The Word of the Lord is right, and all His works are done in truth. Ps. 33,4.
As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come. 1 Cor. 11,26.
QUESTIONS.
1. What do we call the second Sacrament of the Christian Church? 2. Who instituted this Sacrament? 3. When did Christ institute it? 4. Which words of Christ show that we also should do as He has done, and celebrate His Supper? 5. What are the external visible means in this Sacrament? 6. What word of God is it with which bread and wine are connected? 7. What does Christ give us to eat and to drink under and with the bread and wine? 8. Why do we believe this to be true though we can not understand it? 9. Why do we believe that Christ is able to do what He has promised in His Supper? 10. Which words of Christ show us the benefit of such eating and drinking? 11. What is given us, according to these words, in the Sacrament? 12. How do we prove that also life and salvation are given us in the Sacrament, although Christ speaks only of forgiveness of sins? 13. How does the Sacrament make us certain of forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation? 14. What is a Sacrament?
LESSON 51.
Baptism And the Lord's Supper.
Review Lesson.
1. We have two Sacraments in our Church. What do we mean by a sacrament? By whom have the Sacraments been instituted? What has God ordained in the Sacraments to offer His grace? With what are these visible, external means connected? What does God offer and give through the external means connected with His word? What are the two Sacraments called?
2. Our first Sacrament is Baptism. How does our Catechism answer the question, "What is Baptism"? What is the external means in Baptism? What kind of water must we uge when we baptize a person? If we have no water, we cannot baptize. But the water in Baptism is not simple, common water; what, then, is it?—Baptism is the water comprehended in God's command. What command did Christ give His disciples before He ascended into heaven? Matt. 28,19. Who, therefore, has instituted Baptism? Who, at the present time, ordinarily performs this sacred act? In which case can and should every Christian do it? Christ has commanded us to baptize? What does the word baptize mean?—Which is the word of God connected with the water in Baptism? We are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, in the name of the Triune God. God's name is God Himself. We are baptized in God Himself, in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. What does God bestow upon us in Baptism? God there gives us Himself as our true Father and accepts us as His dear children. Since the water of Baptism is connected with God's word and name, it is indeed not common water, but a gracious water of life.— Whom are we to baptize according to God's command? What is meant by the word nations? We make a distinction in baptizing adults and children. When do we baptize adults? We baptize our children in their infancy, when they are still babies, not able to be instructed in the Word of God. We instruct them in the doctrines of God's Word after they have been baptized, when they are able to understand and to learn the Word of God. What kind of schools do we Christians therefore establish? Which word of Christ induces us to baptize our little children? Mark 10,14. To whom are our children brought in Baptism? What does the Holy Ghost kindle in them by Baptism? In Holy Baptism our children become God's children. Christ takes them up in His arms and blesses them.
3. Baptism is the water comprehended in God's command and connected with God's word. Baptism is indeed a great and wonderful institution. Why? What three great blessings of Baptism are mentioned in our Catechism? Where has Christ promised these three blessings? Mark 16,16. Christ here only says that he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He mentions only salvation; how, then, can we prove that Baptism also works forgiveness of sins and delivers from death and the devil?—Baptism works forgiveness of sins. Christ by His innocent sufferings and death has earned us this great gift, and yet we say that baptism works forgiveness of sins. What do we mean to say by this? By what means does the Holy Ghost make forgiveness of sins our own? What does the Apostle write Gal. 3,26.27? Whom do we put on in Baptism? What does this mean? By Baptism all the merits of Christ are imputed to us, His spotless righteousness is made our own. The second great blessing of Baptism is this, that it delivers us from death and from the devil. How did death come into this world? If Baptism works forgiveness of sins, from what must it deliver us? Baptism delivers us from the devil. How does Baptism deliver us from the devil? How does it give us salvation? To whom does Baptism give all these great things? What does our Lord say Mark 16,16? It is true, Baptism offers all these heavenly gifts to us, whether we believe or not. But we must take and receive them by faith. As God offers all these things in Baptism, with what may we compare Holy Baptism as far as God is concerned? What is the hand with which we take all God's blessings which are offered in Baptism? We should remember our baptism during our whole life. When especially should we think of it? How long will God keep His promises?
4. Our second Sacrament is the Lord's Supper. What is it also called? By whom was it instituted? What does our Lord mean to say when He adds: "This do in remembrance of Me"? Christ wants His Sacrament to be celebrated in His Church till He again comes visibly on the Last Day.— What are the visible means in this Sacrament? What are we to do with the bread and wine? In the Lord's Supper as in baptism the visible means, bread and wine, are comprehended in God's command.—What is the word of God connected with the bread and wine? What does Christ give us in the Sacrament under bread and wine? We, indeed, cannot understand this, cannot see how it is possible. Why do we nevertheless believe it to be true? Can Christ fulfil what He has promised us? Why? In which of His words of institution is the benefit of such eating and drinking shown? What is given us in the Sacrament through these words? We are given forgiveness of sins; what must be there also, where there is forgiveness of sins? What is especially strengthened in us when we partake of the Lord's Supper?