Westminster Larger catechism # 86
Commentary by Dr. Chuck Baynard
Q86. What is the communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible
church enjoy immediately after death?
Answer: The communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church
enjoy immediately after death is, in that their souls are then made perfect in holiness,
and received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and
glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies, which even in death remain united
to Christ, and rest in their graves as in their beds, till at the last day they be again
united to their souls. Whereas the souls of the wicked are at their death cast into hell,
where they remain in torments and utter darkness, and their bodies kept in their graves,
as in their prisons, till the resurrection and judgment of the great day.
References: Heb. 12:32; 2 Cor. 5:1,6,8; Phil. 1:23; Eph. 4:10; 1 John 3:2; 1 Cor.
13:12; Rom. 8:23; Ps. 16:9; 1 Thess. 4:14; Isa. 57:2; Job 19:26-27; Luke 16:23-24; Acts
1:25; Jude 6-7.
Harmony of the Standards: SC 37 - COF by subject only chapter 32.
Let us begin with a look at what the Shorter Catechism says: Q/A 37 -- 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.
Here for the first time since we began this trip I find myself not out of accord but
with many words of difference with what the Divines chose to pen. The Shorter does a
better job than the Larger only in that it is shorter in length. The implication from the
words are that the Divines have not changed how they understood this doctrine from one to
the other.
Hebrews 12:23 is used to proof text the opening words concerning the soul made perfect
in holiness. This text reads " To the general assembly and church of the first born,
which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men
made perfect. Read all of this chapter to gain the proper context. Man speaking to man
concerning obedience to God, of yet an earthly church, for the heavenly church needs no
such exhortation toward obedience. The picture of the soul in heaven from the book of
Revelation is that it is under the altar of God and crying out daily for God to revenge
their blood upon the earth. John had it more correct when he wrote "Beloved, now are
we the sons of God: and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know when he shall
appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2). The holy
apostles didn’t have this information to pass on, or else were restrained by God from
doing so.
Several things concern me here. First is the flesh which waits in the grave that both
larger and shorter affirm as being united to Christ even in the grave. The proof text
chosen is 1 Thess. 4:14, "For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again, even so
them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." This is thin and I think the
Divines were trying to answer the fears of their own age where death for a believer was
very likely event. Paul was comforting the believers in this verse who had been told that
Christ had already returned and they had missed it. Paul was careful to point out that all
would see Christ in His return and even those who had died in faith would rise to be with
them. All that is in the grave of those long past saints is dust and it is in no way
united to Christ. Christ has the nature of man united with His own, not the flesh even He
wore as an earthly garment. This is why I don’t need a grave, and will receive that
glorious resurrection body though this one be burned at the martyr’s post, or lost in
the arenas to the foul appetite of beasts.
". . . And rest in their graves as in their beds," I have no idea what is
supposed to mean. The soul has departed and this is the only eternal thing of the human
being. If the body were of such importance to God then it would not see corruption. Then
we again come to those who for the name sake of God have no grave. The body was made of
dust and to dust shall return. God has no need for this earthly material to raise of the
selfsame body from nothing, though of an infinitely different character on that great day.
What then do we make of this, and how do we answer the question? At death the soul of
the believer moves into glory, the very presence of God and the soul of the unbeliever
likewise enters the pit of hell; both awaiting that great day when all dead shall rise to
stand in that body to be judged. The righteous before the judgment seat of the lamb and
the wicked before the great white throne. From before the judgment seat of Christ none
shall enter hell for their name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, from before
the great white throne none shall be spared from eternal separation from God in hell.
However even then, in the very presence of God the glory of the saints is not complete nor
perfect. Remember the picture of the souls in heaven from Revelation. Perfection or
completeness awaits that great day when Christ returns. There are several passages in the
Bible that some try and place in a sequence of events. I believe these are differing
descriptions of the same thing. The trumpet sounds and the judgment begins. I also believe
this entire procedure will happen in the twinkling of an eye. The just will receive their
rewards according to their deeds and the wicked will have instantaneously revealed to them
all the evil they have ever done. What a foul smelling place it shall be there before that
Throne of judgment as all the sin of all humanity not covered in the blood of Christ shall
be revealed. Not one will open his mouth to protest the just sentence to eternal
damnation, the record is before them and all of creation. Yet not one sin of the redeemed
will exist there before the seat of Christ, for they have been covered eternally by the
blood of the lamb and removed from God’s chosen as far as the East is from the West.
Before we continue into this life after death scene and deal with eschatology let me
explain that I endorse no particular millennium theory, for all are just that theory with
no sound foundation to rest upon. I believe all prophecy was written in such a manner that
it appears to be happening within each generation. This was done by a loving God so that
we mortals could be aided in obeying Christ who told us to watch and pray. We by nature
are not waiting for an event that is perhaps centuries ahead of us, and I rather doubt
many would even pray about it. When we look to prophecy we see God’s word vindicated
as it is made manifest centuries after His chosen servants penned the same. Because we
then know God has been faithful, our unfaithfulness is helped, and we can look forward
with hope to the great promise and comfort we have in Jesus Christ. As you ponder these
things let the full volume of Holy Writ speak to you and reveal what truth we can hold of
this mystery of God. Interpret those verses by the rest of Scripture and never form an
opinion of what is to be from prophecy and then try to bend the rest of Scripture to fit.
In short form: Our theology should form our eschatology and never the reverse.
Rest in the biblical truth that God loves us and shall keep His word that where Christ
is, there we shall be also. Not in some mystical union with Christ (which presently
exists) but in person. At that great day we shall become complete in glory, not given
glory. Glory is reserved for God. Our eternal duty, glorify God, our eternal destiny, to
enjoy God. "To God be the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen!"
Dr. Chuck Baynard -- November 1998
LC Index
Observer Home Page
1st EPC Home Page
