Shorter Catechism Qs. 88–90
Q. 88. What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?
A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption are, his ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.
Q. 89. How is the Word made effectual to salvation?
A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching, of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.
Q. 90. How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?
A. That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.
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Simon Peter answered [Jesus], “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68–69)
And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16)
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Our God is a giving God. He supplies us everything we need to fulfill his commandments. Of course, this is the heart of the gospel. He gave us Jesus Christ, whose active obedience (perfect obedience to God’s Law) is imputed to us as our righteousness. Thus the righteousness that God demands from us is supplied to us freely through Jesus Christ. In fact, we never really understand God unless we know him as one who gives everything we need: righteousness for eternal life, and strength for the present life.
Our heavenly Father’s giving heart is no where more clearly seen than in the ordinances he has given us. Chief among the many gifts he gave us are the Word, sacraments, and prayer. It is a little bit unfortunate to call them “ordinances,” because to us the word “ordinance” has somewhat of a restrictive connotation. After all, when was the last time an ordinance (e.g. civic ordinance) filled us with joy?
But not so with God’s ordinances. God instituted especially three things and ordered them to be the means by which we receive strength for our daily life. “Ordinary means of grace” in this sense does not mean “not special,” but shares the basic meaning of “ordinance,” which is something decreed by God.
The three things God has ordained (this word also shares the same basic meaning) for such use are the Word, sacraments, and prayer. In the weeks to come we will discuss the sacraments and prayer. For now we focus on God’s Word.
One of the greatest blessings we enjoy is the easy access we have to God’s Word. It was not always so. In times past, as well as many places in the world today, people simply did not have access to God’s Word. Sometimes people were forbidden, as is the case still today in some places. Sometimes God’s Word was simply not available because they were not translated into common languages (again, this is still the case today in many places). But a typical English speaker today has no lack of access to the Bible. Local libraries stock them without an exception. We can read it for free online. There are even people who give away Bibles for free!
If so, we certainly need to recognize God’s kindness to us in making his Word so readily available to us. And not squandering the gift or the opportunity, apply ourselves to study God’s Word. By the way, you do know that studying God’s Word is actually good for you, don’t you? God’s Word is the means by which he communicates to us the benefits of redemption!
So, then, how should we read and hear God’s Word?
First, with diligence, preparation, and prayer. God gave us his Word because he wants us to learn. That means the essential meaning of God’s Word is not beyond our grasp. Yet we need to apply our due diligence to study. In the same way we encourage our children to apply themselves to practice and study their school subjects, we need to remind ourselves to do the same. There are, indeed, some things in the Bible that are difficult, and by God’s providence not everyone reaches the same level of understanding. In those matters we need to be humble. Just because we don’t understand something in the Bible does not mean the authority shifts from the Word to us. Be humble, stand firm on what you do know, and with prayer and humility seek to understand better.
Second, we read and hear with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives. It means we read and hear God’s Word not only with our minds to gather information, but also with our heart. Love the One who speaks in the Word. Obey the One who commands in the Word. Only when both our mind and heart are engaged do we experience the power of God’s Word to give us understanding, life, and joy.
Here are some practical questions. Are you joyful in the Lord? If you are not, there may be a number of reasons. But we should certainly examine how we read and hear God’s Word. Is it with gratitude you read and hear? Is it with humility? Do you listen to find fault in others? Listen rather to gain a better understanding of what you are without Christ, and what you are in Christ.