The Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q89. 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.[1]

Proofs

[1] Nehemiah 8:8; 1 Corinthians 14:24–25; Acts 26:18; Psalm 19:8; Acts 20:32; Romans 15:4;
2 Timothy 3:15–17; Romans 10:13–17; 1:16.

Comments

We have seen that the Reformed understanding of the means of grace is that though God bestows grace mediately, the means neither contain any power in and of themselves, nor are indispensable. Rather, they must be accompanied by the operation of the Holy Spirit in order to be effectual to the sinner. In the answer of this catechism, we see this to be true also in regards to the Word of God as a means of salvation.

The Word of God, we must remember, refers to what is inscripturated in the Old and New Testaments. By itself, of course, the Word has no power to save any. It must be conveyed to the ears and minds of the hearers by way of reading or preaching, and then conveyed to the heart by the operation of the Holy Spirit. Reading,—whether privately and personally, or publicly and audibly,—is an effective way of conveying the Word to our minds. Thus the Lord teaches us to “Search the scriptures” (Jn 5:39). However, effective as reading may be, the Scripture places even more emphasis on the preaching, rather than reading, of the Word as a means of grace. Thus the Apostle Paul charges Timothy: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Tim 4:2; cf. 1 Cor 1:21). This emphasis may appear surprising to us since we know that no ministers preach under inspiration today, and so no sermons are infallible or inerrant. Yet, the Holy Spirit is pleased to attend to the preaching of the Word and make the Word preached effectual unto the salvation of the hearers.

Note that the phrase “effectual unto salvation” does not only refer to unbelievers but to believers as well. The Word is made effectual unto salvation to sinners or unbelievers, to convince them of sin, and to convert them to Christ (1 Cor 14:24–25; Heb 4:12; Acts 2:37; Ps 19:7; Acts 2:41; etc.). On the other hand, for believers, the Word is effectual unto salvation, as it is a means of building them up in holiness and comfort through faith unto the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:11–13; Acts 20:32).

The Word builds up holiness in believers by (1) Challenging us to greater conformity unto the image of God (2 Cor 3:18; 1 Pet 2:2); (2) Reproving, correcting, instructing in righteousness, that we may be useful instruments of the Lord (2 Tim 3:16–17); (3) Pulling down strongholds in the soul, and subduing all thoughts and affections unto the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:4–5); (4) Strengthening us against the temptations of the devil and the corruptions of our own hearts (Eph 6:13, 17; Ps 119:9); and (5) Establishing us in the truths of God against heresies and falsehoods (Rom 16:25; Eph 4:14).

On the other hand, the Word comforts by (1) Filling our minds with comforting thoughts such as the promises of pardon and eternal life (Isa 40:1–2); and (2) Conveying to the soul the most sweet and unutterable joy of the Holy Ghost (1 Thes 1:6).