#91 Question: How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?
Answer: The sacraments
become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him
that doth \administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working
of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them.
# 92 Question: What is a sacrament?
Answer: sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ;
wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are
represented, sealed, and applied to believers.
#93 Question: Which are the sacraments of the New Testament?
Answer: The sacraments of the New Testament are
baptism and the Lord's supper.
# 94 Question: What is baptism?
Answer: Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signify
and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the
covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord's.
#95 Question: To whom is baptism to be administered?
Answer: Baptism is not to be administered to any that
are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and
obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church
are to be baptized.
# 96 Question: What is the Lord's supper?
Answer: The Lord's supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving
and receiving bread and wine according to Christ's appointment, his death is
showed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner,
but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to
their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace.
#97 Question: What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord's supper?
Answer: It is required of them that would worthily
partake of the Lord's supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge
to discern the Lord's body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their
repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and
drink judgment to themselves.
WSC #91-97: The Sacraments: Summary and Review, Part 2, by Pastor J.D. Dusenbury [Text: Acts 2:37-42 (Audio)]
