The Sacraments Baptism Recap I Sacraments holy signs

The Sacraments: Baptism

Recap I. Sacraments = holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace A. Covenant of Grace = Gospel: Gn 3: 15; Gn 17; Gal 3, Mt 26 B. Signs = visible objects that point to the promises of God held out to us in Christ and received by faith. C. Seals = God's official certification that guarantees that the promises of the Gospel come to all who trust Christ alone. D. 2 parts of a sacrament: "one an outward and visible sign …the other an inward and spiritual grace thereby signified. " (WLC 163)

II. Summary of signs and seals: A. With sacraments as signs, God is saying "Look to me and what I have done in Christ, and the gifts that are yours by faith in Christ. " B. With sacraments as seals, God is saying, "This sign is my official certification to remind you that I guarantee that the spiritual blessings of the Gospel are yours forever through faith in Christ. "

The Sacraments Pt 2:

I. Connection b/t the sign/spiritual graces signified: "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. " (WCF 27. 2) A. Reymond: "…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. " B. 1 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. " C. Lk 22: 20 "this cup. . . is the new covenant in my blood. . . "

III. How sacraments are effectual means of grace per WCF 27. 3: A. Grace is not conferred by sacrament itself. B. Efficacy not dependent on piety of administrator C. Efficacy depends on Spirit/Word is primary: Reymond: "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. " D. Benefits only to worthy receivers (faith) IV. Sacraments of OT (circumcision/Passover) represent the same spiritual realities/replaced by baptism/Lord's Supper (WCF 27. 5):

A. Circumcision/baptism: Gn 17: 10/Rm 4: 11/Col 2: 11 -12 Gen 17: 10 "This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. " 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 -12 "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…"

John Stott: “…what circumcision was to Abraham…and his descendants, baptism is to us. It is not only the sign of covenant membership, but a seal or pledge of covenant blessings…To truly believing adults the covenant sign of baptism (like circumcision to Abraham…) signifies and seals a grace which has already been received by faith. To the infant seed of believing parents, the covenant sign of baptism (like circumcision to Isaac…) is administered because they are born into the covenant and are thereby ‘holy’ in status (1 Cor 7: 14), but it signifies and seals to them graces which they still need to receive later by faith. ” B. Passover/Lord's Supper: Exodus 12 w/Matt 26: 17 -30. Baptism = rite of initiation into the visible church Lord's Supper = rite of remembrance for those who recv'd Christ. (1 Cor 11: 27 -29)

Baptism

I. Definition: WCF 28. 1 "Baptism is a sacrament of the new testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church; but also, to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life. Which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in his church until the end of the world. " Baptism - Intro A. J. I. Packer: “…first and fundamentally [baptism] signifies union with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection…and this union with Christ is the source of every element in our salvation…Receiving the sign in faith assures the persons baptized that God’s gift of new life in Christ is freely given to them.

*Solemnly admitted into the visible church (1 Cor 12: 13): "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. " *Ingrafting into Christ (Gal 3: 27): "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. " *Resurrection (Rom 6: 5): Rom 6: 5 "For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. " *Regeneration (Titus 3: 5): "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit…" *Remission of sins (Acts 2: 38): "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. Baptism - Intro

B. Summing it up: Baptism is the sign and seal of: 1. God’s testimony over us that we are His. 2. God uniting us to Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection (Union with Christ). 3. God's placing us/our entrance into the visible church. 4. Our public commitment to be a follower of Christ.

Baptism – The Modes II. Mode: WCF 28. 3 “Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary, but baptism is rightly administered by pouring, or sprinkling water upon the person. ” A. Packer: "No prescription of a particular mode of baptism can be found in the NT. The command to baptize may be fulfilled by immersion, [pouring], or sprinkling; all three modes satisfy the meaning of the Greek verb baptizo and the symbolic requirement of passing under, and emerging from, cleansing water. ” B. Symbolic Pictures of the modes: *Sprinkling: Pictures having the blood of the covenant (i. e. , Jesus’ atoning death) applied to us, regeneration, cleansing from sin. *Pouring: Pictures baptism of the Holy Spirit upon God’s people. *Immersion: Pictures death, burial and resurrection.

III. Subjects of Baptism: WCF 28. 4. "Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, but also the infants of one, or both, believing parents, are to be baptized. " A. Unity of the Covenant of Grace (Gospel) B. The Sign and seal of the Covenant of Grace: where is the command to no longer apply the sign and seal of the covenant (Gospel) to children of believers? C. The nature of the church: B. B. Warfield: "God established His church in the days of Abraham and put children into it. They must remain there until He puts them out. He has nowhere put them out. They are still then members of His Church and as such entitled to its ordinances. " D. The NT emphasis on the household. Baptism - Intro

IV. Important, but not necessary for salvation: WCF 28. 5 "Although it be a great sin to contemn 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. " Baptism - Intro V. The efficacy of baptism: WF 28. 6 "is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in his appointed time. VI. WCF 28. 7 "The sacrament of baptism is but once to be administered unto any person. "

VII. The ongoing significance of baptism: WLC Q 167: The needful – Past and Present but much. Baptism neglected duty. Event of improving our Reality Baptism, is to be performed by us all our life long, especially in the time of temptation by: *Serious and thankful consideration of the nature of it *Being humbled for our sinful defilement *Growing up to assurance of pardon of sin *Drawing strength from the death and resurrection of Christ *Endeavoring to live by faith, to have our conversation in holiness and righteousness and to walk in brotherly love

Baptism: Past Event and Present Reality “In effect, baptism is something we carry around all the time, and the idea of improving our baptism suggests that we should think more about this mark that we bear…its reality reminds us of our sin, our need for a savior, and what he did to reconcile us to him, and also comforts us in times of doubt, encourages us when confronted by temptation, and points us toward a life a holiness. ”