content/10/31.md
---
pagetitle: What is the communion with Christ which the members of the invisible church enjoy?
date: February 19, 2020
prev_url: /westminster-daily/10/30/
prev_date: Oct 30
this_url: /westminster-daily/10/31/
short_date: "1031"
this_date: Oct 31
next_url: /westminster-daily/11/01/
next_date: Nov 1
---
#### Shorter Catechism
<span class="q">Q 36.</span> What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption and sanctification?
<span class="q">A.</span> The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God's love,[^fnref:wsc1] peace of conscience,[^fnref:wsc2] joy in the Holy Ghost,[^fnref:wsc3] increase of grace,[^fnref:wsc4] and perseverance therein to the end.[^fnref:wsc5]
[^fnref:wsc1]: <div class="esv"><h5>Romans 5:5</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p45005005.01-1">and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wsc2]: <div class="esv"><h5>Romans 5:1</h5> <div class="esv-text"> <p id="p45005001.06-1"><span class="chapter-num" id="v45005001-1">5:1 </span>Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wsc3]: <div class="esv"><h5>Romans 14:17</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p45014017.01-1">For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wsc4]: <div class="esv"><h5>2 Peter 3:18</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p61003018.01-1">But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wsc5]: <div class="esv"><h5>Philippians 1:6</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p50001006.01-1">And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.</p> </div><h5>1 Peter 1:5</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p60001005.01-2">who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
#### Larger Catechism
<span class="q">Q 83.</span> What is the communion in glory with Christ which the members of the invisible church enjoy in this life?
<span class="q">A.</span> The members of the invisible church have communicated to them in this life the firstfruits of glory with Christ, as they are members of him their head, and so in him are interested in that glory which he is fully possessed of;[^fnref:wlc1] and, as an earnest thereof, enjoy the sense of God's love,[^fnref:wlc2] peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, and hope of glory;[^fnref:wlc3] as, on the contrary, sense of God's revenging wrath, horror of conscience, and a fearful expectation of judgment, are to the wicked the beginning of their torments which they shall endure after death.[^fnref:wlc4]
[^fnref:wlc1]: <div class="esv"><h5>Ephesians 2:5-6</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p49002005.01-1">even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc2]: <div class="esv"><h5>Romans 5:5</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p45005005.01-1">and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.</p> </div><h5>2 Corinthians 1:22</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p47001022.01-2">and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc3]: <div class="esv"><h5>Romans 5:1-2</h5> <div class="esv-text"> <p id="p45005001.06-1"><span class="chapter-num" id="v45005001-1">5:1 </span>Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.</p> </div><h5>Romans 14:17</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p45014017.01-2">For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.</p> </div><h5>2 Peter 3:18</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p61003018.01-3">But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc4]: <div class="esv"><h5>Genesis 4:13</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p01004013.01-1">Cain said to the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.</p> </div><h5>Matthew 27:4</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p40027004.01-2">saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”</p> </div><h5>Hebrews 10:27</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p58010027.01-3">but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.</p> </div><h5>Romans 2:9</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p45002009.01-4">There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,</p> </div><h5>Mark 9:43-45</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p41009043.01-5"><span class="woc">And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.</span> <span class="woc">And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.</span> (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>