HenryWSC 38

Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 38

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Shall the dead bodies of believers be raised? Yes: For the dead shall be raised,
1 Cor. 15:52
, Is it possible that the same body should return to life again? Yes: Why should it seem a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead?
Acts 26:8
. Is it certain that they shall be raised? Yes: for if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen,
1 Cor. 15:13
. Has Christ undertaken for the resurrection of believers? Yes: I am the resurrection and the life,
John 11:15
. Are they in error who deny it? Yes: Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God,
Matt. 22:29
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Shall the believer’s body be raised up in glory? Yes: it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory,
1 Cor. 15:43
. Shall it be the glory of Christ’s glorified body? Yes: he shall change our vile bodies, that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,
Phil. 3:21
. Shall they be raised by virtue of their union with Christ? Yes: Together with my dead body shall they arise,
Isa. 26:19
. Shall they be raised to such a life as we now live? No: for in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage,
Matt. 22:30
. Shall they be raised to an immortal life? Yes: for this mortal must put off immortality,
1 Cor. 15:53
. Shall they that are found alive be changed? Yes: Behold, I show you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1 Cor. 15:51
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Shall all the saints at that day be brought to Jesus Christ? Yes: at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ there shall be a gathering together unto him,
2 Thess. 2:1
. Shall they be separated from the wicked? Yes: as the Shepherd divideth the sheep from the goats,
Matt. 25:32
. Shall all the saints be then together? Yes: for he shall gather his elect from the four winds,
Matt. 24:31
. And none but saints? Yes: for he shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend,
Matt. 13:41
. And saints made perfect? Yes: for then that which is perfect is come,
1 Cor. 13:10
. Shall they attend upon Christ at his coming? Yes: Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints,
Jude 14
. Shall they be assessors with him in his judgment Yes: for the saints shall judge the world,
1 Cor. 6:2
.
Shall they be openly acknowledged in the day of judgment? Yes: Him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven,
Matt. 10:32
. Will God own them as his own? Yes: They shall be mine, saith the Lord, in that day when I make up my jewels,
Mal. 3:17
. And will that be their honour? Yes: If any man serve me, him will my Father honour,
John 12:26
. Shall they be openly acquitted? Yes: for their sins shall be blotted out when the times of refreshing come,
Acts 3:19
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Shall the wicked be condemned then? Yes: he shall say to them on his left hand, Depart from me. Shall they be sent away with a blessing? No: Depart ye cursed. Shall they go into a place of ease? No: into fire. Into ordinary fire? No: into fire prepared. Shall it be for a short time? No: but into everlasting fire. Shall they have good company? No: but the devil and his angels,
Matt. 25:41
. Will the salvation of the saints aggravate their condemnation? Yes: for they shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,
Luke 13:28
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Shall the saints at the day of judgment be put in possession of eternal life? Yes: the righteous into life eternal,
Matt. 25:4
,
Matt. 25:6
. Shall they be blessed? Yes: Come, ye blessed of my Father,
Matt. 25:34
. Shall they be perfectly blessed? Yes: for in thy presence is fulness of joy,
Ps. 16:11
. Shall there be any sin in heaven? No: for they are as the angels of God in heaven,
Matt. 22:30
. Shall there be any sorrow there? No: for God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes,
Rev. 21:4
. Shall there be any dying there? No: there shall be no more death,
Rev. 21:4
.
Is heaven a place of rest? Yes: there remaineth a rest for the people of God,
Heb. 4:9
. Is it light? Yes: it is the inheritance of the saints in light,
Col. 1:12
. Is it honour? Yes: it is a crown of glory that fades not away,
1 Pet. 5:4
. Is it wealth? Yes: it is an inheritance incorruptible,
1 Pet. 1:4
. Is it joy? Yes: Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord,
Matt. 25:21
.
Shall we in heaven see God? Yes: when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is,
1 John 3:2
. Shall we see him clearly? Yes: now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face,
1 Cor. 13:12
. Shall we enjoy him? Yes: God himself shall be with them, and be their God,
Rev. 21
.
Is this happiness purchased? Yes: it is the purchased possession,
Eph. 1:14
. Is it promised? Yes: it is eternal life which God, that cannot lie, promised,
Titus 1:2
. Is it sure to all good Christians? Yes: even the poor in the world, if rich in faith, are heirs of the kingdom,
James 2:5
. Should we not be solicitous that it may be sure with us? Yes: What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Luke 18:18
. Should we not then have it much in our eye? Yes: for we look not at the things that are seen, but the things that are not seen,
2 Cor. 4:18
. And should we not be comforted and encouraged with the prospect of it? Yes: for the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed,
Rom. 8:18
.
HenryWSC 38