I. The God-Ordained, Primary Means of Grace A89. The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching, of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation. • In the OT (2 Kgs 23; Psa. 119) • In the NT (Matt. 10:7; 28:18-20; 2 Tim. 4:1-2) • In the Patristic, Medieval, and Modern Eras
II. Dependent upon, Diverted from and, Deprived of the Word
• Dependent upon the preached Word (2 Kgs. 23; Acts 2:37ff) • Diverted from … (2 Tim. 4:3-5) • Deprived of … (Amos 8:11)
III. The Preeminent Preacher … since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God … and this word is the good news that was preached to you.—1 Pet. 1:23,25 (cf. 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Cor. 4:7) "I have preached righteousness in the great congregation."—Psa. 40:9 (KJV) |