Lord’s Day 11: Covenant Benefits and Graces
35: What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?
They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them.
(Rom. 8:30; Eph. 1:5; 1 Cor. 1:30)
36: What is justification?
Justification is an act of God’s free grace, in which he pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
(Rom. 3:24, 25; and 4:6, 7, 8; 2 Cor. 5:19, 21; Rom. 5:17-19; Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:9)
37: What is adoption?
Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, by which we are received into the number and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.
(1 John 3:1; John 1:12; Rom. 8:14-17)
38: What is sanctification?
Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, by which we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.
(2 Thess. 2:13; Eph. 4:23, 24; Rom. 6:4,6; 8:1)
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.
(Rom. 5:1, 2, 5; Rom. 5:5, 17; Pr. 4:18; 1 John 5:13; 1 Pet. 1:5)