How is the word made effectual to salvation?

1. What is meant by [the word] in this answer?

The whole of divine revelation, contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testament.

2. What hath God appointed with reference to his word, that it may be effectual to salvation?

He hath appointed [the reading], John 5:39 [but especially the preaching] thereof. 2 Timothy 4:2

3. “Is the word of God to be read by all?”

“Although all are not permitted to read the word publicly to the congregation, Deuteronomy 31:9, 11 yet all sorts of people are bound to read it apart by themselves, Deuteronomy 17:19 and with their families,” Deuteronomy 6:7 [Larger Cat. Quest. 156.]

4. What is the meaning of these words in our Larger Catechism, “all are not permitted to read the word publicly to the congregation?”

The meaning is not, as if there were an order of men appointed by Christ, to be READERS in the church, distinct from ministers; but only, that none ought to read publicly to the congregation, except these whose office it is, not only to read the word of God, but to explain it to the edification of others, “So they read in the book, in the law of God distinctly, and gave the SENSE, and caused them” [namely, the people] “to understand the reading.”

5. Why is the reading of the scriptures, apart by ourselves, necessary for every one?

Because the scriptures are a sword for defence; Ephesians 6:17 a lamp for direction; Psalm 119:105 and food for nourishment: Jeremiah 15:16 in all which respects they are necessary for every Christian travelling Zion-ward. 2 Timothy 3:16–17

6. May not the reading the scriptures in our families, supersede the reading of them apart by ourselves?

No: the doing of the one ought by no means to justle out the other.

7. What is essentially requisite in order to capacitate the unlearned to read the scriptures?

That they be “translated out of the original into vulgar languages,” [Larger Cat. Quest. 156.]

8. “How is the word of God to be read?”

“The holy scriptures are to be read with a high and reverend esteem of them; Nehemiah 8:5 with a firm persuasion that they are the very word of God; 2 Peter 1:21 and that he only can enable us to understand them,” Luke 24:45 [Larger Cat. Quest. 157.]

9. Why should we read the scriptures with an high and reverend esteem of them?

Because they are dictated by the Holy Ghost, and are able to make us wise unto salvation.

10. Why should we read them with a firm persuasion that they are the very word of God?

Because, without this, we can never build our hope upon them, as containing the words of eternal life.

11. Why should we read them with a persuasion that God only can enable us to understand them?

Because, without this, we cannot exercise a dependance upon him, for that spiritual and internal illumination, which is necessary to a saving and experimental knowledge of them.

12. “By whom is the word of God to be preached?”

“—Only by such as are sufficiently gifted, Malachi 2:7 and also duly approved and called to that office,” Romans 10:15; 1 Timothy 4:14 [Larger Cat. Quest. 158.]

13. Who are they that are sufficiently gifted?

They are such as are not only of a blameless moral walk, and “have a good report of them that are without,” 1 Timothy 3:7 but likewise such as have a competent stock of human literature; Titus 1:9 and are, in the judgment of charity, reputed to be pious and religious men. 2 Timothy 1:5

14. What is it to be duly approved and called to that office?

It is not only to be approved by the presbytery, who have the sole power of trying the ministerial qualifications, and of ordination to that office; 1 Timothy 4:14 but likewise to have the call and consent of the people, who are to be under the pastoral inspection and charge. Acts 1:23; 14:23

15. “How is the word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto?”

“They are to preach sound doctrine diligently,—plainly,—faithfully,—wisely,—zealously,—and sincerely.” [Larger Cat. Quest. 159.]

16. What are we to understand by sound doctrine?

The whole system of divine truth, contained in the holy scriptures, or evidently deducible therefrom; particularly, whatever has the greatest tendency to depreciate self, and to exalt Christ, who ought to be the main and leading subject of all gospel-preaching.

17. What is it to preach sound doctrine diligently?

It is to be instant “in season, and out of season,” 2 Timothy 4:2 [Ibid.] embracing every opportunity of doing good to souls; and watching for them, as they that must give account. Hebrews 13:17

18. What is it to preach plainly?

It is to essay it “not in enticing words of mens wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power,” [Ibid.]

