The Doctrinal Heading for this section of questions (Q32-33) is The Benefits of Redemption: Justification. (see Harmony Index)
WSC Q32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?
In this question, we review the benefits that flow from our effectual calling in Christ. From the harmony that includes six Larger Catechism questions and two complete confessional statements, the benefits summarized here are indeed most extensive in breadth and blessing.
The dictionary defines the term “benefit” as “something that promotes or enhances well-being; an advantage; a help; an aid.” That doesn’t come close to encompass all that we share and possess in Christ, but it is a good place to start thinking about it.
Again, we pray that the Lord would strengthen our understanding and faith in the things of Christ, to his praise, honor, and glory.
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Westminster Shorter Catechism Q32
Illustrations by John Whitecross – #3 of 5: The presence of God renders believers truly happy, even in this world, so that they can say with David, ‘Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased’ (Ps. 4.7). A godly minister in Scotland, being asked by a friend, during his last illness, whether he thought himself dying, answered, ‘Really, friend, I care not, whether I am or not; if I die, I shall be with God, and if I live, God will be with me.
John Whitecross – 1828
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WSC Q32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?
Answer: They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them[a].
[a] Rom. 8:30; I Cor. 1:30; 6:11; Eph. 1:5
Question 32 asks what benefits those who are effectively called share in this life, and answers that in this life those who are effectively called share justification, adoption, sanctification, and the other benefits that either go with or come from them.
Comments and considerations:
Question 31 provided us with a definition and description of effectual calling; Question 32 lists the benefits received as a result of our coming to Christ and embracing him. The next several questions proceed to define the terms in Question 32 and to expand upon the many, if not innumerable, benefits received by those who are effectually called.
The word “benefit” is not unfamiliar to us. In line with the introductory statement, the dictionary definition gives us the idea of a “bonus good, a bestowed bounty.” The older Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says this: “An act of kindness; a favor conferred.” It includes with this Scripture reference: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Ps. 103). The second definition is an “advantage; profit; a word of extensive use, and expressing whatever contributes to promote prosperity and personal happiness, or add value to property.”
When you consider the major change that occurs in us who are effectually called—being convinced that we are sinful and miserable, when we are by nature so opposed to that idea; being enlightened in our minds in the knowledge of Christ, who renews our wills; being persuaded and made able to receive Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel—surely the new birth would be enough! What more is needed? But there is more, much more; that is precisely Paul’s point in his “much more” declarations (Rom. 5); we are the recipients of superabundance in Christ. Truly the cup of this so great salvation “runneth over” (Ps. 23:5)!
So what are these benefits? To begin, in this life we received justification, adoption, and sanctification. But there are still more, “the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them.” Do you know and understand these benefits? Are you filled with wonder and appreciation that you possess them? The next several catechism questions are going to expand on each. As a teaser, let’s jump ahead and look quickly at Question 36 and the benefits that “do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification” in this life. There we learn that those benefits are the “assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.”
Notice that all these benefits are enjoyed in “this life.” This is not a sweet-by-and-by promise, but a present reality for God’s people, that they would know the hope of their calling, their rich inheritance in the saints, and the infinite power of God—now, in their daily lives (Eph. 1:15-21). Enjoy the knowledge of these benefits as the effectually called, beloved people of God: “justification, adoption, and sanctification,” along with “assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.”
Let me ask again: Do you know and understand these benefits? Are you filled with wonder and appreciation that you possess them? If not, then let me suggest that this is why these catechisms were written by our fathers in the faith. They sought not only to instruct us, but also to encourage us to further study, in order that all in Christ might know the joy and truth of the Lord to be our strength. Therefore, “be diligent [i.e., study] to present [i.e., show] yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing [understanding] the word of truth” (II Tim. 2:15).
Training Hearts and Teaching Minds Questions:
1. Read Eph. 1:3-8. In verse 3, how does the apostle Paul describe the extent of the blessings that the believer holds in Christ? How many specific blessings are identified in this passage, and how would you describe them?
2. This catechism answer lists three specific benefits. Can you match these definitions to the proper term?
Justification ____ Adoption _____ Sanctification _____
a) Redeemed and made a child of God
b) Made new and growing in Christ-likeness
c) Forgiven and declared right with God
3. Now match these Scripture references to the proper term:
Justification ____ Adoption _____ Sanctification _____
a) II Cor. 3:18
b) Gal. 3:21-22, 24
c) I Jn. 3:1
4. Ephesians 1:4-7 restates each one of the three benefits listed above. Which verse describes which benefit?
5. Ephesians 1:3 might be said to describes “the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them.” What phrase does the Apostle Paul use to define these benefits?
6. The benefits that we enjoy are for this life and the life to come. Where do these benefits come from, and how are they acquired? See Ps. 16:5-6, 11.
Harmony of the Standards: WSC Q# 32, WLC Q61-65, 69 & WCF XXV & XXVI.
Q. 32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?
A. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them[a].
[a] Rom. 8:30; ICor. 1:30; 6:11; Eph. 1:5
Q. 61. Are all they saved who hear the gospel, and live in the church?
A. All that hear the gospel, and live in the visible church, are not saved; but they only who are true members of the church invisible[a].
