What is a sacrament?

A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ in his church,[1] to signify, seal, and exhibit [2] unto those that are within the covenant of grace,[3] the benefits of his mediation;[4] to strengthen and increase their faith, and all other graces;[5] to oblige them to obedience;[6] to testify and cherish their love and communion one with another;[7] and to distinguish them from those that are without.[8]

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My Ten Favorite Hymns

Because Sherry wants to know.

1. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. Can you name a line from a hymn that’s more beautiful than “Sorrow and love flow mingled down”? I’m not alone in holding this hymn in such high esteem. Charles Wesley, I’ve read, said he would give up all his other hymns to have writ­ten this one. I like it best sung to Hamburg, which is the tune that Fernando Ortega sings in this video from YouTube.
   
   
2. Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting. This hymn points to the beauty of Christ and his work and reminds us that trust in him is resting in what he is done and is doing for us. I have several versions of this hymn on my iPod. I’d have to say my favorite is this one by Buddy Greene, which combines the old tune with one of the new ones.
3. It Is Well With My Soul. This is a hymn that will get you through tough times. During my husband’s illness, I once woke, on a Sunday morning, to a simple bluegrass version of this hymn on the radio. Nothing suits this song like a voice that sounds like it’s seen suffering. I’ve never found the version I heard that morning, but I’ve downloaded It Is Well With My Soul done by Bluegrass Worship Band from iTunes and I quite like it.
4. O Sacred Head Now Wounded. My favorite lines? “O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.” Here’s a lovely orchestral rendition of this hymn.
5. Like a River Glorious. I think Frances Havergal might be the best hymnwriter of the 19th century. This is a hymn that must be sung strongly, so how about listening to a rather large men’s choir singing it?
6. All Hail the Power of Jesus Name. I enjoy listening to this piano and cello rendition of Coronation, the melody I prefer.
7. Holy, Holy, Holy. Is there anyone who doesn’t love this hymn, except, I suppose, non-trinitarians? This is another one that should be sung lustily. I like my recording by the St. Olaf Choir, but I don’t know where to tell you to find it.
8. God Moves in a Mysterious Way. I have to include one of Cowper’s hymns and this is the best of William Cowper. Cowper was a fine poet and it shows in this ode to God’s meticulous providence. This hymn reminds us that even trials work God’s good purposes—that “behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.”  Isn’t it ironic that a hymn teaching truth that brings me joy comes from a man who, in God’s providence, suffered from a debilitating mental illness that robbed him of joy for much of his life? It’s proof that God does indeed move in a mysterious way! Listen to Lori Sealy.
   
   
9. Jesus Paid It All, which reminds me all the blessing of salvation come from Christ. I recommend Fernando Ortega on iTunes for this one.
10. Children of the Heavenly Father. Because it’s the perfect lullaby for singing children to sleep. You can hear it sung in Swedish and English by the Augustana choir in this video from YouTube. (Update: If I’d known this hymn would be unfamiliar to some, I’d have linked to this video, which has all the words in English and is less embellished than the first, but is just as lovely.)

Theological Term of the Week

threefold office(s) of Christ
Christ’s mediatorial work through which he accomplishes salvation seen as his fulfilling the duties of the offices of prophet, priest and king.

• From scripture, Christ as prophet:

  Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” (Acts 3:19-26 ESV)

• From scripture, Christ as priest:

  We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:19-20 ESV)
  

• From scripture, Christ as king:

  …[H]e raised [Christ] from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church…. (Ephesians 1:20-22 ESV)
  

• From the 1689 London Baptist Confession, Chapter 8, Of Christ the Mediator:

  9._____ This office of mediator between God and man is proper only to Christ, who is the prophet, priest, and king of the church of God; and may not be either in whole, or any part thereof, transferred from him to any other. (1 Timothy 2:5)

  10.____ This number and order of offices is necessary; for in respect of our ignorance, we stand in need of his prophetical office; and in respect of our alienation from God, and imperfection of the best of our services, we need his priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable unto God; and in respect to our averseness and utter inability to return to God, and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries, we need his kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to his heavenly kingdom. (John 1:18; Colossians 1:21; Galatians 5:17; John 16:8; Psalms 110:3; Luke 1:74, 75)

• From Of Christ’s Offices in General by Thomas Boston:

  [T]hree sorts of persons used to be anointed under the law, viz. Prophets, (1 Kings 19:16); priests, as Aaron, (Exo 29:7); and kings, as David and others. But all these offices meet in Christ, who was anointed for the execution of them. Hence he says himself (Isaiah 61:1), “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek, he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” He is anointed to preach good tidings unto the meek, as a Prophet; to bind up the broken-hearted, as a Priest; and to proclaim liberty, as a King. He was not anointed with material oil, as the p rophets, priests, and kings, under the Old Testament dispensation were, but with the oil of the Spirit; “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me (says he), because the Lord hath anointed me.” And God is said to have “anointed him with the oil of gladness above his fellows,” (Psa 45:7). Now, this unction signified, (1.) His being set apart to the Mediatory work, and to these offices: the Father “sanctified him, and sent him into the world,” (Joh 10:36). (2.) His being fully furnished with gifts and qualifications suitable to these offices, in respect of his human nature, to which the Spirit was given, not by measure (Isa 11:1, 2, &c.), but in fulness, not of sufficiency only, but abundance, not the fulness of a vessel, but of a fountain, in order to communicate liberally unto his people, (Joh 1:16). He was solemnly inaugurated to these offices at his baptism (Mat 3:17); at his transfiguration (Mat 17:5); and at his exaltation, (Act 2:36). And he was as solemnly called to these offices (Heb 5:4, 5): “No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron: so also, Christ glorified not himself, to be made an high Priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.”

Learn more:

1. Matt Perman: Christ as Our Perfect Prophet, Priest and King
2. Luther’s Smaller Catechism: The Office of Christ
3. Kim Riddlebarger: The Triple Cure: Jesus Christ - Our Prophet, Priest and King
4. S. Lewis Johnson: The Offices of Christ, or Prophet, Priest and King (mp3)

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it. I’m also interested in any suggestions you have for tweaking my definitions or for additional (or better) articles or sermons/lectures for linking. I’ll give you credit and a link back to your blog if I use your suggestion.

Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms organized in alphabetical order or by topic.