PERIOD OF THE SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION
Church Ordinances: Communion & Baptism
What is an Ordinance?
It is not a sacrament which is a church ritual that is thought to have saving values. The Bible clearly states that through Christ alone we are
saved. An ordinance is a command to be obeyed. The two church ordinances are visible enactments of the Gospel message that Christ
lived, died, was raised from the dead, ascended to heaven, and will some day return. The church
ordinances are visual aids to help us better understand and appreciate what Jesus Christ accomplished for us in His redemptive work.
How is an Ordinance Determined?
Three distinguishing marks characterize the New Testament
ordinances:
They were instituted by Christ.They were taught by the apostles.They were practiced by the early
church.
And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him
into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the
guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said,
Take this, and divide [it] among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall
come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake [it], and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This
cup [is] the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. Luke 22:11-22
The Passover Instituted by Christ
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the [same] night in which he was betrayed took
bread:And when he had given thanks, he brake [it], and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also [he took] the cup,
when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye
drink [it], in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the
Lord's death till he come.1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Communion Taught by the Apostles
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42
Communion Practiced by the Early Church
Ordinance of CommunionKoinōnia-fellowship, association, community, communion, joint
participation, intimacy
Occurs 4 times in 3 verses in the KJV
Law of the 1st ReferenceThe 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?
I Corinthians 10:16
Scriptural References1 Corinthians 10:162 Corinthians 6:14
2 Corinthians 13:14
Symbolism of the Elements
BREAD
Represents the body of Christ
The bread is broken just as Christ’s body was broken on the
cross
I am that bread of life. John 6:48
Symbolism of the Elements
WINE
The wine represents the blood of Christ
Remission of sin is on the basis of the blood of Jesus
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is
shed for many for the remission of sins.
Matthew 26:28
Why Take Communion?
In observing Communion we are remembering Christ and all that He has done for us in his life, death and resurrection:
And when he had given thanks, he brake [it], and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is
broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. I Corinthians 11:24
Why Take Communion?
When we observe Communion we show our participation in the body of Christ. His life becomes our life and we become members of each other:
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?
I Corinthians 10:16
Why Take Communion?
In observing Communion we are proclaiming His death until He comes. It is a declaration of faith:
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's
death till he comeI Corinthians 11:26
Ordinance of Baptisms
Baptisma-immersion, submersion
Occurs 22 times in 22 verses in the KJV
Law of the 1st ReferenceBut when he saw many of the
Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee
from the wrath to come?Matthew 3:7
Scriptures References for Baptism
Matthew 3:7 Matthew 20:22 Matthew 20:23 Matthew 21:25 Mark 1:4 Mark 10:38 Mark 10:39 Mark 11:30 Luke 3:3 Luke 7:29 Luke 12:50 Luke 20:4 Acts 1:22 Acts 10:37 Acts 13:24 Acts 18:25
Acts 19:3 -4 Romans 6:4 Ephesians 4:5 Colossians 2:12 Hebrews 6:1-2 1 Peter 3:21
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. you. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering
said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo,
the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and
lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased. Matthew 3:13-17
Baptism Instituted by Christ
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the
same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:41
Baptism Taught by the Apostles.
And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine
heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and
they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Acts 8:36-38
Baptism Practiced by the Early Church
Why Should We Be Baptized?
Christ commanded it:
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost:” Matthew 28:19
Why Should We Be Baptized?
It is a demonstration of our love to Christ:
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth
me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love
him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:21
How should we be baptized? (By sprinkling, pouring, immersion???)
Baptizo: is found nearly 80 times in the New Testament and in most cases it is used to
denote this ordinance. No other word is ever used for this ordinance.
The word baptizo generally means to dip or immerse.
Rantizo is found four times in the New Testament (Hebrews 9:13, 19, 21; Hebrews
10:22). It means to sprinkle and is never used of baptism.
Why Is Baptism a Prerequisite to Local Church Membership?
Just as Spirit baptism (1 Corinthians 12:13) adds believers
in our Lord Jesus Christ to the Church which is His body, so
water baptism is the means by which believers are publicly inducted into discipleship
(Matthew 28:19-20) and added to the local church.
The New Testament teaches the following order of events
1. The Gospel is preached to the lost
The New Testament teaches the following order of events
2. People responded in faith
The New Testament teaches the following order of events
3. New converts were baptized
The New Testament teaches the following order of events
4. United with the local body of believers
Doctrine of Baptisms
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto
perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith
toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of
resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
-Hebrews 6:1-2
There are 4 types of Baptism in the New Testament
7 Types of Baptism
1. Jewish proselyte baptism2. Baptism of Repentance
3. New Birth Baptism4. Baptism of Water
5. Baptism of the Holy Spirit6. Baptism of Moses
7. Baptism of Fire
Jewish Proselyte Baptism
Practiced by the followers of Judaism
Required Gentile converts to Judaism to be submerged in water up to their head
Based upon ceremonially washing of the clothes given to the Jews at Mt. Sinai
Old Testament Scriptures for Jewish Baptism Exodus 19:10, Leviticus 8:6; 16:4, Numbers 19
Baptism of Repentance
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And
he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which
should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. Acts. 19: 2-4
This was a type and shadow that John the Baptist used. It was used to illustrate the “old man” being put away
and rising in newness of life.
New Birth Baptism
The baptism is where God's incorruptible seed conceives new life in us. This baptism represents being born again. 1 Peter 1:23
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4
Baptism of Water
And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the
eunuch; and he baptized him. Acts 8:36-38
This is water baptism. It is an outward sign of the inward grace of salvation. One must be born again before being baptized. It is a public declaration to the world that we
have chosen to follow Christ.
Baptism of the Holy Ghost
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the
word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with
Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard
them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received
the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain
daysActs 10:44-48
Baptism of the Holy Ghost
Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Matthew 3:5-12
This Baptism is a prelude to the final judgment of the wicked with will be by fire
Baptism of the Holy Ghost
This is a separate act from water baptism and separate from the born again experience
The purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is have power to be a witness:
Being empowered by the Holy Spirit allows the believer to overcome many obstacles, thus
enabling him to be a witness of God's ability to save and shows His love for all. This baptism can be used to defeat demons, sickness, poison, and
many other problems.
Baptism of Moses
10 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
1 Corinthians 10:1-5
This Baptism was a “type” of the new birth since Moses was a “type” of Christ. The admonishment here is to flee
idolatry and pursue our Savior
Baptism of Fire
10 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
1 Corinthians 10:1-5
This Baptism was a “type” of the new birth since Moses was a “type” of Christ. The admonishment here is to flee
idolatry and pursue our Savior
Summary
Baptism & Communion are two New Testament Ordinances that all believers who love Jesus should willing participate in.
The proof of our love for God is our obedience to his commands.
A believer who knows the truth about these ordinances and hasn’t performed them is walking in disobedence to Christ.
QUESTIONS ???
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