Having considered the state of Christ’s humiliation in which He merited salvation for the elect, we shall now proceed to discuss the state of exaltation in which He applies salvation to His elect, making them partakers of it.
This state is referred to either as a state of exaltation, as we read in Phil 2:9, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,” or a state of glory as in Luke 24:26, “Ought not Christ … to enter into His glory?” Since Christ, being a divine Person, did not suffer according to His divine nature but according to His human nature, exaltation as such did not occur according to His divine nature. In this nature He remained the Most High, the most glorious One, and the unchangeable One. This divine nature, however, which was generally concealed in the state of His humiliation, manifested itself very clearly in His exaltation. He is nevertheless exalted according to His human nature. As Christ performed and suffered everything as Surety and Mediator in the state of His humiliation, He was also exalted as Surety and Mediator. Though He had merited glory for Himself according to the covenant of redemption, it was all to the benefit of the elect and all of this descended from Him upon them.
Four steps are generally distinguished in Christ’s state of exaltation: His resurrection from the dead, His ascension, His sitting at the right hand of God, and His return to judgment.
The Resurrection from the Dead
The first step is the resurrection of Christ from the dead. This is the cardinal doctrine of our Christian religion, as salvation hinges upon faith in and confession of this truth. “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain” (1 Cor 15:14); “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Rom 10:9).
This truth is therefore abundantly and clearly presented in God’s Word. It is referred to as rising (Matt 28:6), being raised (Rom 4:24); and to be alive (Rev 2:8). We must take note of the veracity, necessity, and benefit of it.
The Veracity of Christ’s Resurrection
The veracity of Christ’s resurrection from the dead is first of all evident from the history of the resurrection recorded in Matt 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20.
Secondly, it is confirmed by the testimony (1) of the angels (Matt 28:117; Luke 24:7), (2) of the enemies who guarded the grave (Matt 28:11), and (3) of the apostles, “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses” (Acts 2:32); “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 4:33); “Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead” (2 Tim 2:8).
Thirdly, it is confirmed by the appearances of Christ to believers after His resurrection. “To whom also He showed himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). He appeared to:
(1) Mary Magdalene (John 20:14, 18),
(2) the women who came to the grave (Matt 28:2, 10),
(3) Peter (Luke 24:34),
(4) the two disciples on the way to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-31),
(5) the eleven in the absence of Thomas (John 20:19),
(6) the eleven in the presence of Thomas—eight days later (John 20:26),
(7) seven disciples who went fishing (John 21:1),
(8) eleven disciples in Galilee where Christ had summoned them to be (Matt 28:16),
(9) more than five-hundred brethren at once (1 Cor 15:6),
(10) James (1 Cor 15:7),
(11) the apostles when He ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9),
(12) Stephen after His ascension (Acts 7:55),
(13) Paul (Acts 9:17, 1 Cor 15:8),
(14) and John, to whom He gave the Revelation. Christ thus appeared to His people, deeming the ungodly who had so contemptuously rejected Him unworthy of His appearance to them.
Concerning Christ’s resurrection, several matters need to be noted:
(1) Christ’s resurrection was accompanied by an earthquake. When He died, the earth shook and the veil of the temple was rent. The earth shook again at His resurrection, which was not only a proof of His divinity, but also of the wrath of God against the Jews and their land which would be destroyed and left destitute. The inhabitants would perish miserably and their religion would be taken from them and be transferred to the Gentiles. It also indicated that all temporal ceremonies were now terminated and that an unchangeable religion had taken their place.