Clearest Promises

Its amazing to us, is it not, that Calvin could say that "the sacraments bring the clearest promises" of God? He adds that "they have this characteristic over and above the word because they represent them for us as painted in a picture from life." (Institutes, 4.14.5). We are so used to thinking of the sacraments as controversial, difficult, obscure and unclear. No doubt there is much that is mysterious about the sacraments. It would be a brave person who claimed to understand them at their full depth. Nevertheless, there is much that is wonderfully simple, clear, personal and vivid about the sacraments: Jesus gives us a wash and feeds us. Praise Him!