Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 155
Question 155
How is the word made effectual to salvation?
The Spirit of God makes 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.
Scripture references for paragraph 1
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Nehemiah 8:88So they read from the Book of the Law of God, explaining it and giving insight, so that the people could understand what was being read.
Acts 26:1818to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
Psalms 19:88The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
1 Corinthians 14:24-2524But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,
25and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”
2 Chronicles 34:18-1918Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.
19When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes
2 Chronicles 34:26-2826But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘As for the words that you heard,
27because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and because you have humbled yourself before Me and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you,’ declares the LORD.
28‘Now I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.’” So they brought her answer back to the king.
Acts 2:3737When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Acts 2:4141Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.
Acts 8:27-3927So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
28and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.
29The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”
30So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
33In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.”
34“Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”
35Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?”
38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.
2 Corinthians 3:1818And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 10:4-64The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
6And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete.
Romans 6:1717But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed.
Matthew 4:44But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Matthew 4:77Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Matthew 4:1010“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
Ephesians 6:16-1716In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Psalms 19:1111By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.
1 Corinthians 10:1111Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
Acts 20:3232And 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 who are sanctified.
2 Timothy 3:15-1715From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.
Romans 1:1616I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
Romans 10:13-1713for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?
15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
16But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”
17Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Romans 15:44For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.
Romans 16:2525Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past
1 Thessalonians 3:22We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
1 Thessalonians 3:10-1110Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking from your faith.
11Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.
1 Thessalonians 3:1313so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.
Source and edition
Westminster Larger Catechism. NonlinearFruit/Creeds.json, Unlicense. Creeds.json, English transcription
Unlicense. Source transcription.
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