The Lord’s Supper as the Sign and Meal of the New Covenant (Short Studies in Biblical Theology)
Overview
Most Christians know that Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper just hours before his death—but they struggle to understand the relevance of this foundational Christian practice to their daily lives. This book seeks to help Christians recover the importance of the Lord’s Supper for their daily lives by exploring its 3 purposes: an expression of communion with Jesus Christ, a demonstration of unity with other Christians, and a demarcation between the church and the world. Exploring how God uses similar “covenant signs” throughout the Bible to point to and confirm his promises, this new book in the Short Studies in Biblical Theology series helps readers more fully experience the blessings of the gospel available to them as they partake of the Lord’s Supper.
- Provides an introduction to the place and importance of the Lord’s Supper
- Explores the progress of covenants and covenant signs through Scripture
- Examines the centrality of covenants to the storyline of the Bible
- Covenant Basics
- Covenant Signs
- Covenant Meals
- The Lord’s Supper
- Conclusions for the Church
Top Highlights
“First, ‘covenant’ assumes an ‘existing, elective relationship’ between two parties and serves as the ‘solemn ratification’ of that relationship.3 Covenants in the Bible do not create a relationship that did not exist before. They formalize a relationship that is already in place.” (Page 21)
“Biblical theology explores the unfolding of God’s self-revelation in the Bible” (Page 16)
“Just as God has always made covenants with his people, so also God has always given covenant signs and covenant meals to his people. In all of God’s covenants, he has given his people tangible signs or tokens tied to the promises that he has made with them. God has also appointed meals for his covenant people to help them appreciate his goodness and abundance in the gospel. God appeals to us through our five senses—sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell—to encourage us to believe the good news that he offers us in the promises of the gospel.” (Page 14)
“But we engage our minds so that in the Supper we may commune with Jesus Christ by faith. The Supper is most profoundly an ordinance of communion with the Savior. Through faith, the believer meets with Christ who spiritually nourishes his or her soul in that meal.” (Pages 93–94)
“Covenant obligations in no way merit or earn God’s covenant promises, but they are the way in which God has appointed us to experience and enjoy the blessings that he freely gives us in his promises.” (Page 29)
At the time of the Reformation, more ink was spilled on the doctrine and practice of the Lord’s Supper than on almost any other topic. Most of the debates have yet to be resolved, so what is a Christian to do to gain a better understanding of this sacrament? This concise book by Guy Waters is a helpful place to start. Waters places his discussion of the Supper squarely in the context of the Bible’s teaching about covenants, providing a particularly helpful introduction to the nature of covenant meals.
—Keith A. Mathison, Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformation Bible College; author, From Age to Age; Given for You; and The Shape of Sola Scriptura
Many Christians suffer from a spiritual depth-perception problem or theological myopia when they come to the Lord’s Supper: all they see is bread and wine. Enter Guy Waters, expert spiritual ophthalmologist. In a single consultation he restores our depth perception and reduces our myopia. Perhaps to our surprise, he takes two-thirds of his time patiently guiding us through the pages of the Old Testament. Surely the Lord’s Supper is a new covenant ordinance! But Waters knows what he is doing. Prescribing biblically crafted lenses for us, he shows us the bread and wine again and asks, ‘Do you see more clearly now?’ Read these pages carefully and you will find yourself saying, ‘Yes, it’s so much clearer now. Thank you so much; it’s wonderful!’
—Sinclair B. Ferguson, Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary; Teaching Fellow, Ligonier Ministries
In a warm and readable style, Guy Waters blesses the church again. By first taking us on an engaging tour of the Bible’s covenants, he sets the table for his central concern—that in the communion meal the people of God ‘truly dine with our covenant Head,’ the Lord Jesus Christ. From beginning to end, the reader will find biblical texts surveyed persuasively, historic theological distinctions tackled thoughtfully, and practical concerns addressed winsomely. Before you next partake of the Lord’s Supper, consume this volume first.
—David B. Garner, Vice President for Advancement and Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary; author, Sons in the Son and How Can I Know for Sure?
- Title: The Lord’s Supper as the Sign and Meal of the New Covenant
- Author: Guy Waters
- Series: Short Studies in Biblical Theology
- Publisher: Crossway
- Print Publication Date: 2019
- Logos Release Date: 2019
- Pages: 128
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Lord’s Supper › Biblical teaching; Covenant theology › Biblical teaching; Christian life
- ISBNs: 9781433558375, 9781433558405, 9781433558382, 9781433558399, 1433558378, 1433558408, 1433558386, 1433558394
- Resource ID: LLS:LRDSSPPRNWCVNNT
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-06-27T16:47:01Z