Our confession of faith, the Westminster Confession, describes this meal as “the sacrament of His body and blood.” The first purpose they list for the observance is the perpetual remembrance of His sacrifice on our behalf. We have already addressed this, noting that the remembrance is for both God and His people. But there is much more to this meal than simple remembrance.
The second blessing described is the sealing of all the benefits of the death of Christ to genuine believers. Where do we get this language of sacramental sealing in the Bible? The apostle Paul uses it when talking about Abraham’s faith, and he says that the Old Testament sacrament of circumcision was both a sign and seal of the righteousness that he had by faith (Rom. 4:11).
Our tendency is to say that if we have the reality, then who needs the seal? Well, the biblical answer is that Abraham did, and the answer of the Westminster Confession is that we believers in Jesus need it as well. And what we need God has provided for us here at this Table.
We live our Christian lives here, in a messy and messed-up world. We do not live in the decrees of God. We certainly live because of the decrees of God, but we cannot live in them. There is no air to breathe there, no food and no drink. Not only that but we are incapable of reading the decrees—we are quite illiterate in that regard—and so even that comfort is not possible to us. We are creatures, we live down here, and most of us have had quite a week. And because we live here, God has shown His kindness to us by offering us this tangible pledge, this seal, of His grace and mercy. Now for those who do not have genuine faith, this pledge or seal is nothing to them. They cannot see it or apprehend it. But for those with their spiritual senses quickened and alive, this is glorious. You have before you an edible oath.
So you can see it. You can chew it, and you can drink it. You come in faith. You want God to grant you assurance through His sacramental kindness. And that is what He doing—you can receive genuine assurance of salvation here. Do you doubt that this letter of invitation is really from the king? Then look at the seal.