Shorter Catechism Q. 32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life? A. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them.
Commentary: Once we are united to Christ by the Holy Spirit and by our faith (WSC 32), we share in all the saving benefits that Christ himself possesses. The puritans referred to this as communion with Christ. The parallel question in the Westminster Larger Catechism (69) asks, “What is the communion in grace which the members of the invisible church have with Christ?” Union with Christ immediately leads to communion in grace or the partaking of saving benefits.
When a man and a woman are married, they become one and share all things. What belongs to him becomes hers and vice versa. Similarly, our union with Christ results in communion in grace. What belongs to Christ becomes ours. This is why Thomas Boston referred to union with Christ as “the root-benefit.” Every benefit that we partake of springs from and depends upon our union with Christ.
We do not, however, experience all the benefits at once. We partake of some in this life (WSC 32), some at death (WSC 37), and some at the resurrection (WSC 38). The ones we partake of in this life are “justification, adoption, and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them.”