Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 37
Question 37
What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?
The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the resurrection.
Scripture references for paragraph 1
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Hebrews 12:2323in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
2 Corinthians 5:11Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
2 Corinthians 5:66Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:88We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Philippians 1:2323I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
Luke 23:4343And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
1 Thessalonians 4:1414For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
Isaiah 57:22Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest, lying down in death.
Job 19:26-2726Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.
27I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger. How my heart yearns within me!
Source and edition
Westminster Shorter Catechism. NonlinearFruit/Creeds.json, Unlicense. Creeds.json, English transcription
Unlicense. Source transcription.
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