Ecclesiology

Studies surrounding issues in the church: sacraments, ordinances, offices, etc.

The Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

 

The church of Jesus Christ alone is the channel for all the means of grace. Paul says, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone,” (Eph. 2:20). John Calvin called the church the “mother of all the godly” (in light of all those who have God as their Father), for there is no salvation outside of it. He says, “Beyond the pale of the Church no forgiveness of sins, no salvation, can be hoped for, as Isaiah and Joel testify (Isa. 37:32; Joel 2:32.) To their testimony Ezekiel subscribes, when he declares, “They shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel,” (Ezek. 13:9)…By these words the paternal favour of God and the special evidence of spiritual life are confined to his peculiar people, and hence the abandonment of the Church is always fatal,” Calvin, John, Institutes of the Christian Religion, (Edinburgh: The Calvin Translation Society, 1845) 4:1:4. See also Acts 2:40-41, 47, and the 1647 Westminster Confession of Faith, “The visible church, which is also catholic or universal under the gospel (not confined to one nation, as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion; and of their children: and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.” As well, the Belgic Confession says, “We believe, since this holy congregation is an assembly of those who are saved, and that out of it there is no salvation,” (Article 28). Christ has authorized the church, (Eph. 1:22-23), and only the church, working in the power of the Holy Spirit, (Micah 3:8; Luke 4:14; Rom. 15:19), for the gathering of the elect, (Mark 13:27), the edification of the saints, (Rom. 14:17-19), and the building up of His spiritual body (Jude 1:20). He qualifies the church for this great task by endowing her with spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:12; Eph. 4:8), and by the institution of the offices (1 Tim. 3:1ff; Eph. 4:11-12), for the administration of the Word (2 Tim. 4:2; Rom. 10:8) and the sacraments, (Psa. 99:7; 1 Cor. 11:2, 20; Luke 22:17ff; Matt. 3:16, 26:26ff; Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 1:13), which are used to lead the elect to their eternal destiny.

 

 

 

Lord’s Supper

An Explanation of the Lord’s Supper by the Westminster Assembly

Gospel Worship, or, The Right Manner of Sanctifying the name of God in General, in Hearing the Word, Receiving the Lord’s Supper, and Prayer by Jeremiah Burroughs (1599-1646) – Highly recommend reading this!!

Of the Real Presence of Christ in the Supper by James Ussher

A Short Treatise on the Lord’s Supper by John Calvin

The Lord’s Supper and It’s Benefits by John Calvin

A Summary of the Lord’s Supper by John Knox

A Discourse on the Lord’s Supper by Peter Martyr Vermigli

The Lord’s Supper by Thomas Doolittle

Should Wine Be Substituted in the Lord’s Supper? by Martin Luther

The Lord’s Supper by John Calvin

The Elements of the Lord’s Supper by Herman Bavinck

The Elements of the Lord’s Supper by Charles Hodge

The Use of the Communion Table in the Lord’s Supper by James Begg

Paedocommunion and Covenant Theology Edited by C. Matthew McMahon

What Mean Ye? by Rev. Richard bacon (A good article against Paedo-communion, but helping to understand the Passover in light of the Lord’s Supper.)

14 Communion Sermons on the Lord’s Supper by Samuel Rutherford

Against Consubstatiation by Francis Turretin

Wine in the Bible and the Church by G.I. Williamson

The Bible and Weekly Communion by Shawn Matthis (PDF)

Sermons on the Lord’s Supper by Robert Bruce

A Sacramental Catechism by John Willison

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper by James Bannerman

The Lord’s Supper by Thomas Houston

Various Works on the Lord’s Supper, a Bibliography by Thomas Houston

Lord’s Supper Resources from Ligonier Ministry and RC Sproul

On the Proper Time for the Admission of Recent Converts to the Full Communion of the Church Princeton Review, vol. 5, no.3, July, 1833.

Debarring and Inviting Service – at the administration of the Lord’s Supper by Rev. S. Bowden (1871)

Arguments Against Paedocommunion by Peter Deitsch

For Paedocommunion – The History of Paedocommunion from the Early Church Until 1500 by Tommy Lee (Debukned by the following articles:)

Paedocommunion on the Puritanboard with some notes by C. Matthew McMahon

A Summary Against Paedocommunion by Dr. Nigel Lee

Paedocommunionism vs. Protestantism by Dr. Nigel Lee

A Catechism for Converting Paedocommunionists by Dr. Nigel Lee

How Hostile is Paedocommunion to the Westminster Standards? by Rev. Lane Keister

Paedocommunion at the Puritanboard Thread 2

The True History of Paedocommunion by Rev. Matthew WInzer

Children at the Table: A Summary Critique of Paedocommunion

Children at the Lord’s Table, by Cornel Venema

Arguments Against Paedocommunion by Peter Dietsch

Children and the Lord’s Supper book Critique

Paedocommunion: A Biblical Examination by Brian Schwertley

A Communion Catechism by John Craig (1592)

Greg Bahnsen and Kenneth Gentry Against Paedocommunion

Reformed Theology and Apologetics
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our ring of reformed sites.

Keep up to date on new articles, new reformed and puritan books, and coupons for purchasing some of the best reformed literature in print!

You have Successfully Subscribed!