HOLY BAPTISM . . .                                                       Holy Communion!

 

  TWO ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH  

 

There are two ordinances which Jesus Christ has instituted and established for His Church. An ordinance is a "prescribed practice."  

It is something that has been prescribed and ordered by Jesus Christ and practiced by the Church. An ordinance is something that the Church practices because Jesus Christ has told her (the Church, or Bride of Christ) to do so. The New Testament makes it very clear that the early Church practiced and observed two ordinances. These two ordinances are both mentioned in  Acts 2:41-42 :

 

A. BAPTISM  (immersion under water). The word "baptize" is a Greek word which means "to dip, to immerse, to plunge into something that surrounds or covers." When used of a liquid it means that an object or a person is put into or under a liquid so as to be completely covered by the liquid (totally submerged).  INSTITUTED BY JESUS CHRIST  The reason the Church baptizes people in water is because this is exactly what Jesus Christ has told us to do. After His resurrection and before He returned to heaven, Jesus gave this command to His followers: "Go ye therefore, and teach (make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" Matthew 28:19. Jesus said it and the Church must obey it!

1)  John 3:16—"that whosoever believeth in Him and is baptized should not perish, but have everlasting life."

2)  John 6:47—"He that believeth on Me and is baptized hath everlasting life."

3)  Acts 10:43—"that through His Name whosoever believeth in Him and is baptized shall receive remission (forgiveness) of sins."

4)  Acts 16:31--"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be baptized and thou shalt be saved."

5)  1 Corinthians 1:21--"it pleased God . . . to save them that believe and that are baptized."

 

Water baptism is only for those who have a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. If a person’s sins have not been forgiven or cleansed, then he should not be baptized in water. Salvation must precede water baptism. What about children? A baby or infant child should be "dedicated" to Christ at age 6 months or more. A child should only be baptized when he or she is at the age where they understand and want to be saved. Romans 10:9 Salvation always comes first!

 

B. COMMUNION (to break bread and drink wine). THE LORD's SUPPER. INSTITUTED BY JESUS CHRIST The Communion service was instituted on the MAUNDY THURSDAY, which was also known as THE LAST SUPPER. It was the same night the Lord Jesus was betrayed. On the very next day Jesus would go to the cross, suffer and shed His blood for us. We read about what Jesus did on this night in the gospels – Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. HIS BODY WAS OFFERED AS A SACRIFICE FOR SIN  1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21  THE BREAD SYMBOLIZES HIS BODY

 

HIS BLOOD WAS SHED SO THAT OUR SINS COULD BE FORGIVEN   Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 1:5  THE WINE SYMBOLIZES HIS BLOOD

 

The communion service is a time when we think back to the cross and remember what Jesus did for us when He died in our place. Jesus did not tell everyone to eat the bread and drink the cup. This was something that He told His disciples to do. In Acts 2:41-46 we learn that "all that believed were together" and it was these believers who were "breaking bread".

 

Before you take Communion you should make sure of these four things:

 

1) Make sure you are saved. Make sure that you are a believer in Jesus Christ and that you are trusting Him and what He did on the cross for your eternal salvation.

 

2) Make sure you know that you are saved. Many people do not have assurance of salvation. They may think they are saved or hope they are saved or feel like they are saved, but God wants us to "know" that we have eternal life (1 John 5:13).

 

3) Make sure you examine yourself and are ready to eat and drink in a worthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:27-31). Parents sometimes have a rule for their children that goes something like this: "You can’t eat supper without washing your hands!" So also the believer must not eat at the Lord’s Table without clean hands. Sin and the Saviour cannot come together. A holy God cannot have fellowship with an unclean believer (John 13:8; 1 John 1:5-9). Before partaking of Communion the believer needs to realize this: "Apart from Christ I am dirty and I have no access to God. I cannot come to God as I am. Sin and the Saviour cannot come together. I thank God that I have a Saviour who makes me clean. I thank God that the blood of Jesus Christ keeps on cleansing me from all sin (1 John 1:7). The only way that I can approach God is through Christ and through His cross. I need to come to God this way (through the cross) and this is the only way that I can come. Thank you Lord for making me clean. Thank you that I am able to have fellowship with a holy God. Thank you for what Jesus did for me on the cross to make this possible."

 

4) Make sure that you are ready to take Communion in the right way. Communion is a serious time. It is a time to think about our Saviour and what He has done for us. It is a thoughtful and a thankful time. It is not a play time. It is not a time to "have a snack." It is not a time to play with the bread with your fingers. It is not a time to lick the bottom of the cup with your tongue to get every last drop. Those who do such things are showing that they are definitely not ready to take Communion.

 

Should you partake of Communion? Why not talk to your parents, to your Sunday School teacher, or to your Pastor about this. Talk to someone who can help you to make the best decision about Communion. Some parents encourage their children to give a public confession of faith and to be baptized before taking Communion.  It is certainly not something to take lightly.  You need to understand what you are doing and why you are doing it.

 

 

 

Acts 2:29-47   King James Version (KJV)

 

29. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto        this day.

30. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he            would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

31. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

32. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

33. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this,      which ye now see and hear.

34. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

35. Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what          shall we do?

38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and       ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.*  SEE ALSO the GREAT COMMISSION OF CHRIST  *MATTHEW 28:19

39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

40. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44. And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45. And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and          singleness of heart,

47. Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.