19. What is it to preach the word faithfully?

It is a “making known the whole counsel of God, (or at least a not shunning to do so),” [Ibid.]

20. When may ministers be said to preach wisely?

When in studying, or preaching, they are wholly taken up in “applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers,” [Larger Cat. Quest. 159.]

21. When do they preach the word zealously?

When they do it “with fervent love to God, and the souls of his people,” [Ibid.]

22. How is the word preached sincerely?

When there is an “aiming at God’s glory,” and his people’s “conversion, edification, and salvation,” [Ibid.]

23. WHO is it that makes the reading and preaching of the word effectual to salvation?

[THE SPIRIT OF GOD], “The things of God knoweth no man, but the SPIRIT of God.”

24. How doth he make them effectual?

By accompanying them with his divine power upon the soul.

25. What is it that the Spirit of God makes the reading and preaching of the word an effectual means of?

He makes them an effectual means [of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.]

26. Whether doth the Spirit make more frequent and ordinary use of the reading, or of the preaching of the word, for these valuable ends?

He makes more frequent and ordinary use of the [preaching] of the word; and therefore there is an ESPECIALLY prefixed to it in the answer.

27. How do you prove, that the preaching of the word is honoured as the most ordinary mean?

From express scripture testimony to this purpose, “Many of them which heard the word, believed.” Acts 4:4 “And some of them—spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” Acts 11:20–21 [See also Acts ii. 37. and vi. 7.]

28. May not people be more edified in reading good sermons at home, than in hearing, from the pulpit, such as are not, perhaps, so well digested?

If they are in health, and not necessarily detained from the public ordinances, they have no ground to expect any real and saving benefit to their souls, in the neglect of hearing the word preached; because it pleases God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21 And faith cometh by HEARING. Romans 10:17

29. What use doth the Spirit make of the reading, but especially of the preaching of the word, with reference to [sinners] in a natural state?

He makes use thereof as an effectual means of [convincing and converting] them.

30. What doth the Spirit convince sinners of by the word?

Of their sin and misery. [See Part I. on Effectual calling.]

31. Whether is it by the word of the law, or the word of the gospel, that the Spirit convinces of sin?

It is ordinarily by the word of the law, “By the LAW is the knowledge of sin.”

32. What of sin doth the Spirit convince sinners by the law?

Both of the nature and desert of sin.

33. Wherein consists the nature of sin?

In the want of conformity unto, and transgression of the law of God. [See Part I. on Sin in general.]

34. What is the desert of sin?

The wrath and curse of God, both in this life, and that which is to come. [See above, on The desert of sin.]

35. How doth the Spirit convince men effectually, by the word, that they are sinners?

By convincing them therefrom, that they are unbelievers, “He [the Spirit] will reprove [or convince] the world of sin, because they believe not in me,” John 16:8–9 saith our Lord.

36. What influence has a conviction of unbelief, upon convincing a person, that he is indeed a sinner?

Were once a person convinced, that unbelief is a rejecting of the only method of salvation, devised in infinite wisdom; or a treating of God’s unspeakable gift, offered in the word, with the utmost contempt; he could not but conclude himself, on account thereof, to be the greatest of sinners, and that he deserved the sorest of punishments.

37. How doth the Spirit make the word an effectual means of [converting] sinners?

By making use of it to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God.

38. Do all convictions of sin issue in conversion?

Far from it: many may be very deeply convinced of sin by the law, and yet never have a thorough change wrought upon their heart; as in the instances of Cain, Judas, and others.

39. What is conversion?

It is the spiritual motion of the whole man, toward a God in Christ, as the immediate effect of the real and supernatural change, that is wrought in regeneration.

40. Is there any difference between conversion and regeneration?

They are as inseparably conjoined, as the effect is to its cause. Regeneration, or the formation of the new creature (wherein we are wholly passive) is the cause; and conversion, or the motion of the soul to God, is the effect, which infallibly follows thereupon.

41. Cannot man be the author of his own conversion?

No: he can neither prepare himself for it, nor co-operate with God therein.

42. Why can he not prepare himself for it?

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, ay and until regenerating grace take place in the soul.

