Dear BPCWAians, We saw in last week’s pastoral that Sacraments are the holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace. Today, we have also observed the Sacrament of the Holy Communion instituted by our Lord personally when He replaced the Old Testament (covenant) Passover with this Lord’s Supper. How should you view the Sacraments? What should the response from your heart be?

How should you view Sacraments in church? I mentioned last week that the Sacraments are precious and to be held in the highest regard. It is therefore crucial we understand its place and also that we approach the Lord’s table carefully.  The Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) well assures us that the Sacraments are, “immediately instituted by God, to represent Christ and his benefits, and to confirm our interest in him”. God intended there to be benefits, “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?” (1Cor 10:16). The cup is called “the cup of blessing” and the bread is “the communion of the body of Christ”. If you are a true believer, God tells us that the Sacrament of water baptism means that you “ . . . have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal 3:27). Hence, we must view the Sacraments to be a blessing and an interest in Christ. The Holy Communion is not a mere symbolic ritual. God instituted it to be observed regularly for our blessing. The remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice regularly works a work of grace. The cup of blessing “which we bless” refers to our gratefulness and praise (that is what it means for believers to “bless God”). The Presence of our Lord Jesus at this Sacrament in Holy Communion with us, and us with Him and each other as a body of Christ are the spiritual benefits that the Holy Spirit works in the believer. Our Lord Jesus looked forward to observing the Passover with His disciples. His actions and words pointed them to the cross and salvation work. Being conscious and understanding these work the spiritual grace of increasing our love for Christ, remorse for sin, and repentance toward Him to depart from our besetting sins. Do you have the right view each time you approach the Lord’s table? The Sacrament of water baptism reminds us that we belong to Christ. It must not be forgotten. Your partaking of the Holy Communion is a reminder that you can do so because you have been water baptised ie you are truly His believer. You are part of Christ’s body of believers and are not alone. He cares for you as part of His care for His fold. This reminder is the blessing of assurance. In times of trouble, weakness, and afflictions, yet the very thought that you are confirmed to belong to Christ and He is your Saviour and Friend brings immense spiritual benefit. It encourages you to trust Him, persevere, and know that He knows what your needs are and will help you live for Him. What spiritual benefits are found in the blessings our Sacraments bring!

How should you respond to Sacraments in church? You may have been baptised some time ago, and have been partaking of the Lord’s Supper for many years. The question is, do you know what these Sacraments are to bring out in you? If your children ask, can you explain it to them as well? Sacraments also serve to drive us to respond rightly in our walk on earth because of their significance. It is also part of the spiritual benefits. The WCF reminds us that while the Sacraments reflect our benefits in Christ, they serve “. . . 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”. The Sacraments must elicit two responses from you. Each time you partake of the Holy Communion and remember your baptismal vows, (1) you ask yourself if there has been indeed a clear and marked difference between you and those around you in the world. Since we belong to Christ, then we must not be like the world that reject Him in their ways and ideas. This is why God tells us, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (Joh 15:19) and “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Your baptismal vows included, “Do you knowingly give up all your sinful habits and promise by God’s grace to live unto righteousness according to God’s Word? Do you promise to fulfill your calling as a disciple of Christ in your life through private and public prayer and the study of God’s Word, and be faithful in your worship . . .?” This Sacrament is the outward confession of your inward beliefs. As a result, we must live a life that reflects it thereafter. Have you forgotten what it meant and have backslidden in your heart, hence your outward walk? The Sacraments are signs and seals of the Covenant. Covenants have promises between you and God. Are you living for His purpose or your own? (2) The WCF asserts biblically that, for the believers, the Sacraments ought “solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to His Word”.  Hence you vow,  “.  . . and be faithful in your service together with us in this church”. A born again water baptised believer who regularly partakes of the Holy Communion cannot be a pew warmer and uninterested in serving God personally and with the church that he is part of. Do you avoid serving so that you can enjoy your own life? Are you unfaithful in your assigned duties? Do you serve for the wrong motives? Do you not care enough to repent and change your ways so that God can use you? Where are you at church events, city and nursing home outreaches? What are you doing on prayer meetings nights when we gather to pray for the body of Christ and His work?

The aim of this 2 part series on the Sacraments is to bring and refresh your understanding of the Sacraments. The purpose is so that you will have the right view and respond to them. God did not institute them as signs and seals without bringing benefits and also to command the right response from you. Have you been refusing to be baptised because of the fear of man or situations? To refuse to be baptised is to refuse the holy signs and seals. It is both sad and serious for a born again believer to live in open disobedience. For those of you who have kept the Sacraments, do take time to ponder if you have truly known the benefits and lived the life of a Sacrament observer.

Yours in our Lord’s service,

Pastor