The WESTMINSTER LARGER Catechism

WLC 82. What is the communion in glory
which the members of the invisible church have with Christ?

A. The communion in glory which the members of the invisible church have with Christ, is
in this life,1 immediately after death,2 and at last perfected
at the resurrection and day of judgment.3

Proofs

12 Cor 3:18; 2Lk 23:43; 31 Thes 4:17

In question 65, we saw that "The members of the invisible church by Christ enjoy union and communion with Him in grace and glory." Questions 66-68 is about union with Christ, where Questions 69-81 is about ‘communion in grace.’ Now, from the present question till question 90, we shall be looking at ‘communion in glory.’ In fact, this question is really a summary or introduction to the detailed elaborations in the next 8 questions.

But what is the difference between ‘com-munion in grace’ and ‘communion in glory’?

The terms grace and glory are used in numerous different ways in the Scripture, but in our Confession and Catechisms, the two terms are often used in conjunction to distinguish between the present earthly life and the heavenly life to come. So ‘communion in grace’ refers to the blessings of salvation which we receive in this life on the basis of our union with Christ; while ‘communion in glory’ refers to the blessings which we shall receive from Christ in the life to come.

But take note that this does not mean that ‘communion in glory’ will be enjoyed only when we die. Rather, the Scripture and therefore our Catechism indicate that we will receive the blessings in stages.

First, we enjoy "in this life the first fruit of glory with Christ" (WLC 83). For example, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as an earnest of our eternal inheritance (Eph 1:13-14) we have begun to enjoy a special sense of God’s love and peace of conscience.

Secondly, immediately after death, "[our] souls are… made perfect in holiness, and received into the highest heavens, where [we shall] behold the face of God in light and glory" (WLC 86).

But our final and full enjoyment of communion in Christ will be at the resurrection and day of judgement when we shall receive "the full redemption of [our] bodies" (WLC 86) and "shall be set on [Christ’s] right hand, and there openly acknowledged and acquitted" (WLC 90). W

"Grant, Almighty God, that as our sins cry continually to heaven, each of us may turn to repentance, and by condemning ourselves of our own accord may anticipate thy judgement, and thus stir up ourselves to repentance, that being received into favor, we may find thee, whom we have provoked to take vengeance, to be indeed our Father: and may we be so preserved by thee in this world, that having at length put off all our vices, we may attain to that perfection of purity, to which thou invites us; and thus lead us more and more to thyself by thy Spirit, and separate us from the corruptions of this world, that we may glorify thee before men, and be at last made partakers of that celestial glory which has been purchased for us by the blood of thy only begotten Son. Amen" (Prayer of John Calvin at the close of Lecture #106 on the Minor Prophets).