Westminster Larger Catechism (Q 152-154)

Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday, in our weekly Sunday school lessons in the Westminster Larger Catechism (WLC), we studied and discussed questions 152-154. Here is a brief review.

WLC 152  What doth every sin deserve at the hands of God?
A. Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereignty, goodness, and holiness of God, and against his righteous law, deserveth his wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come; and cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ.

Having considered how particular sins are different from one another – how certain sins are more heinous than others in God’s sight (WLC 150-151) – we turn our attention now to what every sin has in common. Here, in this question and answer, we learn three things about the commonality of every sin.

(1) Every sin is against God’s Person (Romans 9:21; 1 Peter 1:14-16) and against His righteous law (1 John 3:4; Romans 7:12).

(2) Every sin deserves God’s wrath and curse in this life and the next (Galatians 3:10; Matthew 25:41).

(3) Sin can only be expiated (i.e., canceled or atoned for) by the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:17-10; Acts 4:10-12).

WLC 153  What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us by reason of the transgression of the law?
A. That we may escape the wrath and curse of God due to us by reason of the transgression of the law, he requireth of us repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, and the diligent use of the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation.

The bad news of WLC 152 is that, because of our sin, all men are condemned by God and are deserving of His wrath and curse. The good news, however, is that there is a way of escape. In order to escape God’s just wrath and curse, God requires repentance of our sins toward God (see WLC 176), faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ (see WLC 76), and a diligent use of the outward means of grace (those things that Christ uses to communicate the benefits of His gracious mediation to us). To encourage us in the use of the God’s appointed means of grace, the WLC appeals to the exhortations of Solomon to cry out for discernment and understanding (Proverbs 2:1-5) and the call of woman wisdom to heed instruction from the Lord (Proverbs 8:33-36).

WLC 154  What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation?
A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances; especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for their salvation.

Since the doctrine and necessity of repentance and faith was previously taught in the WLC, we now turn our attention to the outward and ordinary means of grace. First, we should note that the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of His mediation includes “all His ordinances.” Elsewhere in the WLC, these ordinances are said to include “church government and discipline” and ministry and worship of the church (WLC 108).

All of God’s ordinances are made effectual to the elect for their salvation; however, WLC 154 gives special attention to the ministry of the word, the sacraments, and prayer. In the Scriptures, we find a special emphasis on the use of these three outward and ordinary means of grace. In the giving of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), Jesus commands His church to make disciples of all the nations by means of baptizing (the sacrament of baptism) and teaching (the ministry of the word). And, in the early church (Acts 2:42-47), believers were continually devoting themselves to teaching (the ministry of the word), to the breaking of bread (the sacrament of the Lord’s supper), and to prayer.

Conclusion

The remainder of the WLC is an in-depth study of these outward and ordinary means of grace according to the following outline:

– Word (WLC 155-160)
– Sacraments (WLC 161-164)
– Baptism (WLC 165-167)
– The Lord’s Supper (WLC 168-175)
– Baptism & the Lord’s Supper (WLC 176-177)
– Prayer (WLC 178-185)
– The Lord’s Prayer (WLC 186-196)

I hope you will join us on Sunday mornings at 9:15 am in our study of the Westminster Larger Catechism!

The Lord be with you!
Pastor Peter M. Dietsch