[a] John 12:38-40; Rom. 9:6; Mat. 22:14; 7:21; Rom. 11:7
Q. 62. What is the visible church?
A. The visible church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religion[a], and of their children[b].
[a] 1Cor. 1:2; 12:13; Rom. 15:9-12; Rev. 7:9; Ps. 2:8; 22:27-31; 45:17; Mat. 28:19-20; Isa. 59:21
[b] 1Cor. 7:14; Acts 2:39; Rom. 11:16; Gen. 17:7
Q. 63. What are the special privileges of the visible church?
A. The visible church hath the privilege of being under God’s special care and government[a]; of being protected and preserved in all ages, notwithstanding the opposition of all enemies[b]; and of enjoying the communion of saints, the ordinary means of salvation[c], and offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the ministry of the gospel, testifying, that whosoever believes in him shall be saved[d], and excluding none that will come unto him[e].
[a] Isa. 4:5-6; 1Tim. 4:10
[b] Ps. 115:1-2, 9; Isa. 31:4-5; Zech. 12:2-4, 8, 9
[c] Acts 2:39, 42
[d] Ps. 147:19-20; Rom. 9:4; Eph. 4:11-12; Mark 16:15- 16
[e] John 6:37
Q. 64. What is the invisible church?
A. The invisible church is the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head[a].
[a] Eph. 1:10, 22-23; John 10:6; 11:52
Q. 65. What special benefits do the members of the invisible church enjoy by Christ?
A. The members of the invisible church by Christ enjoy union and communion with him in grace and glory[a].
[a] John 17:21; Eph.2:5-6
Q. 69. What is the communion in grace which the members of the invisible church have with Christ?
A. The communion in grace which the members of the invisible church have with Christ, is their partaking of the virtue of his mediation, in their justification[a], adoption[b], sanctification, and whatever else, in this life, manifests their union with him[c].
[a] Rom. 8:30
[b] Eph. 1:5
[c] 1Cor. 1:30
CHAPTER. XXV.
Of the Church.
I. The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all.[a]
[a] Eph. 1:10, 22-23; Eph. 5:23, 27, 32; Col. 1:18
II. The visible church, which is also catholic or universal under the gospel (not confined to one nation, as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion;[b] and of their children:
[c] and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ,[d] the house and family of God,[e] out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.[f]
[b] I Cor. 1:2; I Cor. 12:12-13; Ps. 2:8; Rev. 7:9; Rom. 15:9-12
[c] I Cor. 7:14; Acts 2:39; Gen. 17:7-12; Ezek. 16:20-21; Rom. 11:16; see Gal. 3:7, 9, 14; Rom. 4:12, 16, 24
[d] Matt. 13:47; Isa. 9:7; Luke 1:32-33; Acts 2:30-36; Col. 1:13
[e] Eph. 2:19; Eph. 3:15
[f] Acts 2:47
III. Unto this catholic visible church Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of the world: and doth, by his own presence and Spirit, according to his promise, make them effectual thereunto.[g]
[g] I Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11-13; Matt. 28:19-20; Isa. 59:12
IV. This catholic church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible.[h] And particular churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.[i]
[h] Rom. 11:3-5; Acts 9:31; Acts 2:41, 47; Acts 18:8-10
[i] Acts 2:41-42; I Cor. 5:6-7; Rev. chaps. 2 and 3
V. The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error;[k] and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan.[l] Nevertheless, there shall be always a church on earth to worship God according to his will.[m]
[k] I Cor. 13:12; Rev. chaps. 2 and 3; Matt. 13:24-30, 47
[l] Matt. 23:37-39; Rom. 11:18-22
[m] Matt. 16:18; Ps. 45:16-17; Ps. 72:17; Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 15:51-52; I Thess. 4:17
VI. There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ.[n] Nor can the pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof.[o]
[n] Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22
[o] Matt. 23:8-10; I Pet. 5:2-4
CHAPTER. XXVI.
Of the Communion of Saints.
I. All saints, that are united to Jesus Christ their head, by his Spirit, and by faith, have fellowship with him in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory:[a] and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other’s gifts and graces,[b] and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.[c]
[a] I John 1:3; Eph. 3:16-18; John 1:16; Eph. 2:5-6; Phil. 3:10; Rom. 6:5-6; Rom. 8:17; II Tim. 2:12
[b] Eph. 4:15-16; I Cor. 12:7, 12; I Cor. 3:21-23; Col. 2:19
[c] I Thess. 5:11, 14; Rom. 1:11-12, 14; I John 3:16-18; Gal. 6:10
II. Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification;[d] as also in relieving each other in outward things, according to their several abilities and necessities. Which communion, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all those who, in every place, call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.[e]
[d] Heb. 10:24-25; Acts 2:42, 46; Isa. 2:3; I Cor. 11:20
[e] I John 3:17; I Cor. chaps. 8 and 9; Acts 11:29-30; see Acts 2:44-45
III. This communion which the saints have with Christ, doth not make them in any wise partakers of the substance of his Godhead; or to be equal with Christ in any respect: either of which to affirm is impious and blasphemous.[f] Nor doth their communion one with another, as saints, take away, or infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.[g]
[f] Col. 1:18-19; I Cor. 8:6; Ps. 45:6-7; Heb. 1:6-9; John 1:14; John 20:17
[g] Exod. 20:15; Eph. 4:28; Acts 5:4
Questions for further study:
The benefits that flow from effectual calling in this life are tangible, both spiritual and material. The Larger Catechism questions and Confessions associated in the harmony with WSC Q#32 among other things, point to what significant element of our new found identity in Christ?
How does Paul’s second petition in his three-part prayer of Eph. 1:18 & 19 help our understanding our calling into the Body of Christ – the Church – and Communion of Saints?
