Theology of the Church, Mentor's Guide, MG03

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T H E O L O G Y O F T H E C H U R C H

B. The second mark of the true Church according to Reformation teaching is “Where the sacraments are rightly administered.” A true church is an assembly where the sacraments (sometimes called “ordinances” in some traditions) are mandated by Jesus Christ and practiced regularly as a part of the Christian community life. Two sacraments universally recognized in denominations are baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

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According to the Reformers’ reading of Scripture, what constituted a sacrament?

1. First, it had to be established (or ordered) by Jesus himself.

a. For instance, Jesus submitted to and instituted baptism as a token of salvation. In Mark 16.15-16 Jesus tells his apostles to go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation. He said that those who believed and were baptized would be saved.

b. Jesus also inaugurated the Lord’s Supper through his celebration of the Passover with his disciples before his death, see 1 Cor. 11.23-26.

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2. Next, true sacraments should be seen as a token of saving faith of those who have joined God’s covenant community.

a. Baptism was for those who have repented and believed in Jesus Christ, those who had turned from sin and turned to God in Christ.

b. The Lord’s Supper was intended for believers as seen in the face of Paul’s teaching where he exhorts the Corinthians to eat the bread and drink from the cup worthily, that is, in full fellowship with Christ, 1 Cor. 11.