Westminster Larger Catechism # 66
Commentary by Dr. Chuck Baynard
Q66. What is the union which the elect have with Christ?
Answer: The union the elect have with Christ is the work of God’s grace, whereby
they are spiritually and mystically, yet really and inseparably joined to Christ as their
head and husband; which is done in their effectual calling.
References: Eph. 1:22; Eph. 2:6-7; 1 Cor. 6:17; John 10:28; Eph. 5:23,30; 1 Pet. 5:10;
1 Cor. 1:9.
As we have struggled to find the words to try and precisely explain how Christ is one,
yet three in the Trinity, then has taken to Himself the essence of human nature and
thereby is fully God, yet fully man, so the struggle will continue in this question. The
answer is to take a dose of God given faith and latch on for life to the word of God.
Mystery in the Bible usually refers to that which is hidden and remains to be revealed,
not something mysterious. Yet this union is mystical, in both senses of the word in that
being hidden within the eternal decrees of God we cannot uncover the fullness of this
union. At the same time from a human perspective such a joining with the spirit world is
mysterious.
Before the foundation of the earth God chose the elect in Christ. The Divines have
rightly joined the doctrine of effectual calling to this joining with Christ. While the
decree is from all eternity, its manifestation is in God’s time as He calls His elect
to repentance. By the nature of the question much of what follows is subjective. Let us
then praise God He has chosen to present us His Holy Word, that we might have an absolute
point of truth to reference these subjective feelings and thoughts to. By faith the Bible
is God’s word. Only by the work of illumination of the Holy Spirit will we understand
this Word of Life given from the hand of God. Effectual calling is then connected to the
call to salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:8). There are other
callings to service or office of God. These are not to be confused with effectual calling.
We can contrast effectual calling with that which is not effectual. We can
"see" the two and the difference in our own life and the lives of others. We
have all seen people come under the influence of the Gospel, only to rapidly fade during
times of stress and or its opposite when by God’s blessing they achieve great earthly
wealth, fame or both. This cannot be used as a measure of who is and who is not elect,
since the elect for a season may exhibit this same behavior. However effectual calling
will bring a person into close fellowship with Christ and they will in no way ever be
totally separated from Christ. Christ explains this somewhat in the parable of the sower,
and the differing grounds upon which the seed fall. We will deal with effectual calling
more fully in the next question.
For now we are dealing with the union of Christ and the believer. I believe the
greatest evidence of this union comes from the illumination of the Holy Spirit so even the
most illiterate understands those things essential for his conduct as a believer. This
union so powerfully enables the believer that for the first time in their life they may
taste what true freedom is. From the beginning God gave to man the ability to rule over
sin. The Scriptures teach that we are never tempted with there also being a way out of or
away from the temptation. However in our depraved condition we cannot, will not see this
truth. It is this union that puts action to the words of the elect and enables them to be
about God’s work at all costs.
The union is with Christ, yet I believe it is the physical presence of the Holy Spirit
in abundance or effectively working within the believer the union is made manifest. The
union will also bring about an inner peace that I doubt we have the words to articulate in
any way that comes close to its affect on the believer. As I think of this passage I am
reminded of the story of Elijah upon the holy mount seeking God. God was not where Elijah
expected to meet Him, but within that small inner voice speaking from within. There is a
quietness, peace within the spirit that does not exist until this union be completed. Its
final perfection awaits that final day, but it is complete today, in God’s timing.
This is what I think Paul is referring to in Romans five about having peace with God.
While we are yet outside this union, though we be elect awaiting the fulness of
God’s time, there exists a war within the spirit of man against the will of God that
can and does bring about all sorts of mental confusion. Peace with God brings rest to this
inner turmoil and we are no longer confused, for now we know the God of a sound mind, and
have the ability to learn fear of God, and thus true wisdom. How profound, how mysterious,
yet how true and simple to the child in Christ. This union becomes a fact to us, though we
may never be able to express to another how we know this truth and that it is tangible to
us, we know. How often do we or those we know consult a physician with some great pain in
various parts of the body and are told there isn’t anything wrong. Yet the pain is
there, and it really doesn’t matter to the person suffering where anyone else
believes they are hurting or not, they know the pain is real. The union of Christ is
similar to this in that you know it is true, that you are indeed one with Christ. Your
inability to explain or for another to confirm this union does not lessen your sureness of
this truth by one small dot.
This is the peace, the sureness of life and the comfort the soul of man is ever
seeking. Fortunes have been spent in trying to obtain even the smallest fraction of this
peace. It cannot be bought, it is God’s gift to His elect in Christ. The book of
Ecclesiastes spreads all these vain attempts down all the byways of life to find this
peace, yet ends without this peace being found. The concluding words of this Old Testament
book, "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all." Solomon
with all his wisdom, position, and wealth was unable to find love, joy, peace, comfort,
all of which man would relate to happiness. I believe the book of Ecclesiastes is an
outline of Solomon’s life, wether written early as prophetic words, or after the fact
looking back at wasted time and efforts I don’t know, but it clearly shows the
searching of the wisest, wealthiest man ever, who came to the correct conclusion by
God’s grace, not his efforts. Obey God. The union with Christ enables the obedience
needed to live lives that are pleasing to God. Without faith it is impossible to please
God. Without the indwelling Spirit, who enables us to put this faith into practice, the
gift would remain unused, and useless.
Election and that unconditional pours forth from this study as the second petal takes
center stage. The Divines illuminate the fifth petal in the word "inseparably."
What a mockery to think that God would allow His creation to taste the Lord in such a
magnificent union, only to snatch that joy away. How beautiful the passages in Ephesians
one become when understood in the light of the Reformed TULIP. This is the place where God
has so beautifully interwoven His Holy Word with the doctrines of the TULIP that surely to
be reformed is but to be Christian. In the world of apologetics, need we any other passage
to set forth our TULIP in full bloom? For once again I would submit that our forefathers
in laying before us the understanding of the Holy Writ have so designed their words that
if any petal stands, all others will flow from it of necessity. "...it is the gift of
God..." What then does man have to do with it other than glorify God and enjoy Him
forever. Mans duty and destiny in one short sentence, though Solomon took a whole book to
bring us to the same point. To God be the glory, great things He hath done!
Dr. Chuck Baynard -- July 1998
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