Baptism and the Lord’s Supper work together, as the catechism notes, to each in their own way testify to the one covenant of grace made in Genesis 3:15 and reconfirmed in circumcision and Passover, and then in the new covenant of Jeremiah 31 and stated by Christ in Mark 14 and Peter in Acts 2. Baptism for circumcision and the Table for Passover. New signs, the same seal.
As we considered the sacraments over the last month it is important as the catechism is going to do this week to think through why we only have two sacraments and how they work together in order to improve the Christian life. Sometimes we do religious stuff without really understanding its purpose. Blind tradition is dangerous in that way. Even the most aged saint needs reminding every now and then as to the reason behind why we do what we do in the religion we profess to be the hope we rest in. It does us no good to go through the motions. In fact God abhors and condemns hand religion that has no faith attached to it. (James 1:26-27).
Believers who have no interest in growing in knowledge of heart and soul bewilder me, in all honesty. We have been given by grace new life in Jesus Christ and so often we just want to leave it at that. Do we treat other matters with such frivolity? If we are a big hunter or fisher do we not desire to not only get better at the hunting and fishing but invest in the right tools to accomplish that joyful longing to reel in a big bass or take down a broad twelve point? The catechism question today in fact is particularly designed to help us reconsider why we baptize and why we eat the bread and drink the cup. Just like the ceremonial system of the law of Moses (which we have learned more about in our walk through Numbers on Wednesday evenings) the New Testament sacraments are just as pedagogical, that is they teach us stuff about Jesus.
If we say we love Jesus wouldn’t we then want to get deeper in that love so as to love Him better and better? Here’s the Q/A’s:
Q. 176. Wherein do the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper agree?
A. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper agree, in that the author of both is God; the spiritual part of both is Christ and his benefits; both are seals of the same covenant, are to be dispensed by ministers of the gospel, and by none other; and to be continued in the church of Christ until his second coming.
Q. 177. Wherein do the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper differ?
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