully and forever free from all sin and will inhabit renewed,

Question 51: Of what advantage to us is Christ's ascension? Answer: Christ physically ascended on our behalf, just as he came down to earth physically on our account, and he is now advocating for us in the presence of his Father, preparing a place for us, and also sends us his Spirit. In one of the most remarkable statements in the Gospels, Jesus said in John 16:7, "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper

Question 51: Of what advantage to us is Christ's ascension? Answer: Christ physically ascended on our behalf, just as he came down to earth physically on our account, and he is now adovcating for us in the presence of his Father, preparing a place for us, and also sends us his Spirit. Christ's ascension is crucial to our salvation because it makes possible his continual high priestly intercession for us. In Romans 8:31-39, Paul walks through a series of rhetorical questions t

This week we begin with Question 51 of the New City Catechism, found in part 3 (questions 36-52), which focuses on the Spirit, restoration, and growing in grace. Question 51: Of what advantage to us is Christ's ascension? Answer: Christ physically ascended on our behalf, just as he came down to earth physically on our account, and he is now advocating for us in the presence of his Father, preparing a place for us, and also sends us his Spirit. One part of the Bible's story th

Question 50: What does Christ's resurrection mean for us? Answer: Christ triumphed over sin and death by being physically resurrected, so that all who trust in him are raised to new life in this world and to everlasting life in the world to come. Just as we will one day be resurrected, so this world will one day be restored. But those who do not trust in Christ will be raised to everlasting death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the paradigm for the resurrec

Question 50: What does Christ's resurrection mean for us? Answer: Christ triumphed over sin and death by being physically resurrected, so that all who trust in him are raised to new life in this world and to everlasting life in the world to come. Just as we will one day be resurrected, so this world will one day be restored. But those who do not trust in Christ will be raised to everlasting death. The future resurrection of believers unto a glorious, everlasting life of the a

This week we begin with Question 50 of the New City Catechism, found in part 3 (questions 36-52), which focuses on the Spirit, restoration, and growing in grace. Question 50: What does Christ's resurrection mean for us? Answer: Christ triumphed over sin and death by being physically resurrected, so that all who trust in him are raised to new life in this world and to everlasting life in the world to come. Just as we will one day be resurrected, so this world will one day be r

Question 49: Where is Christ now? Answer: Christ rose bodily from the grave on the third day after his death and is seated at the right hand of the Father, ruling his kingdom and interceding for us, until he returns to judge and renew the whole world. Without hope, the will to go on living in this world fades away, and people find themselves enduring a miserable, hopeless existence, or worse, taking their own lives. Hope is what makes ongoing life possible. That means a key q

Question 49: Where is Christ now? Answer: Christ rose bodily from the grave on the third day after his death and is seated at the right hand of the Father, ruling his kingdom and interceding for us, until he returns to judge and renew the whole world. We are not currently waiting for the day when Jesus Christ will be enthroned over all creation. He has already been seated at the right hand of God, signifying his investiture with royal power. Of course, as God he has always be

This week we begin with Question 49 of the New City Catechism, found in part 3 (questions 36-52), which focuses on the Spirit, restoration, and growing in grace. Question 49: Where is Christ now? Answer: Christ rose bodily from the grave on the third day after his death and is seated at the right hand of the Father, ruling his kingdom and interceding for us, until he returns to judge and renew the whole world. In the Incarnation, God the Son assumed a human nature, uniting di

Question 48: What is the church? Answer: God chooses and preserves for himself a community elected for eternal life and united by faith, who love, follow, learn from, and worship God together. God sends out this community to proclaim the gospel and prefigure Christ's kingdom by the quality of their life together and their love for one another. As the last part of the answer says, the church has been called "to proclaim the gospel and prefigure Christ's kingdom by the quality

Question 48: What is the church? Answer: God chooses and preserves for himself a community elected for eternal life and united by faith, who love, follow, learn from, and worship God together. God sends out this community to proclaim the gospel and prefigure Christ's kingdom by the quality of their life together and their love for one another. Why hasn't Jesus Christ returned to earth yet? Although we cannot know all the details of God's hidden plan, one thing we can affirm i

This week we begin with Question 48 of the New City Catechism, found in Part 3 (questions 36-52), which focuses on the Spirit, restoration, and growing in grace. Question 48: What is the church? Answer: God chooses and preserves for himself a community elected for eternal life and united by faith, who love, follow, learn from, and worship God together. God sends out this community to proclaim the gospel and prefigure Christ's kingdom by the quality of their life together and

Question 47: Does the Lord's Supper add anything to Christ's atoning work? Answer: No, Christ died once for all. The Lord's Supper is a covenant meal celebrating Christ's atoning work; it is also a means of strengthening our faith as we look to him, and a foretaste of the future feast. But those who take part with unreprentant hearts eat and drink judgment on themselves. When churches specify who is and is not welcome to eat the Lord's Supper, this practice is called "fencing

Question 47: Does the Lord's Supper add anything to Christ's atoning work? Answer: No, Christ died once for all. The Lord's Supper is a covenant meal celebrating Christ's atoning work; it is also a means of strengthening our faith as we look to him, and a foretaste of the future feast. But those who take part with unreprentant hearts eat and drink judgment on themselves. Not only does the Catholic teaching of the Lord's Supper as a re-presentation of Christ's sacrifice contra

This week we begin with Question 47 of the New City Catechism, found in Part 3 (questions 36-52), which focuses on the Spirit, restoration, and growing in grace. Question 47: Does the Lord's Supper add anything to Christ's atoning work? Answer: No, Christ died once for all. The Lord's Supper is a covenant meal celebrating Christ's atoning work; it is also a means of strengthening our faith as we look to him, and a foretaste of the future feast. But those who take part with un

Question 46: What is the Lord's Supper? Answer: Christ commanded all Christians to eat bread and to drink from the cup in thankful remembrance of him and his death. The Lord's Supper is a celebration of the presence of God in our midst; bringing us into communion with God and with one another; feeding and nourishing our souls. It also anticipates the day when we will eat and drink with Christ in his Father's kingdom. We have seen previously from 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 that th

Question 46: What is the Lord's Supper? Answer: Christ commanded all Christians to eat bread and to drink from the cup in thankful remembrance of him and his death. The Lord's Supper is a celebration of the presence of God in our midst; bringing us into communion with God and with one another; feeding and nourishing our souls. It also anticipates the day when we will eat and drink with Christ in his Father's kingdom. According to Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, one