The Sacraments

What is a Sacrament? I. WCF 27.1 Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, immediately instituted by God, to represent Christ and His benefits; and to confirm our interest in Him: also, to put a visible difference between those that belong unto the Church and the rest of the world; and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to His Word. II. WSC A92. A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ; [1] wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers

A. The word "sacrament": 1. "…a holy rite in general and in particular a soldier’s sacred oath of allegiance." Packer. 2. Eph 5:32 - Latin Vulgate uses Latin word "sacramentum" to translate Greek word musterion (mystery). "Sacrament” = rite conveying grace in a way superseding reason. B. "Holy ordinance": a God-given and commanded rite. III. The Different Views A. Sacerdotalism: priests/sacraments automatically convey grace. Ex opere operato: "from the work worked" ("by the doing it is done") B. Memoralism: no grace. Symbolic ordinances. C. Reformed: a means of grace when received in faith.

Four Functions of Sacraments I. Holy signs and seals of the CoG to represent Christ/His benefits A. CoG = 1 plan of redemption in Christ: the Gospel 1. Gn 3:15 (seed of woman); Gn 17 (Abe/seed) Mt 26 (Christ) 2. Abrahamic: God's covenant of grace established with Abraham/his offspring, wherein He promised the entire future of His covenantal kingdom, in both its old and new covenant stages. Gen 17:7–11. 7 I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring…for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring…1 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.

Gal 3:7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. …13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith…16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ. 17 …the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.

3. New Covenant: “God bringing forth the new creation in His people though the finished work of Christ, in fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.” a. Luk 22:20 "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." b. Rom 4:11 "He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well…" Col 2:11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. II. "Confirm our interest (our share) in Christ." (Rom 6:3-4) III. Put visible difference b/t the church and the world. (1Cor 10:21) IV. Engage us to God's service in Christ. (Rom 6:4)

II. "Confirm our interest (our share) in Christ." (Rom 6:3-4) Rom 6:3-4 "3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." III. Put visible difference b/t the church and the world. IV. Engage us to God's service in Christ. (Rom 6:4)

Sacraments as signs Sacraments as signs: Sacraments as signs are observable and tangible objects that direct our focus and faith to something beyond the sacrament itself. They direct us to: 1. To the Triune God who has redeemed us through the perfect life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who will return one day. 2. To all of the benefits that accrue to us by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, all to God’s glory alone.

Sacraments as seals The sacraments as seals 1. "The sacrament confirms or authenticates (“seals”) that which it points to (“signifies”). It is God’s reassurance to us that sinners are acceptable to Him by means of faith in His promise." - Bahnsen 2. On a passport, the seal of the U.S. indicates that the authority of the U.S. gov't stands behind the passport in affirming that the person is a true citizen of the United States. 3. Reymond: Just as God confirmed…his promise to Abraham by an additional oath, so also God confirms, certifies, authenticates, and guarantees the promised verities of this covenant… By adding the confirming seal of [the sacraments] to it.

The relation between the sign and thing signified I. WCF There is, in every sacrament, a spiritual relation, or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified: [so] that the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other. A. "It is this spiritual union that constitutes the essence of the sacrament, and it is because of this union that the sacraments confer grace when they are received in faith. It is also because of this union that the names and effects of the signs and seals are attributed to the spiritual graces and vice versa." – Reymond 1. Matt 26:27-28 this is my body...this is my blood Pet 3:21. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus

How sacraments are effectual means of grace I. WCF 27.3 The grace which is exhibited in or by the sacraments rightly used, is not conferred by any power in them; neither does the efficacy of a sacrament depend upon the piety or intention of him that does administer it: but upon the work of the Spirit, and the word of institution, which contains, together with a precept authorizing the use thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receivers. Reymondd: "the position advocated urges that the sacraments become effectual means of salvation for the elect only as Christ blesses them and as the Spirit works in them who by faith receive them." (i.e., worthy receivers).

II. The Word and sacraments both means of grace, but, "The Word does indeed take priority over the sacraments in that the word: [1] Is essential to salvation while the sacraments are not, [2] Begets and strengthens faith while the sacraments only strengthen it, and [3] intended for the whole world, while the sacraments are only for the church." Reymond

27.5 The sacraments of the OT (circumcision and Passover) in regard of the spiritual things thereby signified and exhibited, were, for substance, the same with those of the new. A. Circumcision/baptism connection: cf Gen 17:10 w/Rom 4:9-11; Col 2:11-12; Gal 3:27 (note mention of baptism in context of discussion of circumcision, and then how Paul says sign of covenant now applied to male & female). B. Passover/Lord's Supper connection: cf Exodus 12 w/Matt Matt 26:17-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22: Context is Passover meal. Jesus changes the symbolism.