T here are two sacraments which Christians today observe: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These are outward signs of an inward grace. Baptism is a public profession of our faith in the Lord before the church, and the Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of God’s grace and love through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. In the Old Testament, we see two corresponding signs that were shadows of these two sacraments. Circumcision points towards baptism, and the Passover meal points towards the Lord’s Supper. Circumcision is a sign showing that a person belongs to God’s covenantal people, the same way baptism is a sign signifying a person being joined to the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Passover meal remembers God’s mercy in preserving those whose homes were covered by the blood of the lamb, whereas the Lord’s Supper remembers how the body and blood of the Lamb of God cover God’s children from His wrath. All these outward signs, however, are secondary to the work of God in our hearts. This is made especially clear with the institution of the two sacraments by our Lord in the New Testament. Thus, it is of utmost importance for a person who professes faith to know what he believes. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward regeneration. If one is baptised and continues in his wicked ways, then he ought to examine the genuineness of his profession. The same goes for the Lord’s Supper. The Bible tells us, “for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” [1 Corinthians 11:29]. One needs to examine oneself in observing the sacraments. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. – 2 Corinthians 7:10
LESSON
Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
THOUGHT
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