Although any discussion of the role which the sacraments play in the Christian life seems too “catholic” for many evangelical Christians, they do play a very important role throughout the New Testament. The debate over sacraments was a huge point of contention at the time of the Reformation, not only with Rome, but between Protestants (Lutheran and Reformed, as well as opposition to the Anabaptists). Baptists and Presbyterians continue to exist today as separate Protestant church bodies for a number of reasons, but one big point of contention is the on-going debate over the meaning, mode, and subjects of baptism, as well as how we ought to understand the nature of the Lord’s Supper.

Summarizing the teaching of Scripture on this topic, the Heidelberg Catechism (Q 65) defines the two New Testament sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper as “holy signs and seals for us to see. They were instituted by God so that by our use of them he might make us understand more clearly the promise of the gospel, and might put his seal on that promise.” And what is the promise of the gospel? “To forgive our sins and give us eternal life by grace alone because of Christ’s one sacrifice finished on the cross.”

The sacraments are visible signs and seals of God’s invisible grace promised to his people in the gospel (Romans 4:9-12).

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