Sacraments
We at Grace Covenant Church hold to two sacraments that Scripture has commanded: Believer's Baptism, and observance of the Lord's Supper (communion). We hold these sacraments to be of great importance to the body, and seek to honor our Lord through the observance of them.
Believer's Baptism
"The Reformed doctrine of believers' baptism is rooted in the historic Baptist tradition and the leading principles of Reformation theology. On the one hand, this doctrine affirms both the sovereignty of God in salvation and the corporate character of the Christian community. On the other hand, it makes allowance for the genuinely free and responsible role that repentance and faith must play in baptism." - Timothy George
We hold believer's baptism to be a public declaration that not only does the individual believe and profess that they have true genuine saving faith, but that the elders agree as well. Baptism is symbolic of the washing we receive from Jesus' Christ's blood on the cross when we come to Him in faith, and the baptism we receive from the Holy Spirit resulting in us becoming a new creation!
We hold believer's baptism to be a public declaration that not only does the individual believe and profess that they have true genuine saving faith, but that the elders agree as well. Baptism is symbolic of the washing we receive from Jesus' Christ's blood on the cross when we come to Him in faith, and the baptism we receive from the Holy Spirit resulting in us becoming a new creation!
The Lord's Supper
Matthew 26:26-29
The Lord’s Supper Instituted
26 Now while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it with you, new, in My Father’s kingdom.”
The Lord's Supper was instituted by Jesus to symbolize several things. First, it was instituted to commemorate His death. Jesus also instituted this observance to symbolize the New Covenant, point to the fellowship the redeemed are to have with one another, and to foreshadow and anticipate the messianic banquet yet to come.
We at Grace Covenant Church follow the biblical example of observing the Lord's Supper regularly, so that we can reflect on the great cost and sacrifice Jesus paid on our behalf to redeem His elect people.
The elements of the supper are symbolic of Christ and His sacrifice. The bread being His body that would be broken, and the wine being the blood that He would shed. Although we do not drink wine for communion at Grace Covenant Church, the juice is symbolic of this shed blood.
The Consistory (elders and ministers) that leads Grace Covenant Church has the God-given task of determining who, in addition to its own communicant membership (professing members in good-standing), should be admitted to the Lord’s Table, and it has approved of the following criteria, an explanation of which is given below.
Grace Covenant Church desires to receive visitors to the Lord’s Supper and also to celebrate it according to the requirements of Scripture, in order that Christ might be honored and His Church, blessed. Due to the Apostle Paul’s reminder that the Supper can bring judgment, not just blessing (1 Cor. 11:27-32), it is important that we are cautious and principled with this holy meal. If you are not a communicant member of our congregation, you are admitted to this Table if:
If this does not describe you or your church, or if you do not understand what this is all about, we ask you to please abstain. Since we desire to admit you to the Lord’s Table, we invite you to discuss your situation with Pastor Corey or Pastor Wilkinson, outside the service. It is our prayer that this practice blesses and protects the recipients of the Supper, encourages Christians to reflect upon their relationship with Christ and His Church, and directs all people to the death of Jesus as the only source of spiritual life.
Following our observance of the Lord's Supper after our regularly scheduled services, we will hold a lunch for all those wishing to participate and join in fellowship.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
The Lord’s Supper Instituted
26 Now while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it with you, new, in My Father’s kingdom.”
The Lord's Supper was instituted by Jesus to symbolize several things. First, it was instituted to commemorate His death. Jesus also instituted this observance to symbolize the New Covenant, point to the fellowship the redeemed are to have with one another, and to foreshadow and anticipate the messianic banquet yet to come.
We at Grace Covenant Church follow the biblical example of observing the Lord's Supper regularly, so that we can reflect on the great cost and sacrifice Jesus paid on our behalf to redeem His elect people.
The elements of the supper are symbolic of Christ and His sacrifice. The bread being His body that would be broken, and the wine being the blood that He would shed. Although we do not drink wine for communion at Grace Covenant Church, the juice is symbolic of this shed blood.
The Consistory (elders and ministers) that leads Grace Covenant Church has the God-given task of determining who, in addition to its own communicant membership (professing members in good-standing), should be admitted to the Lord’s Table, and it has approved of the following criteria, an explanation of which is given below.
Grace Covenant Church desires to receive visitors to the Lord’s Supper and also to celebrate it according to the requirements of Scripture, in order that Christ might be honored and His Church, blessed. Due to the Apostle Paul’s reminder that the Supper can bring judgment, not just blessing (1 Cor. 11:27-32), it is important that we are cautious and principled with this holy meal. If you are not a communicant member of our congregation, you are admitted to this Table if:
- You have been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- You have made a public profession of faith.
- You are repentant because of your sins and seek to obey God’s commands.
- You are a member in good-standing of a Protestant Church that affirms the following:
- The gospel is faithfully summarized in the Apostles’ Creed and/or the Nicene Creed.
- God’s justification of sinners is on the basis of the imputed righteousness of Christ, which is received by faith alone.
- The two sacraments in the New Covenant are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which are a means of grace.
- Church discipline should be exercised according to Scripture.
If this does not describe you or your church, or if you do not understand what this is all about, we ask you to please abstain. Since we desire to admit you to the Lord’s Table, we invite you to discuss your situation with Pastor Corey or Pastor Wilkinson, outside the service. It is our prayer that this practice blesses and protects the recipients of the Supper, encourages Christians to reflect upon their relationship with Christ and His Church, and directs all people to the death of Jesus as the only source of spiritual life.
Following our observance of the Lord's Supper after our regularly scheduled services, we will hold a lunch for all those wishing to participate and join in fellowship.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.