Being Chinese and Reformed (Reforming)

Jireh Publishers

reformed — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:57:12 +0000

Found this publisher in China producing some very fine books including stuff by JI Packer, Puritan papers, many different types of bibles.

http://www.jireh.cn/

No related posts.

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 29, Section 5

reformed — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 12:56:40 +0000

Today we look at the elements of the lords supper. When Jesus said this is my body, did he literally mean the bread turns into his body or was he speaking in a spiritual sense?

The bread is a visible sign of a spiritual reality. It points us to that day when we will truly eat and drink of the lord… So even though Christ said this is my body, our spirits truly are commune and feed on Christ. However, The bread remains bread and the wine remains wine.

This is contrast with the doctrine of transubstantiation where they believe in a literal transformation of bread to Christ body and wine to Christ blood. However, The bread remains bread and the wine remains wine.

The visible elements in this sacrament, when they are properly set apart for the uses ordained by Christ, have such a relationship to Christ crucified that they are sometimes called—truly, but only sacramentally—by the name of the things they represent, namely, the body and blood of Christ. This is true even though in substance and nature they still remain truly and only bread and wine, as they were before.
WCF 29.5 (MESV) – Of the Lord’s Supper

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 29, Section 4

reformed — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 12:55:57 +0000

We have been looking at the Lord’s Supper for the past few weeks. We’ve looked at what it is, who and how it is to be administered. We’ve looked at some of the differences between the Reformed and Roman Catholic understandings of the sacrament.

Today we look at private masses or private communion. This was a practice associated with the Catholic church, but is becoming more and more prevalent in Protestant circles as well. With the internet and other media, you can view a worship service from the privacy of your own home and some ministers actually encouraged you to take private communion. However, today’s confession rejects this practice.

When Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper it was with his people, a gathering of believers. He commanded to divide the cup and partake together of a common loaf.

Instances of the Lord’s Supper in the scriptures show a gathering together of the the body. (Cite Acts 2:42; 1 Cor 11:18-20). Communion requires a coming together. The Lord’s Supper is an expression or representation of communion between believers.

The Sacraments cannot be severed from the preaching of the word and the administration of church discipline. It goes hand in hand. Private communion obscures this or even denies that these are necessarily interrelated and interdependent. God calls us into community. And we are to have communion within community.

God’s is with his people. When we gather as a congregation, the spirit of God is with us and that is how we have communion with God, amongst his people.

4. Private masses—or receiving this sacrament from a priest or anyone else, alone—are contrary to the nature of the sacrament and to the institution of Christ. For the same reasons it is forbidden to deny the cup to the members of the congregation, to worship the elements, to lift them up or carry them around for adoration, or to reserve them for any supposedly religious use.

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 28, Section 7

reformed — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:38:37 +0000

Today’s confession points to the frequency of the sacrament of baptism.

It is analogous to OT sacrament of circumcision which is administered once.

Baptism is administered once. As long as it is administerd correctly as we have looked at from earlier confessions: with water, in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and performed with a minister of the gospel, it is to be recognized as a valid baptism.

Because it only needs to be administered once, baptism is recognized among different Christian denominations and churches. So if you were baptized in the Baptist church, going to a Presbyterian church would not invalidate your original baptism.

Historical precedence includes John Calvin who even after the reformation, considered his baptism in the Roman Catholic church a valid baptism and did not get “re-baptized.”

This also applies to infant baptisms. Even as the child grows into a fuller understanding of the gospel, the child does not need another baptism. Rather, the baptism is God’s promise to that child and to her parents of God’s saving grace.

Let’s read this confession together.

7. The sacrament of baptism is to be administered only once to any person.

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 28, Section 5

reformed — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:36:51 +0000

Today’s confession continues the look at Baptism.

Today’s confession speaks against sacerdotalism meaning baptism in itself does not have any power, the sacrament doesn’t infuse any grace to its recipients. In other words, sacerdotalism claims that one is saved through the sacraments.

Main points:

Baptism doesn’t save, Jesus saves.
Baptism doesn’t regenerate, Holy Spirit regenerates
YET neglecting Baptism is a great sin.

The act of physical water baptism doesn’t save, it is a sign that points us to the spiritual reality of our salvation in Jesus Christ. Example of this is in the end of Luke, the thief on the cross ask Jesus to “remember me when you come into your kingdom” Jesus responds, today you will be with me in paradise. The thief was not baptized, and was saved because his faith was in Christ.

There are some that are baptized who are not necessarily regenerated. We see an example in acts where Simon the Sorcerer is baptized but he did it to gain money and fame.

So if it doesn’t save, and doesn’t regenerate, what’s the point of doing it?

It is commanded by our Lord… Jesus says, if you love me, you will obey my commands. It is an act of love to Jesus.

It is also a means of grace, grace is promised to us in baptism and is exhibited and conferred to us through the Holy Spirit.

So if your faith is in Christ, do not neglect this means of grace for you.

5. Although it is a great sin to despise or neglect this ordinance, nevertheless, grace and salvation are not so inseparably connected with it that a person cannot be regenerated or saved without it. Neither is it true that all who are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 28, Section 4

reformed — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:35:44 +0000

Baptism is seal of the covenant. If anyone holds the fundamentals of the gospel and professes allegiance to Jesus Christ, you are welcome to his house. You are called to be baptized. This is called a believers baptism in which a person professes his faith and is brought into the family of God.

What then about infants? Today’s confession points us to infants born to one or both believing parent are to be baptized.

Here are the main reasons for infants to be baptized.

1. Since an infant is under the care of the parent, parents are called to bring them to God, into the covenant community.

2. Every covenant God has ever formed with Mankind has included the child. We see examples of this in Genesis with Adam; with Noah with Abraham; again with Israel through Moses; and even in the New Testament in Acts, God’s promises are for to these men and to their offspring; their children; their seed.

3. In the OT, the sign of the covenant was circumcision of infant males, not at the choice of the infant, but based on the faith of their parents-they were circumcised.

4. In a similar way, the NT the sign and seal of the covenant is baptism.

So, let me ask you this, have you been washed by the blood of the Lamb? Are your sins forgiven by Christ? Have you died with Christ and risen by faith to walk in newness of life? Does the Spirit of Christ dwell in you? Is the law being written on your heart? Come, signify this in baptism, and glorify God’s great new covenant work in your life… for you and your household.

4. Not only those who personally profess faith in and obedience to Christ, but also the infants of one or both believing parents, are to be baptized.

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 28, Section 2

reformed — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:34:08 +0000

2. The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, with which the person is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is to be performed by a minister of the gospel, lawfully called to that office.

All sacraments have two elements, an outward visible sign and an inward (spiritual) sign.

The design of Baptism is to signify, seal, and confer to those who belong to Christ, it symbolizes washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, where we are united to Christ and made participants in all his redemptive grace including forgiveness of sins and newness of life… Last week we looked at the inward spiritual sign.

This week, we look at the outward elements of baptism. Baptism with water symbolizes baptism by the Holy Spirit. Christ instituted the baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, because salvation involves all three persons of the Godhead, so we too are to be baptized in the name of our triune God.

It is a sign and reminder for us as believers as well as a testimony to the world as to what God has done for us in salvation…

For those who have not partaken in this means of grace, I encourage you to be baptized in order to profess what Christ has done for you and as an act of obedience to Christ.