Grace and Peace Episode 34

 Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Grace and Peace Episode 34
Presbyterian Church of Easton
May 8, 2021

Watch Grace and Peace Epsiode 34

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2

Heidelberg Catechism
65Q.  It is through faith alone that we share in Christ and all his benefits: where then does that faith come from?
A. The Holy Spirit produces it in our hearts by the preaching of the holy gospel and confirms it by the use of the holy sacraments.

66Q.  What are sacraments?
A. Sacraments are visible, holy signs and seals. They were instituted by God so that by our use of them he might make us understand more clearly the promise of the gospel, and seal that promise. And this is God’s gospel promise: to grant us forgiveness of sins and eternal life by grace because of Christ’s one sacrifice accomplished on the cross.

67Q.  Are both the word and the sacraments then intended to focus our faith on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as the only ground of our salvation?
A. Yes! In the gospel, the Holy Spirit teaches us and by the holy sacraments confirms that our entire salvation rests on Christ’s one sacrifice for us on the cross.

68Q.  How many sacraments did Christ institute in the New Testament?
A. Two: holy baptism and the holy supper.

God instructed Abraham that the people of God, specifically the sons, should be circumcised.   This was a sign and seal of the promise of God to bless Abraham so that Abraham and his descendants could be blessings to all the families of the earth.  Circumcision was a sacrament instituted by God for his people to continue generation after generation.

Christ gave us two sacraments.   These are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  Like circumcision, these are signs and seals of God’s promise that he will bless us so that we may be a blessing for others.   And Jesus wants these to be continued generation after generation.

This is the responsibility of the church.   We are to go into our community and tell people how God has blessed us.   We are to invite people to church.   And when they accept faith in Christ we baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.   And we nurture the faith monthly by serving bread and juice as symbols of the heavenly feast we will one day have with our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, just as you were baptized in the Jordan river so too are we baptized in the church.   Help us to bring people to faith so we may baptize them in your name.   Also, Jesus, just as you gathered your disciples around a table we gather around the communion table monthly to remember you and worship at your feet.  Make these signs and seals of your promises.  Amen.