Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.

• Psalm 19:7

The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it gives understanding to the simple.

• Psalm 119:130

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

• Hebrews 4:12

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

• 1 Thessalonians 1:6

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

• Romans 1:16

Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past,

• Romans 16:25

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

• Acts 20:32

The Larger Catechism has seven points for this question and biblical proofs for each point.  I will only provide the biblical references so that you can look them up at your leisure.  The bold text indicates that these biblical proofs are shared with the Shorter Catechism.

1. Jer. 23:28, 29; Heb. 4:12; Acts 17:11, 12; Acts 26:18.
2. Acts 2:37, 41; Acts 8:27–38.
3. II Cor. 3:18; Col. 1:27.
4. II Cor. 10:4, 5; Rom. 6:17.
5. Ps. 19:11; Col. 1:28; Eph. 6:16, 17; Matt. 4:7, 10.
6. Eph. 4:11, 12; Acts 20:32; II Tim. 3:15, 16; I Cor. 3:9–11.
7. Rom. 16:25; I Thess. 3:2, 13; Rom. 10:14–17.

“Q. 72. How is the Word made effectual to salvation?
“A. The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of convicting and converting sinners, (Ps. 19:7) and of building them up in holiness and comfort (1 Thess. 1:6), through faith to salvation.” (Rom. 1:16).”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon’s Catechism (Scripture proofs in bold above)

“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.”

• The Shorter Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

“Q. 155. 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 enlightening, convincing, and humbling sinners, of driving them out of themselves, and drawing them unto Christ, of conforming them to his image, and subduing them to his will; of strengthening them against temptations and corruptions; of building them up in grace, and establishing their hearts in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation.”

• The Larger Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

The Spurgeon Catechism and the Shorter Catechism are the same except for one verb (convincing versus convicting), and the Shorter Catechism adds a few extra biblical proofs throughout.  The Larger Catechism is wordier.  The Larger Catechism adds seven points, each with their own biblical proofs that are listed for extra research, if you desire.  Oddly, there are no biblical proofs that are shared by all three catechisms.

Like some of the past questions where the Larger Catechism expands, the expansion is in clarifying what is meant by some of the language used in the Shorter catechism (and thus, the Spurgeon Catechism).

The difference in the words convicting versus convincing might not make much difference with most people.  But if I am convinced that something is true on an intellectual basis, I might not act upon it.  I might need that half step more that causes me to be compelled to act upon that act of being convinced.  I think the word “convict” gives a more visceral and meaningful connotation.  Not only are you convinced, you are motivated to act on it, “convicted.”

But where the Larger Catechism comes in handy is to illustrate what becoming a Christian, or really the sanctification process is.  We must approach God humbly.  We must strive to become more like Jesus, and we should work toward God’s will and not what we want out of the situation.  It is not unheard of that our will and God’s will may mesh, but the humility and being more like Jesus means that we keep checking to see if we are still on the right track.  Thus, we fight off the corruptions as much as we use God’s strength to fight off temptations.

And while we fight off temptations, we may start becoming legalistic, but we need to focus on Grace.  And the closer we get to having our heart right with God, we will start to understand the concept of holiness, which we will not fully know until we are with Him.

And the comment about “especially the preaching” is important, but not a guarantee these days.  There are a lot of pastors that do not preach biblical sermons, others who do not interpret the Bible properly.  But that is one reason those words are in the catechism answer.  If we rely on our own understanding alone, without a wise and learned mentor, we could lead ourselves away from the true God.  So, in being led by good preaching, know that the preaching is good, not just something soothing to the ear.  That convicting part is not soothing.  Realizing that I am a sinner and I needed to change was hard to hear and harder to do, impossible without God’s help.

And now let us sing.

The following song is sung by Eclipse 6, Abide with Me.  They sing the first two verses shown below and then the third verse of the version in one of my hymnals but is not shown below.  I hope that is not too confusing.

“Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness
Where is death’s sting?
Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee
In life, in death, o Lord, abide with me
Abide with me, abide with me”

• Henry F. Lyte, Abide with Me

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
You are all we need.  We need to read Your Word more.  What we need is in Your Word.  Convict us of our sins.  We need that, but convict us of our laziness and our excuses in not reading Your Holy Word more.  There are no excuses for most of us.  Most of us have the Bible in an audio form and we can have it read to us.  Yet, even then, the noise of the world drowns out the message.  Help us, oh, Lord.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.