Theology / Sacraments

  • Washed, Sanctified, and Justified

    1 Corinthians 6:11b

    God conveys grace to us through the preaching of the Word and the sacraments, so we must never think of baptism and the Lord’s Supper as empty rites. We cannot understand everything that happens in baptism, for who understands ...Read More

  • The Blood and the Spirit

    1 John 1:7

    “Just as the Word of God does not return to him void, neither does the exercise and administration of his sacrament return to him void” (R.C. Sproul, Truths We Confess, vol. 3, p. 89). The preaching of God’s ...Read More

  • Washed in the Spirit

    Ezekiel 36:25–27

    The sacrament of baptism reminds us that God has cleansed us from all sin and, therefore, that the filthiness of wickedness has no place in our lives. If we have trusted in Jesus Christ by faith alone, then we are ...Read More

  • Baptism and Salvation

    1 Peter 3:21

    Throughout history, God has entered into covenants with a visible covenant community, a community identified by its profession of faith. However, not everyone in the visible covenant community possesses faith. Only those who trust in Christ alone are a part ...Read More

  • The Focus of the Sacraments

    Galatians 3:27

    We must know the gospel to have faith in the gospel, and we must have faith in the gospel to enjoy the sanctifying benefits of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Thus, the preaching of the Word always has a ...Read More

  • The Sign and the Things Signified

    Acts 2:38

    The passage for today’s study is drawn from question and answer 66 of the Heidelberg Catechism, which reminds us that the promise sealed in the sacraments is the promise to forgive the sins of all those who rest in ...Read More

  • Signs and Seals

    Romans 4:9–12

    We are creatures with both physical and spiritual components. We understand what happens to us physically when we are washed with water and when we eat, and the sacraments portray spiritual realities to us by way of analogies with our ...Read More

  • Means of Grace

    1 Corinthians 10:16

    The sacraments are mysteries in that we cannot explain fully what God accomplishes through them. We do know, however, that they are more than memorial observations. They become effectual means of grace to those with faith by the working of ...Read More

  • Becoming Part of the Bride

    Celebrate the Lord’s Supper in your private devotions. Give thanks for the purchase price paid by your Bridegroom. Read More

  • Our Unity in Christ Jesus

    Galatians 3:27–29

    How do we define ourselves? When other people ask us to tell them a little bit about ourselves, what do we say? If one of our friends or coworkers is asked to describe us, what do they say? If the ...Read More

  • Blessing and Judgment

    1 Corinthians 11:17–34

    Only sinners need the grace of Christ; therefore, only sinners can participate in the Lord’s Supper. But the only sinners who can freely commune with Jesus at His table are those who have acknowledged that they are sinners and ...Read More

  • The Presence of Christ

    1 Corinthians 10:14–22

    The Lord’s presence in the Lord’s Supper is not easy to conceptualize, but we do affirm that He is truly present every time we take the sacrament with other believers. It behooves us to remind ourselves of this ...Read More

  • The Natures of Christ

    John 1:14

    Tomorrow we will look further into the person of Christ. Today, however, note that the incarnation is one of the greatest mysteries of the faith, something that is nearly impossible to describe without falling into error. We do know that ...Read More

  • Real Body and Blood?

    Mark 14:22–25

    One of the fundamental principles of biblical interpretation is that Scripture is its own interpreter. In other words, we must be careful not to impose alien systems of thoughts upon the text but rather strive to interpret each passage of ...Read More

  • The Future Consummation

    Luke 22:24–30

    The responsibilities laid upon us can distract us, preventing us from contemplating the future consummation of God’s kingdom. In celebrating the Lord’s Supper we are given a special opportunity to reflect on the new creation that is coming ...Read More