Friday: July 16, 2021

Question 89: How is the Word made effectual to salvation?

Answer: 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.

Dear Neighbor,

Yesterday, I wrote that the bases for these final questions in the Westminster Shorter Catechism were set in the answer to question 88; therefore, even if the answers deviate, we will not, for this is the bases, the establishment of the church of Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:41-42

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The apostle Paul wrote to his apprentice Timothy: “Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.” (1 Tim. 4:13) Why? Because the apostle Paul understood, “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul.” (Ps. 19:7) The Hebrew word, תּוֹרָה (torah) translated into English, Law, means direction or instruction. Therefore, the Word is made effectual to salvation by directing the hearer to the incarnate Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, Law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless. (1 Tim 1:8-9) Whoever walks according to the flesh, is unrighteous, for the righteous man shall live by faith. (Rom. 1:17) For this reason the apostle Paul wrote, Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” It is through preaching the Word that we ensure salvation both for ourselves and for those who hear. (1 Tim. 4:16)

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake