Resources on Sacraments
After participating in the Lord’s Supper, Wilhelmus à Brakel summons God’s people to reflection. With regard to the public manifestation of our Christianity, he encourages us to think deeply about our benevolence, remembering that we bear the image of Christ. How benevolent the Lord Jesus was! Who did ever depart from Him, being yet uncomforted? Thus it must be with you: Comfort those who grieve, visit the sick, and be generous to the poor. If there is nothing you can give, nevertheless be friendly and manifest your compassion toward them. Let your light thus shine among men and manifest your faith by good works. – The Christian’s Reasonable Service (vol. 2): The Church and Salvation, trans. by Bartel Elshout. 1700…
Read MoreMy RTS Jackson colleague Dr. Guy Waters responds to the question, “Is Paedocommunion Biblical?”
Read MoreA critical question in the historic controversies regarding the Lord’s Supper is: Where is Christ’s physical body when the Supper is served? The Western Church puts forward three major answers. First, Rome teaches that the body and blood of Christ are present not only in heaven, but also physically in the bread and wine. At the time of their consecration at the Mass, the bread becomes the actual body of Christ and the wine becomes the actual blood of Christ. The outward appearance of the bread and wine remain unchanged, but their substance (what the elements really are) is changed into Christ’s body and blood. This view is known as “transubstantiation.” (See Westminster Confession of Faith, 29.6). Second, Lutherans reject…
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