IV. Of the Word of God

Q296. Our method of instruction now calls us to address the fourth part of the honor we owe to God.

We said that this honor consists in acknowledging God as the source of all good, and in confessing His goodness, justice, wisdom, and power through praise and thanksgiving, so that the fullness and glory of every blessing may remain in Him.

Q297. What rule has He given us for this duty?

The praises of God recorded in Scripture should serve as our guide.

Q298. Does the Lord's Prayer contain anything that relates to this duty?

Yes. When we pray that His name be sanctified, we are asking that His glory be made visible in everything He does: that His mercy would be seen in forgiving sinners, His justice in punishing them, and His faithfulness in keeping every promise He has made to His people. Ultimately, we are asking that whatever we see of His works would move us to glorify Him. This is what it truly means to give Him praise for every blessing we receive.

Q299. What conclusion should we draw from everything we have discussed so far?

The conclusion that truth itself teaches, and the same one I put forward at the beginning: that eternal life consists in knowing the only true God, the Father, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent (John 17:3). To know Him, I mean, in a way that leads us to give Him the honor and worship He deserves, not only as our Lord, but as our Father and Savior. And in turn, to know ourselves as His children and servants, and therefore to dedicate our lives to the celebration of His glory.

Q300. How do we arrive at something so great?

For this purpose, God has given us His holy Word. His spiritual teaching is the door through which we enter His heavenly kingdom.

Q301. Where do we find this Word?

In the holy Scriptures, where it is contained.

Q302. How must we engage with the Word in order to benefit from it?

We must receive it with a firm and settled conviction of heart, as the very truth delivered to us from heaven. We must make ourselves teachable, submitting both our minds and our wills to its authority. We must love it sincerely, so that, being written on our souls, it takes deep root and bears fruit in how we actually live. When we are shaped by this standard, the Word becomes our salvation, just as it was always intended to be.

Q303. Are any of these things within our own power?

Not one of them. It belongs to God alone, through the grace of His Holy Spirit, to accomplish in us everything I have described.

Q304. But shouldn't we be diligent and strive with real earnestness, through reading, hearing, and meditating, so that we might grow in this?

Yes, absolutely. Each person should not only exercise themselves in private reading every day, but should also, with special attention, regularly hear sermons in public gatherings where the doctrine of salvation is explained.

Q305. You're saying, then, that it isn't enough for someone to read on their own at home, but that everyone must gather together to hear the same doctrine.

When the opportunity is given, assembling together is a duty.

Q306. Can you prove this to me?

The will of God alone should be more than sufficient proof. He established this practice for His Church, not so that only two or three would observe it, but so that all would be subject to it together. Beyond that, He declares this to be the only means by which His Church is built up and preserved. This should therefore be a sacred and unbreakable rule for us: no one has the right to set themselves up as wiser than their Master.

Q307. Is it necessary, then, that there be pastors in the churches?

Yes, and it is our duty to hear them and to receive from their mouths, with reverence and humility, the teachings of Christ that they proclaim. Those who despise them or refuse to hear them are, in effect, despising Christ Himself and fracturing the unity of the community of believers.

Q308. Is it enough for a person to have been instructed by their pastor once, or should this continue throughout life?

Starting without persevering is pointless. We are called to be disciples of Christ to the very end, or rather, without end. And He has entrusted this office to the ministers of the Church so that they would teach us in His name and on His behalf.