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Ordinances of the Church
Jesus never
asked his disciples to remember His birth, but He did instruct them to
remember His death and resurrection. He gave the church two visible
symbols (called “ordinances”) as reminders of His death. These two
ordinances are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Baptism and
the Lord’s Supper are distinguished clearly from other ceremonies
because both of them preach the Gospel. Just as a pastor may preach
about Christ’s death and resurrection so that men may hear it, so
baptism and the Lord’s Supper preach about Christ’s death, burial, and
resurrection. In the supper, the pieces of bread speak of Christ’s body
broken by scourging and thorns, swords and nails. The juice speaks of
Christ’s blood which was spilled during His execution. This is a very
important thing to say about the ordinances: They preach the Gospel!
In them the gospel is being enacted before the church like a play on
stage.
The Ordinance
of Baptism
I. Why should I be
baptized?
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Jesus set the example by being baptized. “At
that time Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in
the river.” Mark 1: 9
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Because Jesus commanded it. Jesus said, “Go
then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples,
baptize them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the
Holy Spirit, and then teach them to obey everything I have
commanded you” Matthew 28:
19-20
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The
New Testament church set the example. . . . Many
of the people who heard Him believed and were baptized.”
Acts 2: 41
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It
demonstrates that I really am a believer. “We
know that we have come to know Him, if we obey His commands.”
I John 2: 3
II. What is the meaning
of baptism?
-
It
illustrates Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.
“For when you were baptized, you were buried with
Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ.” Colossians
2: 12
-
It illustrates my commitment
as a Christian. When someone becomes a Christian, he
becomes a brand new person inside. “. . . the
old life is passed away and a brand new life is begun!” II
Corinthians 5: 17
Baptism does not make you a believer. It shows that you
already believe. Baptism does not “save” you, only your faith
in Christ does. Baptism is like a wedding ring. It is the
outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart.
III. Why be baptized by
immersion?
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Because Jesus was baptized that way. The word “baptize”
means “to immerse” in water. It is a Greek word.
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the
water.” Matthew 3: 16
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Every baptism in the New Testament was by immersion.
(Example) “ . . . Then both Philip and the man went down
into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up
out of the water . . .” Acts 8:
38-39
IV. Final thoughts about
baptism
At
First Baptist it is a membership requirement that every member must
have been baptized (immersed, and after salvation) the way Jesus
demonstrated, even though many may have been “confirmed” as
children. At First Baptist, we wait until our children are old
enough to believe and understand the true meaning of baptism before
we baptize them.
Some
churches practice a “Baptism of confirmation” for children, many
even while yet an infant. This ceremony is intended to be a
covenant between the parents and God on behalf of the child. The
parents promise to raise their child in the faith until the child is
old enough to make his own personal confession of Christ. This
custom began about 300 years after the Bible was completed. This is
different from the baptism talked about in the Bible which was only
for those old enough to believe. Remember, the purpose of baptism is
to publicly confess your personal commitment to Christ. So we do not
baptize infants, and we do not sprinkle.
The Ordinance
of the Lord's Supper
I. What is the Lord’s
Supper? (I Corinthians 11:23-25)
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It
is a simple ceremony, not an elaborate affair.
“. . . The Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took
bread.” (v.23)
-
It
is a remembrance of the cross, His body sacrificed on the cross.
. . . And when He had given thanks, He broke it
and said, “This is My body, which is broken for you; Do this in
remembrance of me.” (v.24)
-
It
is a remembrance of His shedding of blood. “In
the same way He took the cup also, after the supper, saying,
‘This is the cup of the new covenant in My blood; Do this in
remembrance of me’” (v.25)
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It
is a proclamation of His place as our Savior. "For
as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim
the Lord’s death until He comes.”
(v.26”)
II. Who Should Take the
Lord’s Supper?
Only
those who are already believers in Christ. "For
anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord
eats and drinks judgment upon himself.”
1 Corinthians 11: 29
III. When and How Often
Should We Observe the Lord’s Supper?
Jesus
never said “when” or “how often” believers should observe the Lord’s
supper. He instituted it on a Thursday night. Our custom at
Duncanville’s First Baptist is to observe the Lord’s supper about 4
times a year, on average once a quarter and it will alternate
between morning and evening services.
2005 Duncanville's
First Baptist Church
Last modified:
06/12/07
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