WSC 36
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q36. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?
The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.
Proof texts
- Rom. 5:1-2,5 — [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. [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.
- 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.
- Prov. 4:18 — [18] But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
- 1 John 5:13 — [13] I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
- 1 Pet. 1:5 — [5] who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Rom. 5:1-2,5 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 5 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WLC Q82 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WLC Q83 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?