Theology - Sacraments Flashcards
What is a sacrament? In layman’s terms? Defend with Scripture proofs.
- “A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.” (WSC 92)
- The sacraments are signs to show us Christ, seals to assure us of salvation, and means of grace to make us more like Jesus
- They are “visible words” which allow us to taste, see, feel, smell with our senses what we hear from the Word read and preached
- Rom 4:11 “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.”
- 1 Cor 11:26 “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
How many sacraments? Defend with Scripture.
- The sacraments of the NT are baptism and the Lord’s Supper (WSC 93)
- Note: sacraments must be “instituted by Christ” (WSC 92)
- Mark 14:22-25 22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
- Matt 28:16-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and HS, teaching them to obey everything that I commanded you.”
Does anything really happen in a sacrament
- Yes.
- “There is in every sacrament, a spiritual relation, or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified: whence it comes to pass, that the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other.” (WCF 27.2)
- By the power of the Spirit, these ordinary means become effectual for the communication of Christ and his benefits to us (WSC 88)
Cite at least 4 NT references showing parallels between the OT and NT sacraments (quote 2)
**Baptism and circumcision **
* “And he [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.” (Rom 4:11) “You were baptized into Christ Jesus…and if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s offspring.” (Gal 3:27, 29)
* “In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with a circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Col 2:11-12)
* “Eight persons were brought safely through water” via Noah’s ark. “Baptism which corresponds to this, now saves you.” (1 Pet 3:20-21)
* “For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” (1 Cor 10:1-4)
**Lord’s Supper and Passover **
* “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew 26:26-28)
* Note: “when he had given thanks” can be a possible reference to the OT sacrifice of thanksgiving
Of what is baptism a sign and seal?
- “Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, does signify and seal our engrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.” (WSC 94)
- Outward sign and inward sign
- Outwardly signifies engrafting into Christ or entrance into cov. community/visible church (Gal 3:27, 29)
- Inwardly signifies regeneration by the Spirit which leads to receiving and resting in Christ alone for salvation (Tit 3:4-7 washing of regeneration cf. Deut 30:6 the Lord will circumcise your heart fulfilled in sign of baptism “as circumcision made without hands” Col 2:11-12)
Where in Scripture are these terms (sign and seal) used?
- Rom 4:11 “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.”
- 2 Cor 1:21-22 “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Sprit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come.”
- Eph 1:13-14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession-to the praise of his glory.”
How does seal relate to paedo-baptism?
Principle of “latent efficacy”
* the infant/child is immediately brought into the covenant community as the visible church
* But the infant/child is not immediately regenerate or saved
* “The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered” (WCF 28.6)
* The seal is efficacious for salvation (blessing) if the child comes to receive and rest in Christ alone for salvation – should they rebel against Christ and the grace they have received from baptism, they can be assured of covenant cursing (Heb 6)
* The covenant promises and curses are in effect for the child such that they are assured that God will keep his cov. promises to be our God and we his people if they receive and rest in Christ alone for salvation
* They are not promised immediate or automatic salvation but are assured by the seal that Christ’s promise to save is a reality upon the presence of saving faith
How is baptism rightly administered? (Scripture proofs)
With water, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, by an ordained minister of the gospel, to those who profess faith in Christ together with their children
* “The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, by a minister of the Gospel, lawfully called thereunto.” (WCF 18.1)
* “Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.” (WSC 95)
* Acts 2:38-39 “Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
* Matt 28:19-20 in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Would you under any circumstances baptize someone by immersion?
- I believe pouring/sprinkling to be the preferred mode of baptism but wouldn’t necessarily rule out immersion without exception
Who is to be baptized? Defend with Scripture proofs.
- Professing believers and their children
- “Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.” (WSC 95)
- Acts 2:38-39 the promise is for you and your children and all who are far off
- Cf. Gen 17:9-11 he who is born in your house or bought with your money is to be circumcised
How would you deal with a family in your church who did not want their child baptized?
- Children of believers are entitled to baptism (BCO 6.1)
- “Although it be a great sin to condemn or neglect this ordinance, yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated, or saved, without it or, that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.” (WCF 28.5)
- We obviously would not kick the parents out of the church for it! But they should be instructed as to the importance of baptism and encouraged to submit to the leadership of the elders
Does baptism actually save the person? Explain and defend with Scripture.
Yes and no.
* 1 Pet 3:21 says “baptism which corresponds to this now saves”
* Baptism itself is not magical regenerating water but it is a sign and seal (visible word) of a spiritual reality
* Thus, the efficacy of baptism is tied to the Word (gospel) which is to be received by faith
* So Eph 5:25b-26 says you are cleansed “by the washing of water with the Word”
* The instrument of receiving salvation is always faith (Eph 2:1-10) – baptism is a sign and seal of that spiritual reality of union with Christ that occurs by the Spirit
* Baptism doesn’t ultimately save; Jesus saves. But baptism is a sign of Jesus’ salvation.
Can a person be baptized more than once? Explain and defend with Scripture.
“The sacrament of baptism is but once to be administered unto any person.” (WCF 28.7)
* Col 2:11-12 being engrafted into Christ happens once
* Tit 3:4-7 washing of regeneration and justification occurs once only
* So baptism occurs once only
How would you handle a request for baptism from a former Roman Catholic?
- I would encourage them to look to Christ and the power of the Spirit as the means for making their baptism effectual
- As long as the baptism was done with water and in the Triune name, then the baptism is a valid baptism.
How would you handle a request for baptism from a former liberal and/or Mormon?
Liberal:
* - The only difference (from Roman Catholic) would be discerning whether or not the baptism was truly Trinitarian since Catholicism is largely still tied to the creeds but a liberal church may or may not be.
Mormon:
* They should receive Christian baptisms done in the Trinitarian name
* Mormons reject the creeds and Trinity, thus are not orthodox and do not administer true baptism
