Devotional #67

Question 67: Are both word and sacraments, then, ordained and appointed for this end, that they may direct our faith to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, as the only ground of our salvation (a)?

Answer: Yes, indeed: for the Holy Spirit teaches us in the gospel, and assures us by the sacraments, that the whole of our salvation depends upon that one sacrifice of Christ which he offered for us on the cross.

(a) Romans 6:3: Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
1 Corinthians 10.15-17: I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
1 Corinthians 11.23-26: For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Galatians 3:27: For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

For your personal reflection:
Quite a bit of superstition has grown up around the sacraments.  Some mistakenly believe that we are saved by baptism or that we receive Christ in communion.  Both are signs of a spiritual reality, to be sure, communicating to us that reality, but still pointing beyond themselves to Christ.  Baptism is a sign of incorporation, a sign of differentiation – those baptized now belong to Christ.  It is also a sign of regeneration and new-birth assuring us of our adoption as sons of God.  Communion is the sign of the redemption that is ours in Christ.  Paul, above, speaks of communion as a sign of our participation with Christ.  Christ intended both to confirm and strengthen our faith as tangible expressions of the invisible spiritual truth to which they point.

How are the sacraments related to the Gospel?