The Church The Communion of Saints The Sacraments

The Church The Communion of Saints & The Sacraments WCF Survey Class

Three Main Principles � “The catholic or universal church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all. ” – Ch. 25, Church � “All saints that are united to Jesus Christ their Head. . . Have communion in each other’s gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties. . . As do conduce to their mutual good. ” – Ch. 26, Communion of Saints � “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; and 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. ” – Ch. 27, Sacraments

Understanding the Church � The Invisible Church � The elect, chosen before time/space (Eph. 1: 10; 22 -23) � All part of Christ’s Church (Eph. 5: 23, 27, 32) � The Visible Church � Those who profess faith in Christ during their lifetimes � And their children � As well as containing “mixture and error” True believers Pretender s

Marks of a True, Faithful Visible Church From 25. 4: � “the doctrine of the Gospel is taught and embraced” � “ordinances administered” (sacraments) � Public worship performed purely From Reformed Teachings: � Preaching of the Word � Right administration of sacraments � Discipleship/discipline of church members

Unfaithful/Apostate Church � Denies that the Word has authority over it � Abuses or ignores the sacraments � Denies mercy or justice among its own members (no shepherding of the flock) Questions to Ask Before Leaving a Church: 1. Is the Word being preached? How faithfully? 2. Are the sacraments being observed? How well? 3. Is the leadership oppressive or neglectful? 4. Does the church advocate sin? 5. Is scandalously immoral behavior known and tolerated?

Communion of the Saints (Ch. 26) � Romans 12: 1 -13 “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. . . Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them. . . Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. . . Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. ”

The Church is both: � Organism hea d bod y fellowship worship community service � Organization � Officers – accountability/teaching/governing � Membership – submission/identity/commitment

Fellowship is NOT Optional! � If we belong to Christ, then we belong to one another. � “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. ” – 1 Peter 4: 9 -11, ESV � “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. “ – John 13: 3435, ESV

Sacraments (Ordinances) � “holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace” � Sign: Points to � Seal: Promises / Verifies � Augustine: Joes’s Eats! Module Two “a visible sign of an invisible grace” � Two: Baptism & Lord’s Supper � Ultimately, both of these point us to our union with Christ and promise us the benefits of that union. � Baptism: Cleansing from sin and the gift of Holy Spirit � Lord’s Supper: Spiritual nourishment from Christ

God’s Great Goal and Central Covenant Promise � “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. ” – Exodus 6: 7 � “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the LORD your God. ” – Lev. 18: 2 � “I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples. ” – Leviticus 20: 24 � “And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. ” – Lev. 26: 12 � “'Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you. ” – Jeremiah 7: 23 � “And you shall be my people, and I will be your God. “ – Jeremiah 30: 22 � “You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. – Ezekiel 36: 28 � “"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ” – Rev.

Circumcision Passover Baptism Lord’s Supper The meaning of the sacraments is tied to Covenant Continuity

Gen. 1: 1 Gen. 3: 15 Covenant of Works Rev. 22: 21 Covenant of Grace Covenant of Redemption The meaning of the sacraments is tied to Covenant Continuity

Circumcision God Baptism Seal of (cf. Rev. 7: 3) Passover Sabbath Lord’s Supper Lord’s Day Marriage Supper Day of the Lord The meaning of the sacraments is tied to Covenant Continuity

Sacraments: OT & NT � Same 2 Sacraments in Substance � Change in Form and in Relation to Fulfillment � Sacrament of Initiation/Inclusion: � Circumcision Baptism � Now blood-less because Christ has shed His blood � Both point to and call for a deeper reality: � Circumcision of the Heart (Repentance/Faith) � Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Repentance/Faith) � Sacrament � Passover of Fellowship: Lord’s Supper � Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper during Passover meal � Both involve partaking of the Passover Lamb (Christ)

Colossians 2: 11 -12, ESV 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, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him not a minister through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. ? ?

Circumcision Baptism � Received upon belief in the God of Abraham. � � The outward sign representing the inward clean heart. � � The outward sign marking a person’s entrance into the community of the faithful. Received upon belief in the God of Abraham. The outward sign representing the inward clean heart. � The outward sign marking a person’s entrance into the community of the faithful. and � Given to the (male) child of believing parents as a sign of God’s claim. � Given to the child of believing parents as a sign of God’s claim. The Purpose for the mark of the Covenant

Old Testament water baptisms were always symbolic of cleansing and purification and were never by immersion. Lev. 11: 29 -44 (cf. Mk. 7: 3 -4); 13: 44; 14: 6 -7; 15: 11 Num. 8: 7; 19: 11 -13 Ps. 51: 7 Ezek. 36: 25 -27 The mode of baptism points to its true meaning.

Views re: The Lord’s Supper � Roman Catholics: Transubstantiation � Lutheran: Consubstantiation

Views re: The Lord’s Supper � Roman Catholics: Transubstantiation � Lutheran: � Memorial Consubstantiation

Views re: The Lord’s Supper � Roman Catholics: Transubstantiation � Lutheran: � Memorial � Reformed Consubstantiation

Looking Back, Looking Ahead Sacraments call for remembrance and for faithful anticipation: � Baptism: Looks back to Christ’s work on the cross, which circumcision anticipated (the “cutting off”), while also looking ahead to the final cleansing and welcoming into God’s eternal kingdom. � Lord’s Supper: Looks back to the cross, where Christ was our Passover Lamb sacrificed to protect us from God’s judgment, and also looks ahead to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Sacraments, cont. � Not ex opere operato � The power is in the work of the Holy Spirit � “worthy receivers” – faith in God, not in sacraments � Must be administered by lawfully ordained men: � Men called to the ministry of Word and Sacrament � Must not separate the preaching of the Word from the sacraments � Must guard their proper teaching and practice

Church, Communion of Saints, Sacraments � When we are called to Christ, we are called to His church. � The church is God’s plan, Christ’s kingdom, God’s family, etc. � We belong to each other. � We show the corporate nature of our faith in corporate worship and in the sacraments. � This is “the body of Christ, ” not a bunch of Lone Ranger Christians,