Mar 24

Romans 4:11
Memorise I Corinthians 12:13
“…a seal of the righteousness of the faith…”

According to the Westminster Larger Catechism, the purpose of a sacrament is to signify and seal those that are within the covenant of grace. What does this mean? In today’s first reading, Paul discusses the role of circumcision in Abraham’s life. [While we do not practice circumcision today, the sacrament of baptism is the church-age equivalent of it.] Paul describes circumcision as “a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised”. This verse sums up so well for us the significance of the sacraments. It is clear that we are not saved by the sacraments, ie. being baptised or partaking of the Lord’s Supper does not grants us entry into heaven. Salvation is always about the inward workings of the heart, and not the external acts and works. This is why Abraham’s faith is described as being that “which he had yet being uncircumcised” – before he was circumcised, he already had saving faith. God commanded circumcision so that it could be “a seal of the righteousness of the faith”. Basically, this means that it was to be an outward, visible sign of the inward change that he had undergone when he put his faith in Christ. Remember always that the physical act of baptism is to symbolise the spiritual workings in our hearts. Similarly, the Lord’s Supper is to be an outward testimony of the work of Christ in our salvation – whenever we partake of it, we “shew the Lord’s death” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Dear teen, may you thus come to understand the deep spiritual significance and purpose of the sacraments. While baptism and the Lord’s Supper do not give us salvation, they are a sign of those who have been born again. If you have truly trusted in Christ for your salvation, do not hesitate to seek public baptism, and then you will also be able to partake of the Lord’s Supper and enjoy all the associated spiritual benefits.

Thought: Sacraments are an outward sign of an inward change.
Prayer: Lord, may I truly understand the significance of the sacraments.