A Catechism, Chapter 23
CHAP. 23. Of faith and union with Christ.
Q. YOu have spoken of the person, Offices and actions of Christ; you are now to shew the benefits that come by Christ, and how we are made partakers of Christ and of his benefits?
A. We are made partakers of Christ and all his benefits by faith alone, Iohn 1. 12. and 3. 16, 18, 36. and 20. 31. Eph. 3. 17. and Act. 16. 31.
Q. What meane you by faith?
A. That grace of the spirit whereby we receive Christ, which is wrought in our hearts in our effectuall calling?
Q How is faith wrought in effectuall callings?
A. Effectuall calling consists of two parts, the offer of Christ to the soule, and the soule excepting of that offer or the call of God when he calls the soule to come to Christ, and the answere of the soule unto that call aIer. 3. 22. Ioh. 6. 44, 45. and 10. 16. Isa. 55. 5.: now this latter is nothing else but faith:
Q. How is faith wrought in us?
A. Not by any power of our owne freewill bIohn 6. 44., or meerely by morall perswasion cAct. 13. 41.; for we are dead in sinnes and treepasses dEph: 2: 1:.
Q. How then is it wrought?
A. By the almighty power of the spirit of God as the author of it eActs 16, 14. Phil. 1. 29. 2 Cor. 4, 13. Rom. 15. 13.; and by the word as the instrument thereof fRom. 10. 14, 17. Act. 15. 7.,
Q. How doth the word worke faith?
A. The Law prepareth for it gGal. 3. 24. Rom. 10. 4., by convincing the soule of sinne hRom. 3. 20. and 7, 9, 10., and terrifying for the same iRom. 4. 15: Exod. 20. 18, 19., through the worke of the spirit of bondage kRom. 8. 15.:
Q. And what doth the Gospel?
A. It presents the excellency and worth of Christ as an onelyonly and alsufficient saviour lIoh. 3. 16. Act. 13, 38. 39. 1 Tim. 1. 15.; but withall convincing the soule of its great sinne in not beleeving in Christ mIoh. 16. 9., of its utter insufficiency to come to him nIoh. 6. 44., and its great unworthynesse oLuk. 3. 4, 5. and 15, 17, 18, 19.to have any part or portion in him.
Q. What followeth hereupon?
A. Hereby the soule feeling it selfe to be utterly lost is further and more kindely broken and humbled, Luke 19. 10. Isa. 61, 1, 2, 3. Math. 11. 20. Zac: 12. 10.
Q What else is done by the Gospell in the working of faith?
A. It sweetly encourageth poore lost soules to come to Jesus Christ pMat: 11. 28. Ioh: 6. 37. Isa. 55. 1. 2. …2 Cor: 5. 20., and enableth them so to doe, rowling and resting themselves upon him qIohn 6. 44, 45 Ier. 3. 22. Iohn 13. 15. Rom. 1. 16., by the helpe of the spirit of grace rZac. 12. 10., which is ministred thereby sGal. 3. 2. 2 Cor. 3. 8.,
Q It seemes then you make Christ the object of faith?
A. Yea; not onelyonly the whole truth of God tAct. 24. 14., but specially Christ Jesus as he is set forth in the promises of the gospel, is the obiect of saving faith uIoh. 3. 16. Act. 16. 31.,
Q. Wherein doth the nature of this faith consist?
A. Not onelyonly in knowledge of the revealed will of God wRom. 10. 8, 14; 15.; and in assent to the truth thereof xAct. 24. 14.; for so much may be found in devils yIam. 2. 19. Mark. 1. 24..
Q. What is there more then this in saving faith?
A. There is also a comming unto Iesus Christ zIoh. 6. 35. 44, 45, 65., with affiance aEph. 1. 12. 2 Tim. 1. 12. Isa. 50. 10., and reliance upon him bCant. 8. 5.,
Q. What is the subject in whom this faith is wrought?
A. This faith is not wrought in any reprobate but only in the elect cRom. 8. 30. Act. 13. 48. Ioh. 6, 37. and 10. 26.; and not onelyonly in the understanding, or only in the will but in the whole heart dRom: 10. 10. Act. 8, 37..
Q. And what an heart is it in whom this faith is wrought?
A. OnelyOnly the heart of such an one as is now a poore, lost and broken-hearted sinner: Math. 9. 12, and 11, 28. Luke 19. 10. and 3. 4, 5, 6.
Q. VVhy say you so?
A. Because till the heart be thus prepared, men will never come to Christ eIohn 5. 40. Rom: 10. 3. Ier. 2. 31, 36. Luke 15. 16., nor can they truly beleeve on him fIohn 5 44.,
Q. VVhat thinke you then of those who professe themselves to be true beleevers, and yet were never in any measure thus prepared and humbled?
A. The case of such professors is very dangerous.
Q. Why say you so?
A. Because the fallow ground of their hearts being never broken up, they doe but sow among thornes gIer. 4. 3. 4., & so the stoninesse of their hearts not being removed by any sound & thorough worke of contrition and humiliation, therfore though they may for a time receive the word with joy, and beleeve for a season, yet they are like to be but temporary beleevers, and in time of temptation fall away hMatth. 1. 3. 5, 6, 20, 21. Luk. 8. 6, 13.,
Q. You have shewed the cause, and the object, the nature and subject of faith; tell me now what are the principall effects of faith?
A. Hereby we have union with Christ himselfe iIohn 12. Eph. 3. 17., and so communion with him in all the benefits which he hath purchased for the Elect kRom. 8. 32. 1 Cor. 3 22..
Q. What understand you by union with Christ?
A. That spirituall conjunction l1 Cor 6. 17.betweene Christ and the beleever whereby the beleever hath possesion of Christ as his owne m1 Ioh. 5. 12. Cant. 2. 16., dwelling in Christ nRom. 16. 7. 2 Cor: 5. 17., and Christ in him oEph. 3. 17. Ioh. 6. 56:, and is made one spirit with him p1 Cor. 6. 17. Ioh. 17. 21..
Q. By what comparisons or similitudes is this union expressed in Scripture?
A. It is expressed by that union that is between the husband and wife qEph. 5. 23., the vine and the branches rIoh. 15. 4. 5., and the head and the members sCol. 2. 19. Eph. 4. 16. 1 Cor. 12. 12..
Q. What benefit comes to beleevers by meanes of this their union with Christ?
A. Being one with Christ, therefore Christ will be sure to take all their Injuries and afflictions as if they were his owne tAct. 9. 4. 5. Math. 25. 40. 45., will free them from condemnation uRom. 8. 1., and afford unto them communion with him in all his benefits w1 Cor. 3. 22. 23.,
Q. What are those Benefits of Christ wherein beleevers have communion with him by vertue of this their union?
A. Some of the principal are Justification xRom. 3. 24. Acts 13. 39., Adoption yIohn 1. 12. Gal. 3. 26., and Sanctification z1 Cor. 1. 30. and 6. 11. Eph: 5. 26., besides which if God give us Christ, he will with him freely give us all things also aRom: 8: 32..