Signs and Seals of Gods Grace

1
Signs and Seals of Gods Grace

• Presbyterian Beliefs
• Sacraments

2
What is a sacrament?

• A sacrament is a holy sign and seal of the
  covenant of grace (WCF 271).
• Sign (John 211)
• Seal
• Mark (WCF 271)
• A sacrament confirms our interest in Christ
  (WCF 271)

3
How do sacraments work?

• Sacramental union between the sign and thing
  signified
• Relationship between OT and NT sacraments
  continuity and discontinuity
• Continuity the substance the same (WCF 275)
• Discontinuity the forms, the terms of
  admittance, the rules and regulations were
  changed.
• Important to distinguish between the validity and
  efficacy of a sacrament
• A sacrament is validwe have warrant to perform
  these sacramentsbecause God in his Word commands
  and promises us.
• A sacrament is efficaciousit worksbecause God
  the Spirit applies Christ and his benefits to us
  and causes us to receive these by faith.

4
Baptism Entrance into the Visible People of God

• Background issues
• Gods one covenant story
• The nature of the church visible/invisible
  distinctions
• God promised to call out households (Genesis 12,
  15, 171-14) circumcision given as a sign and
  seal of that promise.
• The promise was given before the sacrament and
  is not dependent upon it (Galatians 3).

5
Baptism Entrance into the Visible People of God

• In the NT, the content of Gods promise has not
  changed (Acts 238-39) what changed was the form
  and subjects of the sacrament.
• Form circumcision to baptism (Colossians
  211-12)
• Subjects males and females in the household of a
  professor (Acts 16 1 Corinthians 714)
• Distinction between validity and efficacy
• The validity of baptism tied to Gods promise to
  be a God to us and our household
• The efficacy of baptism tied to Gods Spirit
  working faith into us to claim Gods promise
  (done in Gods appointed time, not tied to the
  administration of the sacrament.

6
The Lords Supper Strength for the Journey

• The validity of the Supper 1 Corinthians 1120
  The Lords Supper is a sacrament, wherein, by
  giving and receiving bread and wine, according to
  Christs appointment, his death is showed forth
  (SC 96).
• The efficacy of the Supper a holy mystery (WCF
  298) tied to how we feed on Christs body

7
The Lords Supper Strength for the Journey

• What does not happen
• The bread and wine do not really, actually, truly
  become the body and blood of Christ
  (transubstantiation) (WCF 296).
• The bread and wine are not a re-enactment of
  Christs propitiatory sacrifice offered
  repeatedly to God (WCF 292).
• The body of Christ is not somehow in, with, or
  under the bread and wine (WCF 297).

8
The Lords Supper Strength for the Journey

• What does happen WCF 297
• 1. Worthy receivers (those who receive by
  faith) of the Supper receive and feed upon Christ
  crucified and all benefits of his death
• 2. The body and blood of Christ are as surely
  present to the faith of believers in the Supper
  as the elements themselves are to their outward
  senses.
• How is this the case?
• Not carnally or corporally, but spirituallythe
  Holy Spirit lifts our hearts to heaven to feed
  upon Christ (his presence) there by faith.
• This is a mystery that is felt, more than
  explained.
• What is the result?
• In the Supper, we receive and apply unto
  ourselves Christ crucified and all the benefits
  of his death by faith (LC 170).