The Ordinances

In the Old Testament, the people of Israel, often a prophet or a king, would often erect an altar at a battle place or the location of a spiritual moment.

In 1 Samuel 7, the Israelites defeated the Philistines with the help of the Lord. Samuel took a large stone, set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it, “Ebenezer,” which means, “stone of help.” He said, “Thus far Yahweh has helped us.”

If this story sounds familiar, it is probably from the song, “Come Thou Fount.” Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by thy help I’ve come, and I hope by thy good pleasure safely to arrive at home.

That song is talking about the blood of Jesus. Robert Robertson is saying, just like Samuel laid down that rock so that everyone would always and forever see as they passed between Mizpah and Shen, that their God was a God of deliverance. And whenever they doubted God’s goodness, they would see a tangible picture of God’s grace.

The ordinances of baptism and Lord’s supper are not altars, so-to-speak, but they are tangible, visible testimonies of God’s continued faithfulness.

We don’t call them sacraments, because we don’t believe that we receive grace in them, but rather, they testify to the grace that we have in Jesus.

In Baptism, we recognize every new member of the family. In the Lord’s Supper, we remember what Christ has done. Both of these acts are deeply communal as they are a sharing in the community around us.

As we take part in these practices over and over, we are reminded of Christ’s goodness for us again and again and again, and we grow closer to one another.

Introduction

Romans 6:3–4 ESV

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 ESV

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Explanation

Baptism

I had a very unique experience with baptism. I actually got to see my mother’s baptism. She came to Jesus or had a renewal and wanted to walk in obedience. She was 38 years old.

Baptism is the immersion in water of the believer in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit which symbolizes the death of their old life and the new life they now have in Christ.

Baptism symbolizes three specific things:

The Remission of Sin

You no longer have your old life.

Jesus paid for your sins.

Fellowship and Union with Christ in his death and resurrection

When you go under the water, you are holding your breath and closing your eyes. It is as thought you have died to your old life.

Cleansing from all unrighteousness and consecration to the service of God.

Baptism is a prerequisite of church membership.

Baptism is specifically for those who have made a decision to follow Jesus, because it is a representation and symbolic picture of what HAS been done.

Because, as a faith family, we are locking arms together, membership is a locking of arms with other believers. Baptism signifies that reality.

Baptism does not save us, but rather, it is symbolic of our salvation before God.

I am wearing a wedding band. This wedding band symbolizes “what?” That I am married.

This wedding band does not make me married or not married. It simply symbolizes a reality of my life.

In the same way, baptism does not save you, but rather, it symbolizes that you are saved.

BUT, if you saw me not wearing my ring, you might ask me, Connor, where is your ring? Because I am married, I am supposed to wear my ring to show that I am married.

Baptism is symbolic, but that does not make it unimportant. In fact, early believers were not considered regenerate until after they were baptized. This wasn’t because baptism saved you, but it was because to be baptized was to be marked for death in the Roman empire. It was a first evidence of fruit in your life.

When Roman emperors would go after the Christians, they would go after the baptized.

Because they were the ones who had taken off their old life and put on their new life.

As a church, we celebrate the act of baptism diligently.

An old leadership proverb, “What is celebrated is cultivated.”

We ought never be louder than when someone is baptized in this church.

The Lord’s Supper

In our families, we have certain things that were done over and over again. We do them because they are what we know, and in that way, they story us. An example from my life… when Erin cooks something that my mom used to cook, it literally takes me back to the dining room in the house I grew up in. The Lord’s Supper stories us in the same way.

The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Christ’s church wherein the elements are bread and the product from the vine. The bread symbolizes the body of Christ given for the salvation of mankind, and the blood represents his blood shed for the remission of sin.

The Lord’s Supper is a tangible picture of the sacrifice of Christ and our invitation to the table.

The Lord’s Supper commemorates, or calls to mind, two specific things.

Christ’s death

Christ died on the cross for our sins that we might know Him.

His body was broken that we might have new life.

His blood was poured out to atone for our sins.

Christ’s return

One day, we will return to be with Christ when He calls us home.

We will eat at the marriage supper of the lamb with Him.

We desire to take the ordinance in a worthy manner. When it comes to this act, we need to consider two things: (1) are we a child of God and (2) are we currently walking with the Lord in repentance and faith.

If you are a child of God, the Lord’s table is for you. Much as a good father allows all of his children at the table, our Lord wants you to sit and eat what He has provided.

Sometimes, if we have not been walking closely to the Lord, the Spirit bears witness of this fact in our hearts.

We come with the faith that Jesus has saved us by His own blood - not based upon anything we have done. We come with repentance, knowing that he incurred wrath for our sins, and He desires us to walk in holiness.

When we lack the seriousness in obedience that our Lord requires, our God lets us know. Take a few moments to examine your life and heart.

As the plate is passed, you have a few moments to renew your relationship with God and walk with Him anew.

Our attitude should be:

Thankfulness - Overwhelmed

Humility - We are insufficient.

Joy - We have something that cannot be taken from us.

Peace - We are right with God.

Invitation

Both Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are important to us, because they tell us of Jesus saving work.

We aren’t baptized nor to we take part in the Lord’s Supper before we make a decision to follow Christ.

More than the elements of Baptism or the Lord’s Supper, we have Christ who loves us.

Our invitation is to the Lord’s Supper. We are invited into a community where the initiation is baptism. Identifying with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection.