Here you will find the questions, answers and Scripture proofs for the Shorter Catechism, together with a brief explanation.

    • Q.38

      1 Corinthians 15:43, Matthew 25:33, Psalm 16:1 & 1 Thessalonians 4:14

      The Westminster Shorter Catechism

      Q. 38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?

      A. At the resurrection, believers, being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged, and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity.

      Scripture References:

      1 Corinthians 15:43, 44
      Matthew 25:33, 34
      Matthew 10:32
      Psalm 16:1
      1 Thessalonians 4:14
      1 Corinthians 2:9

      The Westminster Shorter Catechism in Modern English:

      Q.38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?

      A. At the resurrection, believers, raised in glory, will be publicly recognised and declared not guilty on the day of judgment and will be made completely happy in the full enjoyment of God forever.

      Questions

      1. What are the three benefits of the believers as contained in this question?

      (1) The believers shall be raised up in glory. (2) The believers shall be acknowledged and acquitted at the day of judgement. (3) The believers shall be made perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God to all eternity.

      2. What is the glory referred to in this question and what will be the result of it?

      The glory referred to in this question is the glory of the resurrection, when the body will be restored and no longer subject to death and dissolution and will “be transformed to be like Christ’s glorious body.” (Phil. 3:21).

      3. What is the meaning of the believers being acknowledged and acquitted?

      The believers will hear the Saviour’s “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34). Their faith shall be vindicated; they shall be publicly acknowledged as the redeemed children of God, (1 Corinthians 4:5), and the declaration will be made that all their sins are pardoned.

      4. What is the third blessing that will come to the believers?

      The third is the greatest blessing of them all, the full enjoyment of God. The believers will ever be with the Lord and will receive the inheritance prepared for them. There the believers will behold their Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ, and will finally be able to trace the ways in which the Lord has led and saved them. (1 Peter 1:6).

      5. What will be the lot of the unbelievers at the resurrection?

      Their bodies shall be released from the grave and they shall see Christ as their final judge. They shall stand before His judgment Throne and shall have their sins read out of the books and will be eternally cast into hell. (2 Thess. 1:7, 8 and Revelation 20:11, 12).