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Chapter XXI — Of the Privileges of Believers

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Chap. XXI. — Of the Privileges of Believers.

Q. 1. What are the privileges of those that thus believe and repent?

A. First, union with Christ; secondly, adoption of children; thirdly, Christian liberty; fourthly, a spiritual, holy right to the seals of the new covenant; fifthly, communion with all saints; sixthly, resurrection of the body unto life eternal.

Q. 2. What is our union with Christ?

A. An ^aholy, spiritual1 2 conjunction unto him, as our ^bhead, ^chusband, and ^dfoundation, ^ewhereby we are made partakers of the same Spirit with him, ^fand derive all good things from him. ^a1 Cor. xii. 12; John xv. 1, 2, 5–7, xvii. 23. ^bEph. iv. 15, v. 23; Col. i. 18. ^c2 Cor. xi. 2; Eph. v. 25–27; Rev. xxi. 9. ^dMatt. xvi. 18; Eph. ii. 20–22; 1 Pet. ii. 4–7. ^eRom. viii. 9, 11; Gal. iv. 6; Phil. i. 19. ^fJohn i. 12, 16; Eph. i. 3.

Q. 3. What is our adoption?

A. Our gracious reception into the family of God, as his children, and co-heirs with Christ. John i. 12; Rom. viii. 15, 17; Gal. iv. 5; Eph. i. 5.

Q. 4. How come we to know this?

A. By the especial working of the Holy3 Spirit in our hearts, sealing unto us the promises of God, and raising up our souls to an assured expectation of the promised inheritance. Rom. viii. 15, 17; Eph. iv. 30; 1 John iii. 1; Rom. viii. 19, 23; Tit. ii. 13.

Q. 5. What is our Christian liberty?

A. An4 holy and spiritual ^afreedom from the ^bslavery of sin, the ^cbondage of death and hell, the ^dcurse of the law, ^eJewish ceremonies, and ^fthraldom of conscience, purchased for us by Jesus Christ, and ^grevealed to us by the Holy Spirit. ^aGal. v. 1. ^bJohn viii. 32, 34, 36; Rom. vi. 17, 18; Isa. lxi. 1; 1 John i. 7; 2 Cor. v. 21. ^cRom. viii. 15; Heb. ii. 15; 1 Cor. xv. 55, 57. ^dGal. iii. 13; Eph. ii. 15, 16; Gal. iv. 5; Rom. viii. 1. ^eActs xv. 10, 11; Gal. 3, 4, 5. ^f2 Cor. i. 24; 1 Cor. vii. 23; 1 Pet. ii. 16. ^g1 Cor. ii. 12.

Q. 6. Are we, then, wholly freed from the moral law?

A. Yes, as 5a covenant,6 or as it hath any thing in it bringing into bondage, — as the curse, power, dominion, and rigid exaction of obedience; 7but not as it is a rule of life and holiness.

Q. 7. Are we not freed by Christ from the magistrate’s power and human authority?

A. No; being ordained of8 God, and commanding for him, we owe them all lawful obedience. Rom. xiii. 1–4; 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2; 1 Pet. ii. 13–15.

← Chapter XX — Of Sanctification · Contents · Chapter XXII — Of the Sacraments of the New Covenant in particulalr, — a holy right whereunto is the Fourth Privilege of Believers →

Footnotes

  1. By virtue of this union, Christ suffereth in our afflictions; and we fill up in our bodies what remaineth as his. ↩

  2. From Christ, as head of the church, we have spiritual life, sense, and motion, or growth in grace; secondly, as the husband of the church, love and redemption; thirdly, as the foundation thereof, stability and perseverance. ↩

  3. This is that great honour and dignity of believers, which exalts them to a despising all earthly thrones. ↩

  4. Our liberty is our inheritance here below, which we ought to contend for, against all opposers. ↩

  5. Jer. xxxi. 31–33; Rom. vii. 1–3, vi. 14; Gal. iii. 19, 24; Rom. viii. 2; Gal. v. 18. ↩

  6. Nothing makes men condemn the law as a rule, but hatred of that universal holiness which it doth require. ↩

  7. Matt. v. 17; Rom. iii. 31, vii. 13, 22, 25. ↩

  8. Rule and authority are as necessary for human society as fire and water for our lives. ↩

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