Q. 29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.
Q. 30. How does the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.
Q. 31. What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he does persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
Q. 32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?
A. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, and sanctification and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them.
Many of us have been through the process of finding a new job. We submit the applications. We go through the interviews. We have our references checked. At some point (hopefully!), someone or someplace makes us an offer. As part of the process of evaluating that offer, one key concern is often “the benefits package”. It is that part of the offer that deals with matters such as health insurance, retirement, vacation, sick days and the like. We want to know how uniting ourselves to this business or company will work for our good.
Over the past several posts, we have covered the questions in the Westminster Shorter Catechism (WSC) that concern the person and work of Christ. The catechism now turns to the question of how do we get in on this redemptive work that Christ has accomplished. This redemption is truly amazing but what good is it if I can’t participate in it? And if I participate in it, what actual benefits do I enjoy?
The catechism sets forth several truths related to those questions.
- First, our partaking in Christ’s redemptive work occurs because of a work of the Holy Spirit. He applies what Christ has accomplished. Thus, the title of a wonderful little book by John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied. We cannot make ourselves partakers. Something must be done to us.
- Second, this application is occasioned by the Spirit working faith in us. Thus, even our faith is a gift, not something we create or work up in ourselves (Ephesians 2:8-9). The result of this is our union with Christ, the connection which is the conduit through which the blessings of redemption flow. This connection is vital and underlies all of the Christian life. Jesus illustrates this through the imagery of the necessary life-giving relationship between the vine and the branches (John 15). Cut off the branch from the vine and all the benefits of the vine are no longer flowing to the branch and the branch withers and dies.
- Third, this connection is established in our effectual calling. This is different from the general call of the gospel, which occurs when we share the gospel and call people to repent and believe. This is why many people may hear the gospel (general call) but only some respond (effectual call). That is why the effectual call is necessary. But notice that what happens in the effectual call is done by the Holy Spirit, not us. He convinces. He enlightens. He renews.
And it is in this effectual call that we are united to Christ and partake of the benefits of His redemptive work on our behalf. The catechism lists some of those benefits, including justification, adoption, sanctification, and several others. We will look at these in more detail in upcoming weeks. But, today, let your heart be stirred anew by God’s amazing grace. Our partaking of any of these benefits rests not on works that we have done but on works that God has done. The only reason we are Christians is because God chose to love us, save us, and draw us to Himself. And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31)
