The pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both. – John Calvin
The Holy Scriptures are not only true —and necessarily so— but they are the primary means by which the Church teaches, rebukes, corrects, and trains the members of the Body of Christ in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)
Let’s see what some of those look like in Scripture.
- Jesus teaches with the Word to better explain God’s Law and to announce the Kingdom of God (Matthew 5:17-48)
- When Jesus overturned the tables at the temple, He applied the Word to rebuke the money changers. (Matthew 21:12-13)
- Philip uses the Scriptures to teach the Ethiopian eunuch about the Gospel (Acts 8: 34-35)
- Paul exhorts the Ephesian elders to be charitable in all things and help the weak, while he stressed the importance of cheerful giving, with the words of Christ (Acts 20:33-35)
- Jesus speaks through John to commend the Church in Ephesus for their endurance, then again to rebuke them for the abandonment of the love they had at first. (Revelation 2:2-3)
So we see Jesus, Paul, and Phillip applying the Word of God to different people in different circumstances to accomplish different things. The Bible spans a wide swath of topics and has sufficient wisdom to speak into any given situation. Whatever your need is, the Word of God can effectively and sufficiently address it.
After examining the Scriptural examples, how is the Word applied to the Church today, and how does the Word witness to the Saints?
The Word of God witnesses to the Saints when we read and study it, when the Holy Spirit applies the truths contained therein to our consciences, and when He enables us to understand those truths. He also enables our desire to know, believe, and diligently obey the will of the Father as revealed in the Word. (WCF 1:5-6) He enables these things by the means of meditation, self-application, self-denial, and prayer.
The Word of God also witnesses to the Saints by means of public reading but especially preaching. (WLC Q155) The Holy Spirit uses these conduits of His Word as effectual means of His enlightening, convicting, and humbling the Church of the truths in Scripture. He uses the preached Word to drive churchgoers out of themselves and draw them closer to Christ, conforming them to Christ’s image and subduing them to His will. The applied Word of God is also a bastion of strength against temptations and corruptions, only in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Lastly, the beautiful benefits of being built up in grace, having our hearts established in holiness, and resting in the comfort of Christ through faith unto salvation are ours by the applying work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those sitting under the preached Word.
So when you’re sitting in a pew on Sunday, remember and give thanks to God for all the beauty and riches that are ours by the command of the Father, in Christ Jesus, and in the power of the Holy Spirit when we sit under the faithful preaching of God’s holy, perfect Word.
This is great- thank you!