Prologue

How seriously do you really take the Sacraments? Christ instituted them for a particular purpose – namely to drive home to us the momentous implications of what God did for our salvation, and the infinite cost He bore in Christ doing it. He commanded His disciples to go into the world not only to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples, essential as it is, but included the command to baptise them in the name of Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

In the case of the Lord’s Supper, He gave particular instructions in words and actions for its observation designed to express in measure the reality of what He had done, and how it should influence the lives and service of His people to God’s glory. Hence, the sacraments have an important and significant role in the life and worship of the Church.

In the course of their observance in recent times, there is sufficient evidence to conclude that the attention given them falls short of conveying the role originally attached to them by Christ, as Scripture records. Arguments are mounted for one particular mode of institution against that of another based on textual considerations but without due consideration of the “big picture”. Or it is all based on personal preferences and opinions - arguments that are questionable to say the least when claiming to adhere to the authority and inspiration of the written Word. I deal with these matters briefly below during the discussion.

We must seek to “…comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height; to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that (we) may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph.3.18, 19). And the Lord’s Supper particularly is designed to assist in that. The Westminster Confession of Faith summarises it by saying that it is…

“……to be observed in the church for the perpetual remembrance of the sacrifice of himself in his death, the sealing all benefits thereof unto true believers, their spiritual nourishment and growth in him, their further engagement in and to all duties which they owe unto him, and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with him, and with each other, as members of his mystical body.” W.C.F. Chap. 29, 1.

Our Lord’s gracious act on Calvary’s hilltop reached enormous proportions by glorifying God beyond all comprehension. Scripture reminds us to, "Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;” (Deut 7:9).

The importance of the Word and the Sacraments in worship cannot be over-estimated in helping us towards testifying to His grace and reaching our chief end of glorifying Him; for in estimating their value we must bear in mind the purpose of the written Word. John saidimmediately following his account of the Resurrection: “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.“(John 20.31).

The force and authority with which it speaks as the Spirit takes the things of Christ and applies them to His people, should give them a deepening appreciation of what He did (John16.13-15). The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper along with the actions accompanying it in the institution, speak with the same authority as the Word, for after-all the institution is also the word and command of the Lord. Thus, He speaks both by the Word and by the acts He has commanded us to follow. Delivered with His authority, the mode of observation is to be followed implicitly as He instituted it.

There are two matters especially worthy of careful thought in the course of discussing them, firstly, the interpretation of institution and the role of the ritual associated with the Lord’s Supper as He instructed the disciples, and passed on to Paul apparently personally. And secondly, the question of pǽdocommunion (the eligibility or not of children to take communion without adequate preparation), which is fast-becoming a major issue globally within a wide circle of Churches… Christ ordained both sacraments, therefore obviously both must be taken seriously, and observed with due care and reverence. Included in the ritual accompanying Covenant Baptism, of course we add the scriptural references that provide a warrant for its institution, and to remind those that witness it of its significance and meaning clearly, both to each one personally, as well as its corporate application. It is clear that there is a dearth of understanding within congregations on its nature and purpose scripturally, noted by uninformed comments doubting scriptural warranty….

This whole exercise of course is couched within the context of the role of the covenants in the history of salvation, and their current importance to the covenant responsibilities of God’s people in the task He has given them in the course of glorifying Him, their chief and highest end. It is predominately an extract from my study on the subject, “The Covenants in Creation, the History of Salvation, and the Continuing Significance, Part II.”……