Dear Family at Christ Community,

We will begin our new series, The Sacraments: Divine Invitations, this Sunday. Through Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 161, 1 Corinthians 3, and the Lord’s Table, we will see that the sacraments are made effectual by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The earthen vessels by which He wisely chooses to declare this Gospel truth can’t ultimately bring about faithful fruit nor can they ruin it. This also proves true for the earthen vessels in which He chooses to house His glory. What the Spirit accomplishes through the sacrament doesn’t depend on our worth or emotions. Donald M. Baillie in The Theology of the Sacraments and Other Papers writes:

“…one result of our recovery of a deep and strong sacramental theology will be this: that we shall learn to approach the Lord’s table not looking inwards upon our own souls and striving to work up an effect in the realm of feeling and emotion, but looking beyond ourselves to Him who is waiting to be gracious to us, Him who in His grace and love is as near and as real as the bread which we see with our eyes and touch with our hands.”

This serves as a great comfort to us given the messes we and others can make with both our arrogant pride and our fleshly sins.

Give thanks to the Lord for His lavish grace that proves more persistent and real than any of our failings! Praise Him for His provision of the means of grace to truly strengthen and nourish us in the power of the Holy Spirit! Exalt Him with glory for redeeming us body and soul in Christ as our firm foundation! Come prepared to taste and see that the Lord alone is good!

In Christ,
Cameron