You Can't Get to Heaven Yourself

 By Pastor Benjamin Glaser - Posted at Thoughts from Parson Farms:

How "Try-Harder" is the Devil's Message

Howdy!

Welcome to another installment of our weekly look at the Westminster Larger Catechism. It’s a blessing to get into more and more about what our Savior has accomplished for us and given to us in His grace. Today’s Q/A’s will be Q.’s 57-59. Whenever we talk about something like “mediation” it’s helpful to remember the roles each of us play in the drama of salvation. We sin, alienate ourselves from the Lord of glory, He in His sovereign decree from before the foundation of the world, and before our fall in history, has made a pact within the Godhead that the Second Person should be born of a virgin, lay down His life, be raised up on the third day, and ascend to the Heavenly places in all magnificence. The Trinitarian nature of all this is especially seen in the application of the righteousness purchased by Christ through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in effectual calling and all the benefits which proceed from it. This next section of the catechism will begin to explain what this means for our advantage. Here’s the questions:

Q. 57: What benefits has Christ procured by his mediation?

A. Christ, by his mediation, has procured redemption, with all other benefits of the covenant of grace.

Q. 58: How do we come to be made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured?

A. We are made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured, by the application of them unto us, which is the work especially of God the Holy Ghost.

Q. 59: Who are made partakers of redemption through Christ?

A. Redemption is certainly applied, and effectually communicated, to all those for whom Christ has purchased it; who are in time by the Holy Ghost enabled to believe in Christ according to the gospel.

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