Westminster Confession of Faith Adult Sunday School Chapter 27

1. Theology of the
Westminster Confession
Adult Sunday School
2017

2. The Sacraments
WCF
27
The Church

3. Of the Sacraments
Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the
covenant of grace. They were directly
instituted by God to represent Christ and his
benefits and to confirm our relationship to
him. They are also intended to make a
visible distinction between those who belong
to the church and the rest of the world, and
solemnly to bind Christians to the service of
God in Christ, according to his Word. [WCF
27.1, MESV]
WCF
27.1
The Church

4. Signs and seals
• What are sacraments? Signs and seals of covenant
of grace.
• A Sign is a distinguishing mark that points to
something that already exists
• A Seal is that which confirms or authenticates the
genuineness of something
• The sacraments are instituted by God
• Genesis 17:7,10
• Matthew 28:19
• 1 Corinthians 11:23ff
Sacraments are divinely instituted signs and seals of
the gospel
WCF
27.1
The Church

5. The purpose of the sacraments
1. “Represent Christ and his benefits to us”
• Pointing to the Savior and his saving work
• The blessings that flow from our relationship with him
(Note: The Lord’s Supper is a “participation in
the body and blood of Christ” – 1 Cor 10:16)
2. “Confirm our interest (that is, our
relationship) in him”
• Our share in, or title to, someone or something
• We belong to him
Sacraments represent Jesus and confirm our
relationship to him
WCF
27.1
The Church

6. The purpose of the sacraments
3. Marks a “visible difference” between
the church and the world
• Converts were circumcised (Exo 12:48)
• Even Jesus would be set apart in this manner
4. We are solemnly engaged in his
service
• Battling against sin
• Proclaiming Christ in the world
Sacraments mark believers from the world
and for God’s service
WCF
27.1
The Church

7. Of the Sacraments
In every sacrament there is a spiritual
relationship, or sacramental union, between
the visible sign and the reality signified by it,
and so it happens that the names and effects
of the one are attributed to the other. [WCF
27.2, MESV]
WCF
27.2
The Church

8. Sacramental union
• There is an intimate spiritual relationship
between the sacrament (the sign and seal)
and that which it signifies (regeneration,
union with Christ), such that one can be
spoken of as the other. Knowing this helps
us interpret the Word of God more
accurately.
• Genesis 17:10
• Matthew 26:27-28
• 1 Peter 3:21
A sacrament and its sign are intimately and
spiritually related
WCF
27.2
The Church

9. Of the Sacraments
The grace which is exhibited in or by the
sacraments, rightly used, is not conferred by
any power in them. Neither does the efficacy
of a sacrament depend on the piety or
intention of him who administers it, but
rather on the work of the Spirit and on the
word of institution, which contains (together
with a precept authorizing its use) a promise
of benefit to worthy receivers. [WCF 27.3,
MESV]
WCF
27.3
The Church

10. Grace exhibited
• The saving grace of the gospel is “exhibited” (made
visible) and “conferred” (actually given) in the
“right use” of the sacraments.
• Negatively
• No grace is conferred by any power in the sacraments
themselves. The water or bread have no innate power.
(Rom 2:29,29)
• Its efficacy does not depend on the piety of the person
administering the sacrament
• Positively
• Who is at work to grant the benefits of the sacraments?
The Holy Spirit. (Mt 3:11)
By faith the sacraments manifest and give grace through the
Holy Spirit
WCF
27.3
The Church

11. The Spirit and the sacraments
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into
one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and
all were made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Cor
12:13)
• How does the Spirit act in the sacraments?
Through the words of institution and
instruction. (Mt 26:27,28)
• With clear instruction for the administration
• And clear promises of benefit to “worthy”
receivers
WCF
27.3
The Church

12. Of the Sacraments
There are only two sacraments ordained by
Christ our Lord in the gospel: baptism and the
Lord's supper. Neither sacrament may be
administered by any person except a minister
of the Word, lawfully ordained. [WCF 27.4,
MESV]
WCF
27.4
The Church

13. A minister
• It matters who actually presents the sacraments
• The Corinthian practice was rejected by the Apostle
as something other than the Lord’s Supper
• The sacraments were to be presented in an orderly
and authoritative manner—as received from the
Lord Jesus and continued through those who were
commissioned to do so
• The OT sacraments were administered by lawful
authorities—not just anyone but by those called of
God (Heb 5:4)
Sacraments must be administered by lawful authorities
WCF
27.4
The Church

14. Stewards of the sacraments
• The Apostles were “stewards of the
mysteries of God” (1 Cor 4:1)
• The sacraments are truly gospel
“mysteries” entrusted into the hands of
ministers of the gospel
• Baptism was given into the hands of
church teachers (Mt 28:19)
WCF
27.4
The Church

15. Why only two sacraments?
• There are only two sacraments given to the church
to represent Christ to us
• Baptism
• Lord’s Supper
• What about marriage? Ephesians 5 tells us it
represents Christ and his church. Why is it not a
sacrament? Marriage fails the four tests of a
sacrament:
• Specific words of institution (to be followed by all)
• Commissioned by precept, not just example, repeatedly
• Administered just as the Lord instructed
• Required by all believers
WCF
27.4
The Church

16. Of the Sacraments
With regard to the spiritual realities signified
and exhibited, the sacraments of the old
testament were essentially the same as those
of the new testament. [WCF 27.5, MESV]
WCF
27.5
The Church

17. In substance the same
• OT signs/sacraments are essentially the same in
substance as the NT sacraments
• Example of the OT Exodus portrayed as NT baptism
For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers
were all under the cloud, and all passed through the
sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud
and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food,
and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank
from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the
Rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:1-4)
OT and NT sacraments are essentially the same in
substance
WCF
27.5
The Church

18. Summary of key points
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27
• Sacraments are divinely instituted signs and seals of the
gospel
• Sacraments represent Jesus and confirm our relationship to
him
• Sacraments mark believers from the world and for God’s
service
• A sacrament and its sign are intimately and spiritually related
• By faith the sacraments manifest and give grace through the
Holy Spirit
• Sacraments must be administered by lawful authorities
• OT and NT sacraments are essentially the same in substance
The Church

19. Consider and discuss
1. The Roman Catholic Church claims
there are seven sacraments. Why does
the Protestant definition of
“sacrament” limit the list to two?
2. What is the purpose of the sacraments?
How have you spiritually benefited
from participating in them?
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27
3. List some similarities between the OT and NT
sacraments. List some differences. Why is there a
change in sacramental forms from OT to NT?
4. Why is it proper for “lawful authorities” alone to
administer the sacraments? What are the benefits and
liabilities of this restriction?
The Church

20. Memorize
For I want you to know, brothers, that
our fathers were all under the cloud,
and all passed through the sea, and all
were baptized into Moses in the cloud
and in the sea, and all ate the same
spiritual food, and all drank the same
spiritual drink. For they drank from
the spiritual Rock that followed them,
and the Rock was Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:1-4
WCF
27
The Church

21. Going deeper
Books
• Anyabwile & Duncan. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
(Beginner)
• Calvin, John. Treatises on the Sacraments.
(Intermediate)
• Vander Zee, Leonard. Christ, Baptism and the Lord's
Supper. (Advanced)
Articles
• Horton, Michael. What Makes Something a Sacrament?
• Sproul, R.C. How Do the Sacraments Help Us?
• Articles on Sacraments at Monergism.com.
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27
The Church