The sacraments are an essential aspect of the church’s life and worship, serving as visible signs and seals of the covenant of grace. Instituted by Christ, they signify spiritual truths, strengthen the faith of believers, and set them apart as members of His body. While the sacraments do not save, they are means of grace through which the Holy Spirit works to nurture and sustain the faith of God’s people.
For the church in Greenville, South Carolina, understanding and properly administering the sacraments is crucial for fostering spiritual growth, guarding doctrinal fidelity, and living as a visible witness to the gospel.
The Definition of Sacraments
The Westminster Shorter Catechism (WSC 92) defines sacraments as follows:
“A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ and the benefits of the new covenant are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.”
This definition highlights several key elements:
- Institution by Christ: The sacraments are not human inventions but ordinances instituted by Christ Himself. Matthew 28:19 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 explicitly show Christ’s commands to baptize and observe the Lord’s Supper.
- Visible Signs: Sacraments use tangible elements—water, bread, and wine—to symbolize spiritual realities. These elements make the gospel visible, appealing to both the senses and the understanding of believers.
- Seals of Grace: Sacraments confirm and strengthen the believer’s faith in the promises of God. As Romans 4:11 describes circumcision as “a seal of the righteousness of the faith,” so the sacraments assure believers of their union with Christ and their place in the covenant of grace.
The Sacraments in Scripture
The New Testament identifies two sacraments instituted by Christ: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
1. Baptism
Baptism is the sacrament of initiation, marking entrance into the covenant community. It signifies union with Christ in His death and resurrection, the washing away of sins, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit. Romans 6:3-4 states, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Christ commands baptism in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
Faith Free Presbyterian Church is part of the Free Presbyterian Church of North America (FPCNA), a denomination that upholds an open policy on baptism. This approach respects the individual’s conscience regarding the mode and timing of baptism, allowing for differing convictions on the matter.
For members who hold to infant baptism, the practice reflects a recognition of the covenantal continuity between the Old and New Testaments, with baptism administered to believers and their children as a sign and seal of God’s covenant promises. For those who hold to believers’ baptism, the sacrament is administered only to individuals who make a credible profession of faith, emphasizing personal belief and commitment to Christ.
This open policy fosters unity within the church while honoring differing theological perspectives on this significant ordinance.
2. The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is the sacrament of nourishment, commemorating Christ’s death and signifying the believer’s ongoing communion with Him. In 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Paul recounts Christ’s institution of the sacrament, emphasizing its purpose, “This do in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”
The bread and wine represent Christ’s body and blood, and partaking in the Supper strengthens believers in their faith and unity with one another. 1 Corinthians 10:16 calls this communion, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?”
The Sacraments as Means of Grace
The sacraments are not mere symbols but means of grace through which God works to strengthen faith and apply the benefits of redemption.
1. Signs and Seals
The Larger Catechism (LC 162) teaches that sacraments are signs and seals of the covenant of grace, representing spiritual truths and assuring believers of God’s promises. Just as circumcision was a seal of Abraham’s righteousness by faith (Romans 4:11), baptism and the Lord’s Supper function as seals that confirm the believer’s standing in Christ.
2. Union with Christ
Both sacraments emphasize union with Christ. In baptism, believers are united to Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:4), and in the Lord’s Supper, they partake of His body and blood by faith (1 Corinthians 10:16). This union is central to the believer’s salvation and sanctification.
3. The Work of the Holy Spirit
The sacraments are effective not because of any inherent power but because of the work of the Holy Spirit. The WCF (27.3) emphasizes that the grace of the sacraments is not tied to the moment of their administration but is applied according to God’s will and in His timing.
The Sacraments and Covenant Theology
The sacraments are rooted in covenant theology, reflecting God’s gracious dealings with His people. In the Old Testament, circumcision and Passover were covenant signs that pointed to God’s promises. In the New Testament, baptism and the Lord’s Supper fulfill and replace these signs, signifying the same covenant of grace.
1. Continuity Between Old and New
Baptism corresponds to circumcision, marking entrance into the covenant community. Colossians 2:11-12 highlights this connection, “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands… buried with him in baptism.”
Similarly, the Lord’s Supper fulfills the Passover, pointing to Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (1 Corinthians 5:7). Both sacraments show the unity of God’s redemptive plan across the ages.
2. Inclusion of Children
The inclusion of children in the covenant is a consistent theme in Scripture. Just as the sign of circumcision was given to Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 17:7), so the promise of baptism extends to believers and their children (Acts 2:39). This continuity underscores the covenantal nature of God’s promises.
However, as noted already, we accept that some may not hold to this view. In fact, the majority of our members come from a baptist background and hold to believers’ baptism. This view is heartily accepted as an accepted understanding of the teaching of Scripture.
Alternative Views of the Sacraments
Engaging with alternative views helps clarify the Reformed understanding of the sacraments.
1. Roman Catholicism
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the sacraments confer grace ex opere operato (by the work performed), independent of the recipient’s faith. This view contrasts sharply with the Reformed understanding, which emphasizes that the sacraments are effective only through the work of the Holy Spirit and the faith of the recipient.
2. Zwinglian Memorialism
Ulrich Zwingli viewed the sacraments primarily as memorials, rejecting the idea that they are means of grace. In contrast, the Reformed tradition affirms that the sacraments are more than symbols—they are means by which believers commune with Christ and are strengthened in faith.
3. Baptist Theology
Many Baptists reject infant baptism, arguing that baptism is solely a sign of personal faith. While we accept members/deacons/elders/ministers who hold to the baptist position, we do not permit hostility towards the historic Reformed position.
Proper Administration of the Sacraments
The WCF (27.4) emphasizes that sacraments must be administered according to Christ’s institution, by lawful ministers, and with the elements and actions He prescribed.
1. Baptism
Baptism should be administered with water, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, signifying entrance into the covenant community. It is a one-time ordinance, symbolizing the believer’s union with Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
2. The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper should be administered with bread and wine, with the elements distributed to the congregation. Participants must examine themselves, recognizing the body of Christ and partaking in a worthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). This ensures that the sacrament is observed with reverence and in faith.
The Sacraments in Church Life
The sacraments are not only theological concepts but vital practices that shape the life and mission of the church.
1. Faithful Observance
Faithful administration and participation in the sacraments ground the church in the gospel. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper regularly remind believers of God’s covenant promises, strengthening their faith and fostering unity in the body of Christ.
2. Discipleship and Family Worship
The sacraments provide opportunities for discipleship within families and the church. Parents can teach their children the meaning of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, grounding them in the covenant of grace and nurturing their faith through family worship.
3. Evangelism and Witness
Baptism serves as a public testimony of faith, calling others to repentance and belief in the gospel. The Lord’s Supper proclaims Christ’s death and resurrection, serving as a visible witness to the surrounding community.
4. Guarding the Sacraments
The church has a responsibility to guard the sacraments from misuse, ensuring that they are administered biblically and meaningfully. Restricting the Lord’s Supper to those who profess faith in Christ and are living in obedience protects the integrity of the sacrament and the witness of the church.
Conclusion
The sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper are gifts of grace, given by Christ to His church as visible signs and seals of the gospel. They signify union with Christ, nourish faith, and mark believers as members of God’s covenant people. While they do not save, they are vital means by which the Holy Spirit strengthens believers and nurtures the church.
For the church in Greenville, these sacraments are not merely rituals but essential practices that shape faith, foster unity, and proclaim the glory of Christ’s redemptive work. As we faithfully administer and participate in them, we live as visible witnesses to the grace of God and the hope of the gospel. As 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 reminds us, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”