Marks of the True Church: Pure Administration of the Sacraments

In a previous post we considered the first of three “marks of the true church” as articulated in the Belgic Confession: the pure doctrine of the gospel being preached. The second indication, or mark, that the church is "true" is "if it maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ” (Article 29). 

I suspect that most evangelicals don’t think much about the sacraments (the Reformers saw only two in the Bible: Baptism and the Lord’s Table), at least not with the level of intensity as did the Reformers. For evangelicals, other marks are important: expositional preaching, small groups, “spirit-filled” worship, quiet times, mentoring relationships. While these are not to be despised, and can prove profitable for spiritual growth, they do not rise to a sacramental level. The Lord Jesus ordained two rites, Baptism and Communion, for identifying and strengthening his disciples. Other practices that have grown up in the church, if they are helpful and biblical, can be added to them, but the sacraments are God-given, God-designed, God-ordained rites that ought to be understood and maintained.

The sacraments are spoken of as a “means of grace.” By this is meant not that they are charged with some inherent power that gets transferred in their use, but that God uses the sacraments to promote the spiritual maturity he is looking for in his people. How do they do this? I would argue that they do so primarily as covenantal signs. Paul teaches that when Abraham was commanded to circumcise himself in response to the covenant God had made with him, he “received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith.” This was done, Paul instructs, so that Abraham would be the father of all who are justified by faith, not by the law. This was important for it allowed the “promise [to] rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring.” Paul goes on to say that Abraham “in hope . . . believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations.” After all, he “was as good as dead.” Nevertheless, “no distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” (Romans 4:11- 21)

Consider the important role circumcision played in strengthening Abraham’s faith. He bore the mark in his body that preached to him that God would fulfill what he had promised. Could his circumcision be reversed? It could not. Neither would God’s covenant. In a similar fashion, the sacraments are signs and seals of what God has done for his elect. Was Christ’s atoning sacrifice sufficient? Indeed, it was. This is proclaimed each time a baptism is administered and the bread and cup are distributed. His work was complete. Sin has been covered. Salvation is guaranteed by the covenant ratified in his blood and confirmed to us by the waters of baptism and the elements of the Supper.

Do you doubt God’s love? Do you question your place in the kingdom? Do need assurance that there is an inheritance reserved in heaven for you? In faith, look to your baptism. In faith, receive the cup and bread. God has promised eternal life and given signs and ratifying seals so that you might not waver concerning the promise of God, but grow strong in your faith as you give glory to God, being convinced that he has done, and will do, all that he has promised.

Advent: Holding Fast

Abraham had been waiting a long time. God promised him a heritage that would bless “all the families of the earth,” but fulfillment of the promise had not been realized. What at first seemed like an extraordinary gift had become a source of frustration and disappointment. In the face of the delay, Abraham’s faith had faltered more than once and he made decisions that had unwelcome consequences. Finally, a propitious wind blew and fanned the flames of his faith and he was transformed. The promise settled into his soul and he was able to heed and trust the word of God, even a command that seemingly negated everything God had previously spoken.

Abraham’s Advent experience is instructive. He had his own period of waiting that placed huge demands on his ability to hold fast to the word that God had spoken. And though he is remembered for his willingness to raise his knife over the promised heir to slay him, convinced that God had the power to raise him from the dead, such bold believing was not always his. He lost confidence and settled for shortcuts and man-made solutions. 

His wait, however, turned out to be a mere 24 years. How long has it been since the church received the promise that Jesus would return to judge the world and gather to himself his own? Nearly 2000 years. 2000 years is a long time. Long enough to cause a soul to doubt that he's ever going to return. Long enough to drift from the teaching that promised reward on that day for the faithful, the “one who overcomes.” Long enough to convince a disciple that deferred gratification is not as sensible as immediate gratification.

This Advent, let’s ask God for the grace to hold fast to our confession of faith without wavering, believing that the one who came and gained the victory over the deceiver and the evil he unleashed is coming again to bring full restoration to all that he has made.