The Sacraments

FATHER, how You care for my needs—You know I need regular reminders of what the Gospel is and that I’m truly a part of it. You have set up Baptism and the LORD’s Supper to be visible signs, ordained by You and instituted by CHRIST, to do just that (Matt 28:19; 1 Cor 11:23-26). They are the tangible evidence of the grace and blessings of Your covenant (ref#56, p1411, “The Sacraments”).

“As the preaching of the Word makes the gospel audible, so the sacraments make it visible. Sacraments strengthen faith by correlating Christian beliefs with the testimony of our senses” (ref#56, p 1411, “The Sacraments”).

Baptism:

“…is a sign of the believer’s death and resurrection with Christ (Rom 6:3), …to increase our…realization of death to the power and love of sin…and to increase our experience of the power of new resurrection life in Christ…” (ref#63, p954).

The LORD’s Supper:

“…is a fellowship with Christ, in his presence and at his table” (ref#63, p954-955). “…God’s aim has been to bring his people into fellowship with himself, and one of the great joys of experiencing that fellowship is the fact that we can eat and drink in the presence of the Lord” (ref#63, p989-990).