The Jerusalem Chamber » Podcast

Why is the mode of baptism important? Who might disagree that baptism is for the church today? What movement is this paragraph addressing? What is some of the biblical language translated as “baptism” or “baptize”? What does the mode of baptism signify? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 28.3:

Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring or sprinkling water upon the person.

Is the element of water necessary to baptism? Rome includes other things with their water in baptism is that appropriate? What does water represent in the Bible? What is meant and why is baptism into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? Why can only a minister of the gospel administer baptism? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 28.2:

The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the gospel lawfully called thereunto.

What are the historical roots to water baptism? Did the Old Testament have any precursors to baptism? When did Christ ordain baptism? What about the baptism of John? Where do we see that baptism is a solemn admission into the visible church? How is it a sign and seal of our ingrafting into Christ, regeneration, remission of sins, and newness of life? Are there any who would disagree with this definition of baptism? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 28.1:

Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church, but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life: which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in his Church until the end of the world.

How does our covenant theology help inform the continuity and discontinuity between the Old and New Testaments? How are the Old Testament sacraments the same in “substance” and what does that mean? Can you give some examples of Old Testament sacraments and show how they were instituted by God and signified and sealed Jesus Christ and his benefits to the believer? Do we see the work of the Spirit making effectual the sacraments of the Old Testament? What are the differences between Old and New Testament sacraments? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 27.5:

The sacraments of the Old Testament, in regard of the spiritual things thereby signified and exhibited, were, for substance, the same with those of the New.

Why the need to qualify that there’s only two sacraments? Are there any who say there’s less than two? What’s the relationship between this paragraph and the former one? What do we need to understand in order to get the point of a “lawfully ordained minister”? What impact did this paragraph have on the Covenanters? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 27.4:

There be only two sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord: neither of which may be dispensed by any but by a minister of the Word lawfully ordained.

Can you address the errors of grace being conferred through the sacraments by the power within them, the piety or intention of the administrator? What biblical wisdom is there in making these distinctions? Is there evidence that one can be an unbeliever and receive the sacraments? Are there proof texts against this? What is the grace exhibited in the sacraments? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in that? What are the words of institution? What benefits are given and why are they important? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 27.3:

The grace which is exhibited in or by the sacraments, rightly used, is not conferred by any power in them; neither doth the efficacy of a sacrament depend upon the piety or intention of him that doth administer it, but upon the work of the Spirit, and the word of institution, which contains, together with a precept authorizing the use thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receivers.

Can you remind our listeners what a “sign” and “seal” are? What is meant by the “thing signified”? How is this sacramental union representative and instrumental? What are the grounds for the union? Can you give examples of the way each is attribute to the other? What happens if we conflate the sign and the thing signified? What happens when we divorce the sign and the thing signified? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 27.2:

There is in every sacrament a spiritual relation or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified; whence it comes to pass that the names and the effects of the one are attributed to the other.

Where does the word “sacrament” come from? How are sacraments “signs”? Why the qualifier “holy”? How are sacraments “seals”? Why is it important that they’re immediately instituted by God? What are other popular views of the sacraments? What do the sacraments accomplish? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 27.1:

Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, immediately instituted by God, to represent Christ and his benefits, and to confirm our interest in him: as also to put a visible difference between those that belong unto the Church and the rest of the world; and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to his Word.

What is the spectrum of belief regarding divinization? What do we get wrong about partaking in the divine nature? How is this wrong thinking blasphemous? What is some of the communal living being described here? How do we know the Bible permits the owning of private property? How would communalism rob us of a significant duty to God? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 26.3:

This communion which the saints have with Christ, doth not make them in any wise partakers of the substance of his Godhead, or to be equal with Christ in any respect: either of which to affirm is impious and blasphemous. Nor doth their communion one with another, as saints, take away or infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.

What is significant about the words “saints by profession”? What biblical passages and imagery is used to explain the communion of saints? How does a biblical understanding of the communion of saints differ from the Roman Catholic view? How does worship help us maintain a “holy fellowship”? What is some of the New Testament’s “spiritual service” that we give to one another? What is the scope of “outward things”? Why does this paragraph end on a note of universality? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 26.2:

Saints, by profession, are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification; as also in relieving each other in outward things, according to their several abilities and necessities. Which communion, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all those who, in every place, call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.