Westminster Larger Catechism # 29
Commentary by Dr. Chuck Baynard
Q29. What are the punishments of sin in the world to come?
Answer: The punishments of sin in the world to come, are
everlasting separation from the comfortable presence of God, and
most grievous torments in soul and body, without intermission, in
hell fire for ever.
References: 2 Thess. 1:9; Mark 9:43-44,46,48; Luke 16:24.
It seems we have at least one thing in common with the angels,
curiosity. They desire to look into the mystery of God’s
glory in the salvation of the elect, and which of us does not
desire a closer look within the gates of heaven. While God has
chosen to retain much about heaven, and the life eternal we have
in Jesus Christ, there is also much we can know for certain. As
we examine this and the seemingly lack of proof text from the
Divines, let us remember two things. 1) The Larger Catechism was
the first document from their pens and does not show the
refinement and completeness of thought that the others parts of
the Westminster Standards exhibit. 2) These documents were
written without proof texts in mind as such, these being required
by parliament and added after the fact. The Divines wrote then
from the perspective of the whole of Scripture, then were
"forced" to return to the table and proof text each
statement.
First let us put to sleep any liberal idea that there is no
after life for the condemned for the same Bible that teaches of
heaven teaches of a literal hell that is everlasting. The idea of
man returning to dust and oblivion if not raised to be with God
is heresy. The critics which cry that a God of love could not
punish anyone in this horrible way, much less that punishment
lasting forever don’t understand God, and thereby having
been created in His image, don’t understand self either.
This is sinful rationalization by the creature in an attempt not
to face the horror of disobeying God. God existing in perfection
must show that same perfection in his judgment and wrath as He
does in His grace and love. Hell is the manifestation then of
this perfect judgement of God against all sinners.
Second let us understand that this sentence is handed down
from the Great White Throne, and before this judgment seat not
one of the elect will stand. This is the second resurrection, the
resurrection of the believers having preceded this call to
judgment. "Now there is no condemnation to those in Christ
Jesus." I think we can all understand the word no, this
doesn’t leave much room for doubt about those washed in the
blood of the Lamb not being present for this final condemnation,
which is forever. The believer will not stand and have his
history of sin (all have such a record except for Christ) read
aloud. He will know his shortcomings and the joy brought by the
grace of God in the covering of these sins, but they are covered,
paid for, gone! The believer then stands before the judgment seat
of Christ to be rewarded according to his deeds (good deeds
created before the foundation of the world for God’s people
to walk in).
Third and final then, is that this place of final judgment
will come, for God has spoken and its punishments will be literal
and eternal. As God uses the circumstances wrought by sin to
often chastise and bring His chosen to the foot of the cross in
repentance, these same circumstances drive a wedge between God
and the sinner which brings about a hardness of heart and
separation from God in this life, whereby the sinner sinks lower
and lower during life, that anything short of an eternal place of
fire and damnation would be anti-climatic and unfitting as a just
punishment for the sin. As we consider hardening of the heart,
let us realize that God doesn’t create hard hearts, they are
the natural product of sin, which because of rebellion is the
very nature of man. Thus hardening of the heart is a passive
action on the part of God. Apart from the renewing of the Holy
Spirit, man's heart will grow cold and turn to stone. From this
cold dead heart comes all the evil thoughts and actions we
experience in this world. We also need to note that the elect
need this touch of death and to smell the fires of hell, lest
they stumble and not pursue after God. Paul understood this, and
his words concerning his thorn in the flesh needs to be
constantly read and understood by the elect.
How many times do we hear the question, "Why does God let
so many bad things happen to His people?" Without this
constant buffeting from the evil around us, we too would by
nature drift from God’s protection and enter into the gates
of hell. Study the life of all the greats of the past, from the
prophets of the OT to the more contemporary times. All who have
been used of God have tasted of great tribulation in life. The
more God uses us, the more honor we lay up for heaven, the more
the exposure to the dark side of this equation, so that we will
praise Him all the more for the gift of life He has freely given.
Circumstances of life in this temporal world do not matter when
we can see both sides of the eternal life to come.
What of this after life? I believe there will be some
visibility of one to the other. No interaction as such, but both
will be aware of the others existence. A dual purpose that finds
its unity in God’s grace and purpose is why I believe this
visibility will exist. It will be so as with the rich man and
Lazarus, that the elect will be constantly reminded of the grace
shown by God, that the rebellion of Satan in the heavens will not
be repeated, and that the torment of eternal separation will be
all the more bitter, knowing the other side exists.
Have you ever considered the phrase used here
"comfortable presence of God?" I find this so hard to
grasp because when in times of need God draws near, I find myself
not comfortable. Comforted, yes, but not comfortable. When God is
closest and manifest in the Spirit, I know great humiliation and
even tears. Good tears, but tears nonetheless, I become so aware
of my own shortcomings in this Holy Presence. How fantastic it
will be to know and be comfortable with God. Adam and Eve knew
this comfort before the fall, as God walked with them in the
garden. We too will know this comfortable place in the new earth
with the curse of sin removed. In Revelation 21 we find the words
"no more sea" precede the great promises of comfort and
joy; "no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed
away." The sea of humanity from which all the hurt and dark
things of life flow, sin and evil exist no more. Even as I long
for this "comfortable presence of God" I praise Him for
the grace shown in eternal damnation and punishment of evil, lest
I forget, except for the grace of God, there I too would abide.
As we then see the necessity of the eternal fires of hell in
the perfections of God, we also have the fertile soil for the
full TULIP to stand once more before us, God’s beautiful
gift to us, as a constant reminder of the grace given and yet to
come. The fact that hell exists once more confirms the truth of
the first petal. By nature hell being the eternal home of man,
the second must too burst forth. That there are citizens in this
land of fire testifies to the truth of the third, while the
blessing of the forth springs forth to cover the sinful nature of
the creature who cannot, will not turn himself toward God. Then
finally all is held together by the sovereignty of God, for even
with such an awesome sight as hell before us, man alone could not
overcome his nature and retain the gift bestowed by a loving God.
But with God all things are possible, and eternal salvation by
His sovereign grace is truth unmasked. Thus once more as we end
this section on sin, God’s flower stands tall in the garden,
that we might constantly have His plan of redemption before us in
the trials of this life.
Dr. Chuck Baynard -- December 1997
