Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

Question 36

What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of consciencea joy in the Holy Ghostb increase of gracec and perseverance therein to the end.d

What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of consciencea joy in the Holy Ghostb increase of gracec and perseverance therein to the end.d

  1. a. Romans 5:1–2; Romans 5:5

    Romans 5:1–2

    5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

    5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

    Romans 5:5

    5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

    5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  2. b. Romans 14:17

    Romans 14:17

    14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

    14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  3. c. Proverbs 4:18

    Proverbs 4:18

    4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

    4:18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  4. d. 1 John 5:13; 1 Peter 1:5

    1 John 5:13

    5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

    5:13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

    1 Peter 1:5

    1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

    1:5 who through faith are shielded by God's power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

Diff style

Changes in The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 39

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 39

What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption and sanctification?

The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost Spirit, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Question 36

What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience joy in the Holy Ghost increase of grace and perseverance therein to the end.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 39

What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption and sanctification?

The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 39

What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption and sanctification?

The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost Spirit, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (modernized) (1647), Question 36

What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience joy in the Holy Ghost increase of grace and perseverance therein to the end.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 39

What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption and sanctification?

The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.

Related (4)

Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

Question 79

May not true believers, by reason of their imperfections, and the many temptations and sins they are overtaken with, fall away from the state of grace ?

True believers, by reason of the unchangeable love of God, and his decree and covenant to give them perseverance, their inseparable union with Christ, his continual intercession for them, and the Spirit and seed of God abiding in them, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Question 80

Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and that they shall persevere therein unto salvation?

Such as truly believe in Christ, and endeavor to walk in all good conscience before him, may, without extraordinary revelation, by faith grounded upon the truth of God’s promises, and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in themselves those graces to which the promises of life are made, and bearing witness with their spirits that they are the children of God, be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and shall persevere therein unto salvation.

Question 81

Are all true believers at all times assured of their present being in the estate of grace, and that they shall be saved?

Assurance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith, true believers may wait long before they obtain it; and, after the enjoyment thereof, may have it weakened and intermitted, through manifold distempers, sins, temptations, and desertions; yet are they never left without such a presence and support of the Spirit of God as keeps them from sinking into utter despair.

Question 83

What is the communion in glory with Christ which the members of the invisible church enjoy in this life?

The members of the invisible church have communicated to them in this life the firstfruits of glory with Christ, as they are members of him their head, and so in him are interested in that glory which he is fully possessed of; and, as an earnest thereof, enjoy the sense of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, and hope of glory; as, on the contrary, sense of God’s revenging wrath, horror of conscience, and a fearful expectation of judgment, are to the wicked the beginning of their torments which they shall endure after death.

Commentaries (9)

  • Joseph Alleine, 1672, A Most Familiar Explanation of the Assemblies Shorter Catechism

    What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from Justification, Adoption, and Sanctification? The benefits which in this life do accompanyy or flow from…

    Joseph Alleine’s text
  • Thomas Lye, 1672, The Assemblies Shorter Catechism Drawn out into Distinct Propositions

    What are the benefits, which, in this life, do either accompany or flow from Iustification, Adoption, and Sanctification? The benefits, which, in this life, do accompany or flow…

    Thomas Lye’s text
  • Thomas Vincent, 1673, An Explicatory Catechism

    What are the benefits which in this Life do accompany or flow from Justification, Adoption, and Sanctification? The benefits which in this Life do accompany or flow from…

    Thomas Vincent’s text
  • 1675, An Explicatory Catechism

    What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from Iustification, Adoption, and Sanctification? The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from…

    Its text
  • John Flavel, 1692, An Exposition of the Assembly’s Catechism (5 parts)

    What are the benefits which in this life do either accompany, or flow from Iustification, Adoption, and Sanctification? The benefits which in this life do either accompany, or…

    John Flavel’s text
  • Thomas Watson, 1692, A Body of Practical Divinity (6 parts)

    Quest. What are the Benefits flow from Sanctification? Resp. Assurance of God’s Love, Peace of Conscience, Joy in the Holy Ghost, Encrease of Grace, and Perseverance therein to…

    Thomas Watson’s text
  • Matthew Henry, 1703, A Scripture Catechism

    What are the Benefits which in this Life do either accompany or flow from Justification, Adoption and Sanctification? The Benefits which in this Life do either accompany or flow…

    Matthew Henry’s text
  • Alexander Whyte, 1883, A Commentary on the Shorter Catechism

    The benefits—Compare Ps. ciii. 2–5. These benefits are first mentioned in Answer 32, and they are there connected with effectual calling. What benefits do they that are…

    Alexander Whyte’s text
  • Benjamin Beddome, 1752, A Scriptural Exposition of the Baptist Catechism

    On The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 39, which adapts this question

    Hath a full assurance of God’s love been attained by Christians in the present life? Yes. We have known and believed the love which God hath to us, Should those that want…

    Benjamin Beddome’s text