WLC 83

Q83. What is the communion in glory with Christ which the members of the invisible church enjoy in this life?

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; and, as an earnest thereof, enjoy the sense of God's love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, and hope of glory; 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.

Proof texts

• Eph. 2:5 — [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved —
• Rom. 5:5 — [5] 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.
• 2 Cor. 1:22 — [22] and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
• Rom. 5:1-2 — [1] Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [2] 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.
• Rom. 14:17 — [17] For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
• Gen. 4:13 — [13] Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
• Matt. 27:4 — [4] saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”
• Heb. 10:27 — [27] but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
• Rom. 2:9 — [9] There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,
• Mark 9:44

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Eph. 2:5 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 10 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q37 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WSC Q38 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q37 · WSC Q38 · WCF 32.1 · BC 9.1 · BC 9.2 · 1689 31.1