Westminster Larger Catechism # 82
Commentary by Dr. Chuck Baynard
Q82. What is the communion in glory which the members of the invisible church have with
Christ?
Answer: The communion in glory which the members of the invisible church have with
Christ, is in this life, immediately after death, and at last perfected at the
resurrection and day of judgment.
References: 2 Cor. 3:18; Luke 23:43; 1 Thess. 4:17
Harmony of the Standards: COF 25 (by general topic only)
I am not sure what the intention of the Divines was in asking this question. There is
no direct parallel in the Confession proper of Shorter Catechism. As noted before the
Larger Catechism was the first document completed, and this may well be the boundary
within which the Confession was to be framed, and the attempt here is to ask the questions
in establishing this boundary that leaves no important stone unturned. I think the intent
is perhaps to show the line of progression from earth to heaven, and establish the exact
sequence of events, thus accounting for the place of the soul before God from creation
until the physical reunion with God is accomplished at the end of time.
While I can accept this question as written, I doubt the first portion of the
statement. Communion in Glory is not a term I have seen used elsewhere, and find no solid
basis for in Scripture other than the communion of saints and in that Christ has been
glorified and ascended, He is in glory. Thus I question the wording as a whole, while
there is a truth contained herein, I think we must be careful not to imply that as mere
men we have any part of the glory of God, other than we are His glory, not of self, but of
His grace, love, and mercy shown to us, thereby bringing glory to himself, of which we are
not even really the vessel or, much less the means, for all is of God. I believe this
question disappears from the standards in the later documents (COF & SC) for this very
reason. Nonetheless we find this as a part of the Westminster Presbyterian Standards, and
must deal with it as presented.
The Divines most correctly identify the communion as belonging to the invisible church.
Let us remember the definition of the visible church as contrasted with the invisible and
therefore true believers in the visible are members of the invisible. The invisible church
being the only full measure of God’s kingdom among the elect, one is then encompassed
in the other to the degree of purity and true faith in the visible church.
The proof texts in my opinion do not speak to our present communion in glory, but of
the communion of saints and the union all believers have with Christ from the eternal
counsel of God and manifested in the regeneration of the soul in history. Glory in the
Biblical sense is akin to worship and God is most jealous concerning worship and in my
opinion glory. I find nowhere that God has chosen to share this power, glory, and majesty
with any but Himself (meaning the Trinity). This is not to diminish the union with Christ
in the least bit, but rather to define and lift up this mystical truth whereby we are
changed in this life spiritually, and will be changed completely at the coming of Christ
in glory. We need to understand and embrace this union with Christ, for herein is our hope
of the Glory of God (Rom.5:2), and by experiencing this union will be moved toward the
completion of our spiritual life on earth (Rom.5:3-5). Note that in this passage though,
that the glory is of God and God’s, and again we are not even the means thereof.
We see this better defined in Scripture perhaps in the Lord’s Prayer (Mt. 6:13)
where we read ". . . For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory
forever." While we find verses to indicate some transfer, at least in the sense of
under-shepherds of God’s dominion, I don’t thin we can find the right to any
power and glory directly.
The words "Immediately after death" I believe show the intent of the Divines
to show to us the place or position of the soul through the various transitions from
mortal to immortal. This we find documented in the words of the Lord to the thief on the
cross and especially in Revelation where the souls are pictured as being under the altar
of God thus in the presence of God and beholding His face, though their time for
vindication, glorification is not yet. The end of this statement where we read "and
at last perfected at the resurrection and day of judgment." should not lead us to
believe that glorification is a continuing process as sanctification, but rather this will
be one single event at the resurrection of the body. (A side note here is the implication
of there being only one resurrection from the context of the wording. We will take this up
in its proper place under last things.)
I would chose to have combined this with the communion of saints and not have it stand
alone as "communion in glory." I believe this fits the complete standard of the
Divines. I think it is best for us to consider this as a treatise on the position of the
soul at the various stages of its march into eternity and glorification than a separate
doctrine.
What I do see stand out here it all is glory is the sovereignty of God, and His
revealed plan for the salvation of His elect. His being in complete control from eternity
to eternity. I have heard the Reformed faith defined as biblical faith and that it can be
defined in the terms of the sovereignty of God. Many frown upon this as being a severe
doctrine filled with hate and wrath, but these words of the Divines based entirely on
Scripture paint the picture for us of a complete sovereignty that is the personification
of love and good. It is only when we see these traits of God mirrored in man with the evil
of the flesh and man’s will that they become severe and the "human" mind
spoil that with is perfection with God. Thus it from the darkness of his own fallen soul
man is repulsed, as much or perhaps more than God Himself. Creatures of the dark cannot
abide in the light and where possible will devour the light that all is of darkness. God
being light and existing in perfection so that even His wrath is gracious, filled with
love and kindness cannot be mirrored correctly in the flesh, even that which has been born
again of the Spirit, for the flesh remains and in the flesh the will exists, and it is of
will that all evil flows. The rebellion isn’t of the soul, but of the intellect given
in perfection. That will is now the supreme ruler in fallen man, so that alone man cannot,
will not turn toward the light and bow before the sovereign God of creation. It is thus we
hear the distant call of the apostle Paul to gird up our minds, and that God is not the
God of confusion and fear, but of a sound mind. This is why the best of our scholars
during the period of so called higher criticism introduced as much error as light and
through the ages academics alone have not shed additional light from God upon His revealed
word. The big "T" indeed exists, and apart from the grace of God rules supreme
upon the earth.
It is the communion of the saints, the union the believer has with Christ that will
give man the power to subdue his will and in bowing before the sovereignty of God, be
enabled to drink from that fountain of life, Jesus Christ, the essence of the Word of God.
This is how I think we must understand the Bible, not as a book as such, but the living
Word of God, come to earth in the person of His Son. There is a spiritual element involved
in this communion, this union that mere intellect alone cannot perceive. What man does not
understand, he is indifferent towards at best, and more likely will completely disregard.
It was for this reason Paul said that faith comes from hearing and hearing from the word
of God. I believe we can rightly substitute understanding for the word hearing and perhaps
begin to grasp the truth of the depth of our fall, and the why of our total disdain fro
the things of God, apart from the spiritual rebirth in Christ.
Let us then sing the praises of God and that the glory be to God, rather than seeking
how we in the flesh have any communion with glory. Our glorification awaits that faithful
day of the Lord.
Dr. Chuck Baynard -- October 1998
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