The last question of this Lord's day is "whence know you this?" We saw what type of mediator we needed to make satisfaction for us and our sins and were presented with our Lord Jesus Christ. And now we ask from where do we know this? We do so from the Gospel (broader than the Bible!)
Source: The Holy Gospel. The term is very unique to the catechism as one does not find those words in scripture. One finds Gospel many times however. The good news of salvation and the revelation of God made known through Christ unto us. We are discussing the Gospel that was present even before the Bible (the sacred writings) and it is far beyond the written Word! To lose a Bible is no big deal, but to lose the MESSAGE of the Gospel in that Word is much more serious! It is HOLY...separated and dedicated to a specific purpose. Set aside for the glory of God and the Gospel is Holy as it is God's endeavor as He has dedicated Himself unto His glory even in the redemption of His church unto Himself. The Gospel was preached in paradise even before the Bible! And it was preached to the patriarchs and the prophets. All the old testament pointed to Christ as it was a picture. All through history and even today!
Content: We preach Christ and Him crucified and that is the Gospel. The content and central message...the cross! The preaching of the Gospel as the power of salvation. Foolishness to many (and some do not even want it) but nevertheless the power used by God unto salvation! We can then answer where did we hear that? From the Gospel preached unto us at church! A very VITAL aspect of the church is the preaching of the Gospel as the church has been called to do!
Purpose: To make Himself known in Christ and to make known and reveal to us the one and only mediator of whom we need as He calls and touches the hearts of those chosen who will come to believe. (Read the Canons of Dort.)
Do we see the seriousness of the calling to preach the Gospel? Does the church take it of utmost importance? It is a VITAL part. Let us all deem it most precious!