Sacraments Exam

Question 1

What is a sacrament and what are the two parts of a sacrament?

Answer 1

.Sacraments are signs and seals of the covenant of Grace instituted by God to represent, seal and apply Christ and his benefits to believers. The 2 parts are the Sign and the thing signified. Should be a sensible outward sign pointing to an inward spiritual grace.

Question 2

What are the Old Testament precursors of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism.

Answer 2

OT - precurser L.S - Passover

NT - precurser Baptims - Circumcision.

Question 3

In what ways can the sacraments be referred to as a means of grace?

Answer 3

The sacraments are a means of grace in that they are continuous instruments of God’s saving grace. The Spirit and the Word are the dispensers of Grace where the sacraments are the instruments or vehicles which carry that grace to each believer.

Question 4

What are the blessings and curses of a sacrament?

Answer 4

.Blessings are the representing/sealing and application of Christ and his benefits. Because the sacraments are Holy Ordinances the curses are the judgment of God when the sacrament is received in an unworthy manner.

Question 5

Can the sacraments be ordinarily administered apart from a congregational worship service?

Answer 5

No.

Question 6

Are there exceptioinal circumstances in which you would administer a sacrament apart from a worship service, and if so, how?

Answer 6

If someone is sick or a shut-in and cannot attend the congregational worship I would bring the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper to them. It would accompany however, the reading of the word and prayer.

Question 7

Who can administer the sacraments? explain your answer?

Answer 7

A Minister of the Word who is lawfully ordained. These are Teaching Elders who have been examined in areas of doctrine and Bible and are held accountable by the Presbytery to adminster them properly.

Question 8

How does the Reformed view of Infant Baptism differ from the Roman Catholic view?

Answer 8

.Reformed view and Roman Catholic view differ significantly when it comes to its efficacy. The Roman Catholics believe that the sacrament of Baptism is required for salvation and it has the power to remove the guilt and stain of original sin. The Reformed view does not believe that the baptism has any power to save the child or the one receiving the sacrament and is an outward sign.

Question 9

Is there any sense in which the term “Baptismal regeneration” can be used to describe your view of baptism? If so, explain.

Answer 9

If by the question we mean that the grace received in Baptism has any efficacy in terms of the necessity of it for salvation than my answer would be no.

Question 10

Respond to Baptist Contention that infant baptism is unbiblical because the New Testament nowhere commands us to baptize infants. Use Scripture to defend answer.

Answer 10

The New Testament nowhere commands us to baptize infants but nowhere does it prohibit it either. There are a couple of key passages that I believe lend support .

Acts 2 - Peter says that everyone of the new beleivers is to baptized and that the promise if for you and your children.

Colossians 2: Paul links circumcision and baptism. Circumcision in the old testament was applied to infants and if Baptism is the New Covenant replacement to circumcisioin then it seems that it should be applied to infants as well.

Question 11

What modes of baptism are recognized as valid in the Confession of Faith? Under what circumstances, if any, would you baptize someone by immersion?

Answer 11

.Confession in Chapter 28 - says that dipping a person is not necessary but does not say it is invalid. The sprinkling of water is said to be the way it rightly adminstered. I would baptize someone by immersion who requests it but would be sure to make sure they understand the only difference between the baptisms is the mode not the meaning.

Question 12

Is it possible for an individual to be saved without being baptized; are all who are baptized saved? Explain

Answer 12

.Baptism is not required for salvation. God does his work of justification and regeneration by a work of the Holy SPirit in the life of a believer. Therefore it is possible for a person to be regenerated without yet being baptized. Baptism does not have the power to regenerate and those infants and children who were baptized will one day ratify the covenant as they receive salvation.

Question 13

Why is baptism to be administered only once?

Answer 13

.Baptism is adminstered only once because the thing signified and sealed, regeneration is only applied one time to believers, not multiple times. Romans 6 - Paul talks abotu Christ’s death being once and for all.

Question 14

Would there be an occasion which you would re-baptize someone who had a legitimate baptism?

Answer 14

.No.

Question 15

Do you consider Roman Catholic baptism to be a valid baptism?

Answer 15

Yes. It is trinitarian in formula and because Baptism’s efficacy lies not in the one being baptized or the one administering it.

Question 16

Compare and contrast the four views of the Lord’s Supper. Which do you hold?

Answer 16

.Roman Catholic View: Transubstation
Lutheran: Consubstantiation
Calvin: Christ present with us
Zwingli: Memorial view

Question 17

What is your view of the Roman Catholic Mass?

Answer 17

In the Roman Catholic Mass there is a reoffering of the sacrifice of Christ on behalf of his church. They believe that the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of CHrist. Therefore Christ is being re-sacrificed. Scriptures teach that Christ’s death was once and its benefits are for all eternity. The Roman Catholic Mass is unbiblical.

Question 18

What are the pre-requistes for receiving communion?

Answer 18

SC-97-It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord’s supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves.

Question 19

What is your view of Paedo-communion? Explain:

Answer 19

.I do not believe Paedo communion should be administered. Rather because the administering of the Lord’s Supper requires the beleiver to examine themselves and discern the Lord’s body, meditate on his death and sufferings a child must be old enough to understand these things and should be determined by the Church session

Question 20

How is the Lord’s table to be fenced in the PCA? Are you willing to uphold this in your practice?

Answer 20

.BCO 58
Invite all those who profess the true religion and are communicants in good standing with an evangelical church. Invite those who have been approved by the session after giving their desire to participate. And also give invitation to non-communcants to remain during the service but not participate. There should also be the communicaiton to the congregations of the dangers of coming to the table with un-confessed sin against another or unbelief.

Yes. I am willing to uphold this in practice.

Question 21

How ought communicants prepare themselves for the Lord’s Supper?

Answer 21

.They should wait upon God, 
pay attention to the elements and actions. 
Discern the Lord's Body,
 medidtate on his death and sufferings, 
stir up sorrow for sin, 
hunger for Christ,
 feed on Him in faith and 
renew their covenant with God.  LC 174

Question 22

May an individual who has doubts about his or her own assurance of salvation rightly come to the Lord’s Table?

Answer 22

Yes, because its efficacy does not lie in the faith of the one receiving the sacrament or the one administering it but rather in the finished work of Christ and the Holy Spirit.