In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. Previously we’ve been looking at God’s providence, particularly to humans in the beginning. Thus we saw that God initially provided humans with paradise, dominion over creation and marriage. Today I want to look at how God also provided humans with communion with himself.

After God made the first humans, he did not abandon them but remained with them – he was in communion with them. Thus in Genesis we see God speaking to Adam and Eve, blessing them, giving them instructions and giving them food – all actions that demonstrate communion with God: ‘God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food”‘ (Genesis 1:28-29).

Even after Adam and Eve sinned, in his providence God still provided them with communion. He drew near them, spoke with them, and gave them clothes: ‘Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:8-9); ‘The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them’ (Genesis 3:21).

And in the amazing providence of God, today he still has communion with sinful people. Through Christ, God draws near to us and speaks to us. Isaiah even speaks of God giving us garments to cover our sinfulness: ‘I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels’ (Isaiah 61:10).

But to enjoy this communion with God you must embrace the sacrifice for sin he has providentially given in his Son. You must trust that Jesus died for you.

Do you have communion with God through the death of his Son, Jesus Christ?

Joel Radford.