Those who are effectually called are brought into a mystical union with Christ.1 Though they were elected in Christ from eternity, and represented by him in the eternal covenant,2 nevertheless they are by nature the children of wrath, even as others, enemies of God, and far from Christ,3 until the Holy Spirit is sent to convince them of sin, show them their state of misery, reveal Christ to them, draw them to him, and create them in him; then will they be members of his mystical body, and will be in him as the branches are in the vine;4 then Christ and his salvation become theirs; the Holy Spirit dwells in them; and they receive every grace from the fulness of Christ.5 This union is intimate and loving; quickening and fruitful; strong and eternal: because the Head lives, the members shall live also.6 They are no more in the first Adam, as their covenant head, nor under that covenant or its curse; but they are in Christ, the head of the covenant of grace, and have a right to all the blessings of the covenant.7
1 1 Cor. 1:30; 6:17; John 17:26; Eph. 2:21-22; 3:17; Col. 1:27. 2 Eph. 1:4; Heb. 7:22; 2 Cor. 5:21; 2 Thess. 2:13; Rom. 16:13; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 1:2. 3 Eph. 2:3, 11-13. 4 John 6:56; 14:20; 15:4-7; 16:8-10; 17:21; Col. 1:13; Eph. 2:10; 3:17; 2 Cor. 5:17; 1 John 5:20; 1 Cor. 6:15. 5 1 John 5:11-12; Gal. 2:20; Col. 3:3; Heb. 3:14; 1 Cor. 3:22-23; 6:19; 2 Tim. 1:14; Rom. 8:11; John 1:16. 6 Eph. 4:16; 5:30; Col. 1:18; 2:7; Gal. 2:20; John 14 : 19-20. 7 Rom. 5:12-21; 7:4; 8:1; 1 Cor. 15:22-23, 49; Heb. 8:8-12; Eph. 3:19; Phil. 4:19.
