FAQs Mondays: How Does God Reveal the Benefits of Redemption? Part 1

Last week, we answered the question, "How does a sinner escape the wrath of God?"  You can read that post here.  We were reminded that "To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requires of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward and ordinary means where by Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption."  Last week's post focused on faith and repentance.  This week's post begin a short series of posts that deal with the outward and ordinary means that God uses to show us Christ.  So this week we begin to answer the question, "How does God reveal the benefits of redemption?"

What are the outward and ordinary means by which Christ communicates to us the benefits of Redemption?

The outward and ordinary means by which Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption are his ordinances, especially the Word, Baptism, the Lord's Supper and Prayer; all of which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.  Acts 2:41-42 tells us, "So those who received his word were baptized, and there was added that day about three thousand souls.  And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." Paul explains, "So faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Rom. 10:17).  James explains, "Of his own will he [God] brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creation" (Jam. 1:18).

How is the Word made effective for salvation?

The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of convincing sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith unto salvation.  The David informs, "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony the LORD is sure, making wise the simple" (Ps. 19:7).  The Psalmist states, "I have stored your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. . . . Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law" (Ps. 119: 11, 18).  Paul states, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greeks" (Rom. 1:16).  Again Paul states, "And you became imitators of us, and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit" (1 Thes. 1:6).  Peter says, "So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.  Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation" (1 Pet. 2:1-2).

How is the Word to be read and heard that it may become effective for salvation?

That the Word may become effective for salvation we must attend to it with diligence, preparation and prayer, receive it in faith and love, lay it up in our hearts and practice it in our lives.  Wisdom says, "Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors" (Prov. 8:34). Paul states, "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching" (1 Tim. 4:13).  The author of Hebrews states, "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. . . . How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard" (Heb. 2:1, 3).  He also says, "For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened" (Heb. 4:2).  James commands, "Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (Jam. 1:21).

Summary

This week we began looking at the outward and ordinary means through which the benefits of redemption are communicated to us.  We focused on the first one, the Word.  Next week, we'll start to look at Baptism and the Lord's supper for the second part of our question, "How does God reveal the benefits of redemption?"