The
Larger Catechism – Questions 161-170
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 instituteda.
a
1 Pet.3:21; Acts
8:13
compared with verse 23; 1 Cor.3:6,7; 1
Cor.12:13
Q.
162. What is a sacrament?
A.
A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ in his churcha,
to signify, seal, and exhibitb unto those that are within the
covenant of gracec, the benefits of his mediationd; to
strengthen and increase their faith, and all other gracese; to
oblige them to obediencef; to testify and cherish their love and
communion one with anotherg; and to distinguish them from those
that are withouth.
a
Gen.17:7,10; Exod.12; Matt.28:19; Matt.26:26-28 b Rom.4:11; 1
Cor.11:24,25 c Rom.15:8; Exod.12:48 d Acts 2:38; 1 Cor.10:16 e
Rom.4:11; Gal.3:27 f Rom.6:3,4; 1 Cor.10:21 g Eph.4:2-5; 1
Cor.12:13 h Eph.2:11,12; Gen.34:14
Q.
163. What are the parts of a sacrament?
A.
The parts of a sacrament are two; the one an outward and sensible sign, used
according to Christ's own appointment; the other an inward and spiritual grace
thereby signifieda.
a
Matt.3:11; 1 Pet.3:21; Rom.2:28,29
Q.
164. How many sacraments hath Christ instituted in his church under the New
Testament?
A.
Under the New Testament Christ hath instituted in his church only two
sacraments, baptism and the Lord's suppera.
a
Matt.28:19; 1 Cor.11:20,23; Matt.26:26-28
Q.
165. What is Baptism?
A.
Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, wherein Christ hath ordained the
washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghosta, to be a sign and seal of ingrafting into himselfb,
of remission of sins by his bloodc, and regeneration by his Spiritd;
of adoptione, and resurrection unto everlasting lifef;
and whereby the parties baptized are solemnly admitted into the visible churchg,
and enter into an open and professed engagement to be wholly and only the
Lord'sh.
a
Matt.28:19 b Gal.3:27 c Mark.1:4; Rev.1:5 d Tit.3:5;
Eph.5:26 e Gal.3:26,27 f 1 Cor.15:29; Rom.6:5 g 1
Cor.12:13 h Rom.6:4
Q.
166. Unto whom is baptism to be administered?
A.
Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church,
and so strangers from the covenant of promise, till they profess their faith
in Christ, and obedience to hima, but infants descending from
parents, either both, or but one of them, professing faith in Christ, and
obedience to him, are in that respect within the covenant, and to be baptizedb.
a
Acts 8:36,37; Acts
2:38
b Gen.17:7,9 compared with
Gal.3:9,14 and with Col.2:11,12 and with Acts
2:38
,39 and with Rom.4:11,12; 1 Cor.7:14;
Matt.28:19; Luke 18:15,16; Rom.11:16
Q.
167. How is our baptism to be improved by us ?
A.
The needful but much neglected duty of improving our baptism, is to be
performed by us all our life long, especially in the time of temptation, and
when we are present at the administration of it to othersa; by
serious and thankful consideration of the nature of it, and of the ends for
which Christ instituted it, the privileges and benefits conferred and sealed
thereby, and our solemn vow made thereinb; by being humbled for our
sinful defilement, our falling short of, and walking contrary to, the grace of
baptism, and our engagementsc; by growing up to assurance of pardon
of sin, and of all other blessings sealed to us in that sacramentd;
by drawing strength from the death and resurrection of Christ, into whom we
are baptized, for the mortifying of sin, and quickening of gracee;
and by endeavouring to live by faithf, to have our conversation in
holiness and righteousnessg, as those that have therein given up
their names to Christh; and to walk in brotherly love, as being
baptized by the same Spirit into one bodyi.
a
Col.2:11,12; Rom.6:4,6,11 b Rom.6:3-5 c 1 Cor.1:11-13; Rom.6:2,3
d Rom.4:11,12; 1 Pet.3:21 e Rom.6:3-5 f Gal.3:26,27 g
Rom.6:22 h Acts 2:38 i 1 Cor.12:13,25-27
Q.
168. What is the Lord's supper?
A.
The Lord's supper is a sacrament of the New Testamenta, wherein, by
giving and receiving bread and wine according to the appointment of Jesus
Christ, his death is shewed forth; and they that worthily communicate feed
upon his body and blood, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in graceb;
have their union and communion with him confirmedc; testify and
renew their thankfulnessd, and engagement to Gode, and
their mutual love and fellowship each with other, as members of the same
mystical bodyf.
a
Luke 22:20 b Matt.26:26-28; 1 Cor.11:23-26 c 1 Cor.10:16 d
1 Cor.11:24 e 1 Cor.10:14-16,21 f 1 Cor.10:17
Q.
169. How hath Christ appointed bread and wine to be given and received in the
sacrament of the Lord's supper?
A.
Christ hath appointed the ministers of his word, in the administration of this
sacrament of the Lord's supper, to set apart the bread and wine from common
use, by the word of institution, thanksgiving, and prayer; to take and break
the bread, and to give both the bread and the wine to the communicants: who
are, by the same appointment, to take and eat the bread, and to drink the
wine, in thankful remembrance that the body of Christ was broken and given,
and his blood shed, for thema.
a
1 Cor.11:23,24; Matt.26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19,20
Q.
170. How do they that worthily communicate in the Lord's supper feed upon the
body and blood of Christ therein?
A.
As the body and blood of Christ are not corporally or carnally present in,
with, or under the bread and wine in the Lord's suppera, and yet
are spiritually present to the faith of the receiver, no less truly and really
than the elements themselves are to their outward sensesb; so they
that worthily communicate in the sacrament of the Lord's supper, do therein
feed upon the body and blood of Christ, not after a corporal and carnal, but
in a spiritual manner; yet truly and reallyc, while by faith they
receive and apply unto themselves Christ crucified, and all the benefits of
his deathd.
a
Acts 3:21 b Matt.26:26,28 c 1 Cor.11:24-29 d 1 Cor.10:16
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