Lord’s Day 27: The Word of God Heard and the Sacraments
94: 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 convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation.
(Neh. 8:8; Acts 26:18; Ps. 19:8; Acts 20:32; Rom. 1: 15, 16, 10: 13, 14, 15, 16, 17; 15:4; 1 Cor. 14:24, 25; 1 Tim. 3:15, 16, 17)
95: How is the word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?
That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend unto it with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.
(Pr. 8:34; 1 Pet. 2:1, 2; Ps. 119:18; Heb. 4:2; 2 Thes. 2:10; Ps. 119:18; Luke 8:15; James 1:25)
96: How do baptism and the Lords supper become effectual means of salvation?
Baptism and the Lords supper become effectual means of salvation, not for any virtue in them, or in him that administers them, but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of the Spirit in those that by faith receive them.
(1 Pet. 3:21; Mt. 3:11; 1 Cor. 3:6, 7; 1 Cor. 12:3; Mt. 28:19)