WSC 37
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?
The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the resurrection.
Proof texts
- Heb. 12:23 — [23] and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
- 2 Cor. 5:1,6,8 — [1] For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [6] So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, [8] Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
- Phil. 1:23 — [23] I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
- Luke 23:43 — [43] And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
- 1 Thess. 4:14 — [14] For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
- Isa. 57:2 — [2] he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.
- Job 19:26-27 — [26] And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, [27] whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Heb. 12:23 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 7 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WLC Q84 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WLC Q85 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?