Jesus’ miracles are called “signs” (John 2:11). The Bible contains many “signs.” Moses performed “signs” in Egypt (Ex.
The language of “signs and seals” comes directly from Romans 4:11: “ received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.” In what way do the sacraments function as signs and seals? The Westminster Confession of Faith sums up biblical teaching on the significance of baptism and the Lord’s Supper this way: “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” (27.1). When I was baptized at age twelve, it was simply a rite of passage to me. Couldn’t the pastor just say, “Jesus died on the cross for your sins,” and be done with it? I never really understood the purpose of baptism either, except that Jesus had commanded it. I never understood the purpose of having to sit still for an extra fifteen to twenty minutes. The Lord’s Supper, on the other hand, was solemn, quiet, and, to a young boy, dull. Baptism was always a celebratory event-sometimes people even cheered.
I grew up in a large Baptist church where baptisms were frequent and the Lord’s Supper was rare.
0 kommentar(er)
