Lesson #10
Two great ordinances of the Church (or two recognized religious ceremonies) are:
Water baptism,
The Lord’s Supper (sometimes called, Communion, Holy Communion, or Breaking of Bread)
Water Baptism
Unlike the Lord’s Supper, which is observed several times, water baptism, is an ordinance performed only once, and that, at our initial conversion. It is our testimony that we have died to self and we have given our lives totally to Christ.
Some who have backslid (lived in sin again after their salvation) but have now rededicated their lives to God with a real experience and strong faith have asked to be baptized again. “Although there is not a scripture that teaches rebaptism is a necessity for a repentant backslider, I am not against a second baptism since it could increase the faith of the individual and provide a new beginning in their walk with the Lord. I would imagine your leaders would also rejoice when a lost sheep comes back to the fold and would be happy to again perform water baptism. I would submit to the ruling of your local elders.
Water baptism is in obedience to the command to repent and be baptized; also, it is your testimony to the world that you have committed your life to Christ. By this act, you are demonstrating outwardly and physically what has happened to you inwardly.
You are also you are also physically demonstrating your spiritual death as compared to the physical death when Christ willing submitted to the cross. Just as Christ rose to life on the third day and walked in a new life, as you come up out of the water you also rise from you spiritual death, to live new life as a Christian.
1 Peter 3:21 (NKJV) There is also an antitype, which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Col. 2:12 (NKJV) buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Acts 19:4 (NKJV) Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."
Communion, unlike water baptism, is to be observed and practiced throughout the entire life of the believer.
The Lord’s Supper
Luke 22:7-20
Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. 8And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat." 9So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?" 10And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. 11Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?" ' 12Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready." 13So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. 14When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 20Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
Since Jesus is the head of the Church, let’s look at the example he give us to follow in the first Lord’s Supper.
The day – Neither the Sabbath or Sunday is required, any day is suitable.
The place – A private home, no special place of worship is necessary.
The circumstances – the event was of simplicity and informality after an evening of conversational teaching.
The Lord’s Supper
· Observing communion, in a symbolic way, is to remember Christ’s death for us and describes our death with Christ.
· Observing communion indicates our thankfulness to Christ for his death and for our on-going relationship with Him. It also is a symbol of our on-going relationship with other believers in the Church.
· Observing communion is our reminder of our covenant with God. In the Old Testament, Israel’s seal of their covenant with God was male circumcision. This occurred during the time of Abraham and, obviously, required shedding of blood. Now, our covenant with God is sealed with the blood that Jesus shed.
Hebrews 8:1-13 (NKJV) 1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." 13 In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Two great ordinances of the Church (or two recognized religious ceremonies) are:
Water baptism,
The Lord’s Supper (sometimes called, Communion, Holy Communion, or Breaking of Bread)
Water Baptism
Unlike the Lord’s Supper, which is observed several times, water baptism, is an ordinance performed only once, and that, at our initial conversion. It is our testimony that we have died to self and we have given our lives totally to Christ.
Some who have backslid (lived in sin again after their salvation) but have now rededicated their lives to God with a real experience and strong faith have asked to be baptized again. “Although there is not a scripture that teaches rebaptism is a necessity for a repentant backslider, I am not against a second baptism since it could increase the faith of the individual and provide a new beginning in their walk with the Lord. I would imagine your leaders would also rejoice when a lost sheep comes back to the fold and would be happy to again perform water baptism. I would submit to the ruling of your local elders.
Water baptism is in obedience to the command to repent and be baptized; also, it is your testimony to the world that you have committed your life to Christ. By this act, you are demonstrating outwardly and physically what has happened to you inwardly.
You are also you are also physically demonstrating your spiritual death as compared to the physical death when Christ willing submitted to the cross. Just as Christ rose to life on the third day and walked in a new life, as you come up out of the water you also rise from you spiritual death, to live new life as a Christian.
1 Peter 3:21 (NKJV) There is also an antitype, which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Col. 2:12 (NKJV) buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Acts 19:4 (NKJV) Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."
Communion, unlike water baptism, is to be observed and practiced throughout the entire life of the believer.
The Lord’s Supper
Luke 22:7-20
Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. 8And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat." 9So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?" 10And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. 11Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?" ' 12Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready." 13So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. 14When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 20Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
Since Jesus is the head of the Church, let’s look at the example he give us to follow in the first Lord’s Supper.
The day – Neither the Sabbath or Sunday is required, any day is suitable.
The place – A private home, no special place of worship is necessary.
The circumstances – the event was of simplicity and informality after an evening of conversational teaching.
The Lord’s Supper
· Observing communion, in a symbolic way, is to remember Christ’s death for us and describes our death with Christ.
· Observing communion indicates our thankfulness to Christ for his death and for our on-going relationship with Him. It also is a symbol of our on-going relationship with other believers in the Church.
· Observing communion is our reminder of our covenant with God. In the Old Testament, Israel’s seal of their covenant with God was male circumcision. This occurred during the time of Abraham and, obviously, required shedding of blood. Now, our covenant with God is sealed with the blood that Jesus shed.
Hebrews 8:1-13 (NKJV) 1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." 13 In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
The two elements used in communion are:
The bread, representing the Body of Christ,
The cup (wine) representing his blood.
Receiving communion is:
An act of remembrance
Luke 22:19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
An act of confession
Romans 10:10 (NKJV) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.
An act of participation, or of fellowship with Christ
1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
John 6:53-54 Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
An act of covenant. If you are in covenant with God and all other believers are in convent with the Father, then all believers are in covenant with one another. The bread represents the many members of the body.
Luke 22:20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
1 Corinthians 10:17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.
The significance of receiving communion – We must understand the Church. When we observe the Lord’s Supper without faith and without understanding the significance of what we are doing, we endanger ourselves.
Matthew 18:19 (NKJV) 19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
Deuteronomy 32:30 (NKJV) 30 How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the Lord had surrendered them?
The Wine represents our covenant with God.
The Bread represents the Body Of Christ or the Church. We must understand how it functions.
1 Corinthians 11:21-22 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
1 Corinthians 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
1 Corinthians 11:29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
1 Corinthians 11:30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
How can you examine yourselves?
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.
The bread, representing the Body of Christ,
The cup (wine) representing his blood.
Receiving communion is:
An act of remembrance
Luke 22:19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
An act of confession
Romans 10:10 (NKJV) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.
An act of participation, or of fellowship with Christ
1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
John 6:53-54 Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
An act of covenant. If you are in covenant with God and all other believers are in convent with the Father, then all believers are in covenant with one another. The bread represents the many members of the body.
Luke 22:20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
1 Corinthians 10:17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.
The significance of receiving communion – We must understand the Church. When we observe the Lord’s Supper without faith and without understanding the significance of what we are doing, we endanger ourselves.
Matthew 18:19 (NKJV) 19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
Deuteronomy 32:30 (NKJV) 30 How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the Lord had surrendered them?
The Wine represents our covenant with God.
The Bread represents the Body Of Christ or the Church. We must understand how it functions.
1 Corinthians 11:21-22 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
1 Corinthians 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
1 Corinthians 11:29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
1 Corinthians 11:30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
How can you examine yourselves?
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.
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