Introduction

We come now to the end of the first major division of the catechism. Questions 1-6 deal with introductory matters on God and revelation. In this article, we will explore questions 5 and 6 in detail.

Body

Question 5

 A. Question and Answer

Q. 5. May all men make use of the Holy Scriptures?

A. 5. All men are not only permitted but commanded and encouraged to read, hear, and understand the Holy Scriptures. (John 5:38; John 17:17-19; Revelation 1:3; Acts 8:30)

B. Exposition

i. Men are commanded and encouraged to make use of the Holy Scriptures.

While being tempted by the Devil, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Without the Scriptures, man is left to toil, vanity, and sin (Ecclesiastes 1:2, 9). From the introduction of John’s Revelation, we find three ways to make use of the Scriptures and be blessed by them: read them, hear them, and understand them (Revelation 1:3).

The Scriptures should be made use of because they are breathed out by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17), they make one wise unto salvation (2 Timothy 3:14-15), they are true (Proverbs 30:5), and they give understanding (Psalm 119:9-10, 30). Furthermore, they should be made use of because God commanded them to be made use of (Revelation 2:29). It is a universal duty to make use of the Scriptures (Deuteronomy 32:1; 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 3:15).

You must make use of the Holy Scriptures. Let’s consider each of the three ways stated by John and the Baptist Catechism.

ii. Men are commanded and encouraged to read the Holy Scriptures.

The Ethiopian eunuch sets us a good example when he reads the Scriptures to himself (Acts 8:28). Similarly, the Bereans are given as good examples for hearing the apostles’ preaching and then comparing it with the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). They would have to read the Scriptures to compare the preaching of the apostles to them.

Moses is commanded to read God’s Word to all of Israel (Deuteronomy 31:11). Paul wanted his letters to be read allowed not only to one church but multiple (Colossians 4:16). He also demanded that Timothy give himself not only to the preaching of Scripture but also to the public reading of Scripture (1 Timothy 4:13). A king of Israel was to give himself to reading Scripture daily (Deuteronomy 17:19). We would be wise to do what many of them failed to do. To neglect the Scriptures leads to error and sin (Matthew 22:29). Reading God’s Word brings blessing (Revelation 1:3).

You must make use of the Holy Scriptures by reading them.

iii. Men are commanded and encouraged to hear the Holy Scriptures.

According to Jesus, there is blessing in hearing and doing God’s Word (Luke 11:28). John says the same thing of his Revelation (Revelation 1:3; Revelation 22:7). Saving faith most often comes from hearing God’s Word preached (Romans 10:17).

The child of God and the child of the Devil can be distinguished by whether they hear God’s Word or not (John 8:47). Through hearing God’s Word, the gentiles came to salvation in Christ (Acts 10:33-48). The one who has ears for God’s Word should hear it (Mark 4:9). The one who builds his life on anything but the Word of God builds it on sand (Matthew 7:24, 26). The members of Jesus’ family are those who hear and do God’s Word (Luke 8:21).

The Word is to be heard with gladness (Mark 12:37), faith (2 Chronicles 20:20), and meekness (James 1:21). The hearing of the Word is to be followed with obedience to the Word (James 1:19-25). There should be a desire in the Christian to hear the word again and again (Acts 13:35). The one who refuses to hear God’s Word brings destruction upon himself (Proverbs 13:13).

You must make use of the Holy Scriptures by reading and hearing them.

iv. Men are commanded and encouraged to understand the Holy Scriptures.

It is expected that the reader of the Scriptures should understand it (Matthew 24:15). That said, not all parts are as easy to understand as others (2 Peter 3:16). Thus, the hearer and reader of Scripture should earnestly seek to understand the Scriptures (Proverbs 2:1-5). Likewise, they should also pray for understanding (Psalm 119:18, 27, 73, 108, 144).

You must make use of the Holy Scriptures by reading, hearing, and understanding them. Now, consider some applications of this question.

