Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof - New Leaven

the suretyship of Christ the ground of election, while Scripture bases election entirely on
the good pleasure of God.
4. CONNECTION OF THE SACRAMENTS USED BY CHRIST WITH THE COVENANT. Christ used
the sacraments of both the Old and the New Testament. It is evident, however, that they
could not mean for Him what they do for believers. In His case they could be neither
symbols nor seals of saving grace; nor could they be instrumental in strengthening
saving faith. If we distinguish, as we are doing, between the covenant of redemption
and the covenant of grace, then the sacraments were for Christ in all probability
sacraments of the former rather than of the latter. Christ took upon Himself in the
covenant of redemption to meet the demands of the law. These had assumed a definite
form when Christ was on earth and also included positive religious regulations. The
sacraments formed a part of this law, and therefore Christ had to subject Himself to
them, Matt. 3:15. At the same time they could serve as seals of the promises which the
Father had given to the Son. The objection may be raised to this representation that the
sacraments were indeed fit symbols and seals of the removal of sin and of the
nourishment of spiritual life, but from the nature of the case could not have this
meaning for Christ, who had no sin and needed no spiritual nourishment. The objection
may be met, at least to a certain extent, by calling attention to the fact that Christ
appeared on earth in a public and official capacity. Though He had no personal sin, and
no sacrament could therefore signify and seal to Him its removal, yet He was made to
be sin for His people, II Cor. 5:21, by being burdened with their guilt; and consequently
the sacraments could signify the removal of this burden, according to the promise of the
Father, after He had completed His atoning work. Again, though we cannot speak of
Christ as exercising saving faith in the sense in which this is required of us, yet as
Mediator He had to exercise faith in a wider sense by accepting the promises of the
Father believingly, and by trusting the Father for their fulfilment. And the sacraments
could serve as signs and seals to strengthen this faith as far as His human nature was
concerned.
D. REQUIREMENTS AND PROMISES IN THE COVENANT OF
REDEMPTION.
1. REQUIREMENTS. The Father required of the Son, who appeared in this covenant as
the Surety and Head of His people, and as the last Adam, that He should make amends
for the sin of Adam and of those whom the Father had given Him, and should do what
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