Theology / Sacraments

  • The Mass and Christology

    Mark 16:6

    Transubstantiation confuses the divine and human natures of Jesus, giving His human body the ability to be in more than one place at a time. This is an attribute that only the divine nature possesses. In confusing Christ’s two ...Read More

  • The Meaning of Baptism

    1 Corinthians 12:13

    Whenever we read the Nicene Creed we confess belief in the communion of saints. This means that we become united to every believer who has ever lived whenever we trust in Jesus. The other Christians we know are not merely ...Read More

  • The Mode of Baptism

    2 Kings 5:1–14

    All of the above evidence indicates that in baptism, it is the cleansing aspect that is the emphasis and not the way in which water is applied. Whether dipped, immersed, sprinkled, or poured upon, we are to see a picture ...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

  • The Necessity of Baptism

    Matthew 28:18–20

    Many Protestants today dismiss the importance of the new covenant’s signs and seals. But baptism is not a negotiable matter, and all Christians, in obedience to Christ, must be baptized unless they are providentially hindered from this ordinance. If ...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 Purpose of Sacraments

    Hebrews 6:13-20

    Baptism and the Lord’s Supper pull into themselves all the signs and miracles of the old covenant and the early church. Perhaps one reason why so many Christians look for miracles is that we do not appreciate the hidden ...Read More

  • The Severe Judgment of God

    Colossians 2:11–13

    Those who do not baptize infants must view the new covenant community as one in which the children of believers take no real part before their conversion. This makes the new covenant community radically different from the old covenant community ...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

  • The Significance of Passover

    Exodus 12

    Though God elected to save the Israelites, their sin did not make them any less worthy of death than the Egyptians. But the Lord provided a way for them to escape His wrath in those days. Ultimately, this looked forward ...Read More

  • The Whole Christ

    1 Corinthians 10:16–17

    Question and answer 168 of the Westminster Larger Catechism expand upon the benefits we receive by the Spirit in the Lord’s Supper. We are enabled to renew our thankfulness to God for all that He has done for us ...Read More

  • True Food and Drink

    John 6:55

    Although Christ is not advocating the view of transubstantiation, He is saying something true when He refers to His body as our bread and His blood as our drink. As noted in Calvin’s comments above, there is a real ...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

  • 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

  • You and Your Offspring

    Genesis 17:1–14

    The church is not infallible, but the church is wise. We should, therefore, take its tradition and guidance seriously. In the matter of baptism, church tradition is overwhelmingly on the side of baptizing adult Christians and their infant children. This ...Read More