43. Why cannot man co-operate with God in this work?

Because there can be no acting, without a principle of action. Regeneration, being the infusing of spiritual life into the soul, it is impossible the creature can co-operate or concur with God therein, any more than Lazarus in the grave could concur in his own resurrection, till the powerful voice of Christ infused life and strength in him.

44. What would be the consequence, if man could co-operate with God in regeneration?

The consequence would be, that God would not be so much the author of grace, as he is of nature; nor have such a revenue of glory from the one, as from the other.

45. How are regeneration and conversion denominated in scripture, to prove that God only can be the author of them?

They are called a creation, Ephesians 2:10 and a resurrection. Ephesians 5:14

46. Why called a creation?

Because there is nothing in the heart of man, out of which the new creature can be formed; “Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart being only evil continually,”

47. Why called a resurrection?

Because it is God only “who quickeneth the dead, and calleth the things which be not, as though they were,”

48. What influence has the word upon the conversion of sinners?

It has no physical or natural influence of itself, but only as it is an instituted mean, in the hand of the Spirit of God for that end.

49. What is the efficacy of the word [in the work of conversion] compared unto in scripture?

It is compared to a fire, to a hammer, Jeremiah 23:29 to rain, Deuteronomy 32:2 and to light. Psalm 119:105

50. Why compared to fire?

Because as fire purifies the metal, separating the dross; so the word, in the hand of the Spirit, purifies the heart, purging away the dross of sin and corruption that is there.

51. Why compared to a hammer?

In regard that as a hammer breaketh the rock in pieces, Jeremiah 23:29 and thereby fits it for the building; so the Spirit of God, by the word, breaks the hard heart of man, and fits it for being built on the foundation God has laid in Zion. Proverbs 16:1

52. Why compared to rain?

Because as the rain falls irresistibly; so there is no withstanding the efficacy of the word in the hand of the Spirit.

53. Why compared to light?

Because as light discovers things that were indiscernible in the dark; so the Spirit, by the word, discovers the latent wickedness of the heart, 1 Corinthians 14:25 and the matchless glory and excellency of Christ, as IMMANUEL, God with us. John 16:14

54. What use doth the Spirit make of the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, with reference to SAINTS, who are brought into a state of grace?

He makes use thereof as an effectual mean [of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation].

55. Is [holiness] necessary in order to our justification before God?

It is necessary in the justified, but not in order to their justification; because this would found their justification upon works, contrary to Rom. iii. 20. “By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight.” [See Part I. on sanctification, Quest. 45.]

56. Is it necessary as the ground of our title to heaven?

It is necessary to clear our title; but our title itself can be founded only in our union with Christ, and the imputation of his righteousness, “—All are yours, and ye are Christ’s;” 1 Corinthians 3:22–23 compared with Rom. viii. 30.—“Whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Romans 8:30

57. Why are the saints said to be built up in holiness?

Because the work of sanctification, like a building, is gradually carried on towards perfection at death.

58. How doth the Spirit make the reading and preaching of the word, an effectual mean of building up the saints in holiness?

By giving them, in the glass of the word, such clear and repeated discoveries of the glory of Christ, as thereby they are more and more transformed into the same image with him.

59. How doth he, by means of these ordinances, build them up in [comfort]?

By conveying with power unto their souls, the great and precious promises, which contain all the grounds of real and lasting comfort.

60. Through what instrument is it, that the Spirit makes these means effectual, for building up the saints in holiness and comfort?

It is [through faith].

61. What instrumentality has faith, in the hand of the Spirit, for building up the saints in holiness and comfort?

It rests upon God’s faithful word for the promoting of both, “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.”

62. Unto what end does the Spirit, by means of the word, build them up in holiness and comfort through faith?

It is unto their complete and eternal [salvation].

63. What may we learn from the Spirit’s making the means effectual to salvation?

That as no special blessing can be expected from God, in the wilful neglect of the ordinances, Proverbs 28:9 so we may sit all our days under a pure dispensation of the gospel, without reaping any spiritual profit, unless divine supernatural agency concur. 1 Corinthians 3:6