HenryWSC 37

Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 37

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Is death loss to a good Christian? No: for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain,
Phil. 1:21
. Should it therefore be a terror? No: for the righteous hath hope in his death,
Prov. 14:32
. Does God take special care of the death of his people? Yes: for precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints,
Ps. 116:15
. Is death in the covenant? Yes: All is yours, whether life or death,
1 Cor. 3:22
. Can it separate them from the love of God? No: neither death nor life can do that,
Rom. 8:38
.
Are believers perfect in holiness in this life? No: I have not yet attained, neither am already perfect,
Phil. 3:12
. Are their souls made perfect at death? Yes: the spirits of just men are made perfect,
Heb. 12:23
. Are they delivered from sin? Yes: he that is dead is freed from sin,
Rom. 6:7
. Are they made perfect in knowledge? Yes: Then shall I know, even as also I am known,
1 Cor. 13:12
. And perfect in holiness? Yes: for they are come to the perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ,
Eph. 4:13
. Might they pass into glory without being made perfect in holiness? No: for corruption cannot inherit incorruption,
1 Cor. 15:50
. Being made perfect in holiness, are they confirmed in it? Yes: He that is holy, let him be holy still,
Rev. 22:11
.
Do the souls of believers at death sleep with their bodies? No: for when we are absent from the body, we are present with the Lord,
2 Cor. 5:8
. Do they go to Christ? Yes: Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ,
Phil. 1:23
. And will he receive them? Yes: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,
Acts 7:59
. Shall they be where he is? Yes: That where I am there ye may be also,
John 14:3
. Will they be with him in heaven? Yes: We have a house not. made with hands, eternal in the heavens,
2 Cor. 5:1
. Do they pass into this glory at death? Yes: That when ye fail ye may be received into everlasting habitations,
Luke 16:9
. Do they immediately pass into it? Yes: This day shall thou be with me in paradise,
Luke 23:43
. Are they guarded by angels thither? Yes: he was carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom,
Luke 16:22
. Are they happy then in their death? Yes: Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord,
Rev. 14:13
. Happier than in life? Yes: The day of their death is better than the day of their birth,
Eccles. 7:1
. And is their end peace? Yes: Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace,
Ps. 37:37
.
Is death gain to the wicked man? No: for when a wicked man dies, his expectation shall perish,
Prov. 11:7
. Is it therefore a terror to the wicked? Yes: this night thy soul shall be required of thee,
Luke 12:20
. Do the souls of the wicked, at death go into torment? Yes: the rich man died, and was buried, and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment,
Luke 16:22–23
. Do they go away under the guilt of their sins? Yes: If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins,
John 8:24
. Is it a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God? Yes: for our God is a consuming fire,
Heb. 12:29
. Are the souls of believers distinguished from them? Yes: But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave,
Ps. 49:15
.
Are the bodies of believers well provided for at death? Yes: for the Lord is for the body,
1 Cor. 6:13
. May they be cheerfully committed to the grave? Yes; My flesh also shall rest in hope,
Ps. 16:9
. Do they still remain united to Christ? Yes: for they sleep in Jesus,
1 Thess. 4:14
. Do they rest in their graves? Yes: for there the weary be at rest,
Job 3:17
. Is the grave a good Christian’s bed? Yes: He shall enter into peace, they shall rest in their beds,
Isa. 57:2
. May the saints triumph over the grave then? Yes: O grave where is thy victory?
1 Cor. 15:55
. And need they to fear no evil in it? No: for the sucking child shall play upon the hole of the asp,
Isa. 11:8
. Are all who are regenerate delivered from the second death? Yes: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection, on such the second death shall have no power,
Rev. 20:6
.
HenryWSC 37