A Review of Communion and the Sacraments

Again, preparatory to our discussion of the Confession's teaching on the Lord's Supper, it will be helpful to remind ourselves of what has already been stated concerning communion with Christ and with one another in the Body of Christ as well as some central concepts about the sacraments.

The first paragraph of chapter XXVI: All saints, that are united to Jesus Christ their Head, by His Spirit, and by faith, have fellowship with Him in His grace, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory: and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other's gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.

The Supper is one way by which the union of Christians with Christ and with each other is taught and manifested.

From chapter XXVII on the sacraments: Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, immediately instituted by God, to represent Christ and His benefits; and to confirm our interest in Him: as also, to put a visible difference between those that belong unto the Church and the rest of the world; and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to His Word. There is, in every sacrament, a spiritual relation, or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified: whence it comes to pass, that the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other. 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 upon the piety or intention of him that administers it: but upon the work of the Spirit, and the word of institution, which contains, together with a precept authorizing the use thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receivers.

Briefly, we see here the concepts that the sacraments are signs and seals--they point toward and attest to the promises of God in Christ--but that the sign is not the thing signified. The sacraments and the promises of God and his saving power through Christ and by the Holy Spirit may be distinguished but not separated. The sacraments are indeed means of grace, ordinances by which God instructs and blesses his people.

Tomorrow: The start of the Confession on the Lord's Supper.