Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

• 1 Peter 3:21

Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. …
For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

• Acts 8:13, 23

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

• 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

• 1 Corinthians 6:11

For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

• 1 Corinthians 12:13

“Q. 74. How do baptism and the Lord’s Supper become spiritually helpful?
“A. Baptism and the Lord’ Supper become spiritually helpful, not from any virtue in them, or in him who does administer them (1 Cor. 3:7; 1 Pet. 3:21), but only by the blessing of Christ (1 Cor. 3:6), and the working of the Spirit in those who by faith receive them. (1 Cor. 12:13).”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon’s Catechism (Scripture proofs in bold above)

“Q. 91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?
“A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them, but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them.”

• The Shorter Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

“Q. 161. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?
“A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not by any power in themselves or any virtue derived from the piety or intention of him by whom they are administered; but only by the working of the Holy Ghost, and the blessing of Christ by whom they are instituted.”

• The Larger Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

Although the question differs, the biblical proofs are roughly the same.  The Larger and Smaller catechisms have the added proof from Acts, and in an odd twist, 1 Corinthians 12:13 is not in the Larger Catechism, but is in the other two.  Thus, the Larger Catechism has less biblical proofs, but still a longer, more detailed answer.

The difference in stating baptism and the Lord’s Supper and the sacraments is wording.  In the reformed faith, there are only two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  Not knowing that or applying an inappropriate definition to sacraments could be dangerous here.

The major difference here is in the question.  I agree more with the wording of the Spurgeon catechism.  Linking the sacraments to “salvation” introduces a doctrine of works or a doctrine of faith plus.  That is, faith plus baptism or faith plus the Lord’s Supper or faith plus both.  The sacraments are symbolic.  That does not mean that the Holy Spirit cannot work through those sacraments but the acts of that sacrament do not save us, the symbols of those sacraments do.

And as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:14, he was glad that he did not baptize anyone in Corinth except Crispus and Gaius.  If you are reminded of who baptized you or who you received communion from, then the focus goes away from God and the sacrament becomes useless.

We must be baptized in the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit comes into us at salvation.  Thus, without the presence of the Holy Spirit, we would not be saved.  Some denominations consider the baptism of the Holy Spirit goes beyond that to include speaking in tongues, healing, or other such things.  That is not necessary for salvation but the Holy Spirit within us is.

And a belief and trust in Jesus and His sacrificial gift to us be necessary for our sins to be washed away is necessary.  Thus, what those sacraments represent is necessary.  I wholeheartedly agree that these become spiritually helpful, but to become an effective means toward salvation?

My disagreement here is that around 10-12 years old, countless children of loving parents watch their children make a statement of faith and then get baptized.  They then join the church and take the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion.  Then when they hit their teenaged years, any commitment that they thought they made to God often goes out the window.  I heard Dr. David Jeremiah say that he accepted Christ young in life and then he did so again after he had gone through those rough years.  Not that the first time did not stay with him, but to affirm that it had.  Some denominations speak of falling from Grace, and this scenario is often shown as “proof” but were the children old enough to understand what they were saying and doing?

Yet, as members of the church, these non-believing church members have all the rights of membership, and some with no faith at all.  When the Holy Spirit shows them their error, do they listen to the Holy Spirit or do they argue that their baptism and taking of the Lord’s Supper is all they need to enter Heaven?

This is a vicious cycle and it has led to churches changing their doctrines to appease those that really do not believe.

In being a reminder, in being symbolic, the sacraments are very much spiritually helpful.

And now let us sing.

The following song is sung by Geneva Presbyterian Church Choir, Laguna Hills, CA, USA, We Bless the Name of Christ, the Lord.

“1 We bless the name of Christ the Lord,
We bless Him for His holy Word,
Who loved to do His Father’s will,
And all His righteousness fulfill.

2 We follow him with pure delight
To sanctify His sacred rite;
And thus our faith with water seal,
To prove obedience that we feel.

3 Baptized in God–the Father, Son,
And Holy Spirit—-Three-in-One,
With conscience free, we rest in God,
In love and peace, through Jesus’ blood.

4 By grace we “Abba, Father” cry;
By grace the Comforter comes nigh;
And for Thy grace our love shall be
Forever, only, Lord, for Thee.”

• Samuel F. Coffman, We Bless the Name of Christ, the Lord

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
You are all we need.  But sometimes we need reminders of who You are and what You did for us.  Thank You for the sacraments so that we can be reminded of the work You did for us and how You work through us.  Help us to not turn such reminders into what we worship.  Instead, let those reminders help us grow closer to You.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.