Q: What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A: The word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.
2 Timothy 3:15-17: And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
I was discussing with a fellow member at Proclamation about how important these first two questions are to our faith. Indeed, these two questions are paramount to our existence as a church. We exist to worship, glorify, and enjoy God, and Scripture alone reveals to us how we may do so.
This question and answer emphasizes not only that the Word of God is inerrant, inspired, authoritative, and infallible, but it also emphasizes that it is fully sufficient. The full sufficiency of the Bible is an important aspect of the doctrine of "Sola Scriptura" that we can easily forget. As Evangelicals, we are quick to emphasize (though, unfortunately, less quick these days) Scripture's authority or infallibility, but really, not much has been said about the sufficiency of Scripture. Here, though, as the catechism sums up what Paul is writing in 2 Timothy 3, we see that the Bible is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy God. What is this saying? It is saying that in the pages of Scripture we are told how to live our lives. We are told how to worship God both privately and corporately. We are given everything within the pages of Scripture that we need for salvation, for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
That is it. The Bible alone has complete and final authority to guide us through the Christian life. Not human invention, not feelings, not popes and counsels, not personal revelation. Nothing but the Word of God is to be our rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy God. May we grow in our knowledge of the Word so that we may glorify and enjoy God in all things!