C. Uses

i. Prioritize the weekly gathering with your local church.

ii. Practice the public reading and hearing of Scripture within the gathering of your local church.

iii. Pick a manageable Bible reading plan.

iv. Commission others to pray for you and hold you accountable.

v. Pray for God the Holy Spirit to illuminate His Word. 

Now let’s briefly consider question 6.

Question 6

 A. Question and Answer

Q. 6. What are the Holy Scriptures mainly about?

A. 6. The Holy Scriptures are mainly about what man should believe about God and what duty God requires of man. (2 Timothy 1:13; 3:15, 16)

B. Exposition

A detailed exposition of the answer to this question will be given by studying questions 7-86. Questions 7-43 discuss what man should believe about God, and questions 44-86 will discuss what duty God has required. The remaining questions, 87-114, will discuss our inability to fulfill our duty, the necessity to believe the gospel, and the need to use the means of grace. That said, let’s consider the necessity of right belief and right duty in the life of the Christian

Paul instructs Timothy to “follow the pattern of sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13). The pattern of sound words that includes both the faith and the love that are in Christ Jesus. Faith is the matters of belief and love is the matters of obedience. Later in the same letter, Paul charges Timothy to continue in what he learned and believed from childhood, which came from the Scriptures. These Scriptures were able to make him wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 3:14-15). He should continue in the Scriptures, and what is taught by them because they not only make a man wise unto salvation but being God-breathed, they also are able to make the man of God complete and equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Again, right belief bears fruit in right duty. The clearest expression of both is within the Scriptures (James 2:14-26).

A man cannot fulfill the duty God requires without believing what He should about God (Hebrews 11:6). Such right believing does not come apart from the preaching of God’s Word (Romans 10:14, 15, 17), which is infallibly found in the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-17). His word alone proves to always be true (Proverbs 30:5). Christ alone is our instructor, and He speaks in and through the Holy Scriptures (Matthew 23:10; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 19:7-9). We must check every word and “gospel” given to us with the Holy Scriptures as our guide (Galatians 1:8; Acts 17:11).

Any cursory reading of the Holy Scripture will find that it is primarily about what should be believed about God and what duty God requires of man. These concepts are found in both Testaments. Thus, beginning with the next question, we will dive into what a man should believe about God.

The Scriptures are primary about what man should believe about God and what duty God requires of man.

C. Uses

i. As you read Scripture ask, “What does this passage tell or teach me about God?”

ii. As you read Scripture ask, “What does this passage call me to do?”

Conclusion

Q. 1. Who is the first and greatest of beings? God is the first and greatest of beings.

Q. 2. Should everyone believe there is a God? Everyone should believe there is a God, and it is their great sin and folly who do not.

Q. 3. How do we know there is a God? The light of nature in man and the works of God declare there is a God, but His Word and Spirit only do it fully and effectually for the salvation of sinners.

Q. 4. What is the Word of God? The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God and the only certain rule of faith and obedience.

Q. 5. May all men make use of the Holy Scriptures? All men are not only permitted, but commanded and encouraged to read, hear, and understand the Holy Scriptures.

Q. 6. What are the Holy Scriptures mainly about? The Holy Scriptures are mainly about what man should believe about God and what duty God requires of man.

With these questions and answers, we have covered the introductory matters of the faith once for delivered for the saints. We shall begin wading into the deep pool of Scripture, discussing what we should believe about God and what duty we owe to God. We shall then discover our own sinfulness, our need for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the grace God shows in saving sinners like you and me. Even now, listener, do not forget God’s Son Jesus Christ, who became man, lived righteously, died sacrificially, rose victoriously, ascended gloriously, intercedes powerfully, and will return triumphantly. He alone saves sinners. He is who the Scriptures bear witness to who makes dead sinners into living saints. May God help us all to consider, remember, and take hold of Christ Jesus our Redeemer.