The Baptist Faith and Message Message 5 The Doctrine of the Lord's Supper & Baptism
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Baptism
Doctrinal Details
Doctrinal Details
Doctrine of Baptism:
1925, 1963, and 2000 BF&M:
Each edition emphasizes that baptism is a symbolic act that demonstrates faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism, performed by immersion, symbolizes the believer’s faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It also represents death to sin and new life in Christ. This act is for believers only and is an outward testimony of an inward transformation, often viewed as a "doorway" to church membership.
2000 BF&M Supplement: Reinforces baptism’s role as obedience to Christ’s command, tying it to discipleship and making it a prerequisite for partaking in the Lord’s Supper.
907. βαπτίζω baptizō, bap-tid´-zo; from a der. of 911; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the N. T.) of ceremonial ablution, espec. (techn.) of the ordinance of Chr. baptism:—baptist, baptize, wash.
Luke 11:38 “38 When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.”
The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Volumes 1–5 1. Terminology
The verb baptizō appears in this sense in Lk 11:38 m where the Pharisee marveled that Jesus “had not first bathed himself before breakfast” (noon-day meal). The Mosaic regulations required the bath of the whole body (Lev 15:16) for certain uncleannesses.
Leviticus 15:16“16 ‘If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall wash all his body in water, and be unclean until evening.”
Immersion
Matthew 3:6 “6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.”
Mark 1:9 “9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”
Acts 8:38 “38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.”
Scriptural References
Scriptural References
For Baptism:
Matthew 28:19-20 – The Great Commission commands baptism as a step in discipleship.
Romans 6:3-4 – Describes baptism as an identification with Christ's death and resurrection.
Acts 2:38 – Peter instructs new believers to repent and be baptized.
Colossians 2:12 “12 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.”
Open-Ended Questions to Engage the Church
Open-Ended Questions to Engage the Church
For Baptism:
"How does baptism reflect our personal story of faith?"
"What is the significance of immersion, and how does it help us understand the meaning of baptism?"
"Why do you think baptism is an important public declaration of faith?"
“Why do you believe that Baptism is so affirming inn your life and the life of others?
Illustration for Baptism: Share a story of someone who came to faith in a challenging situation and then chose baptism as a testimony of their commitment. This could be a powerful story of public faith—someone who, despite opposition, decided to be baptized, symbolizing a dramatic change in life and values.
Doctrine of the Lord's Supper:
1925, 1963, and 2000 BF&M: Each version describes the Lord's Supper as a symbolic act of obedience, commemorating Christ’s sacrifice. Believers partake in the bread and cup, symbolizing Christ's broken body and shed blood. The emphasis is on remembrance, fellowship with Christ, and anticipation of His return.
2000 BF&M Supplement: Adds a specific instruction that only baptized believers should participate, stressing the unity of the church body and the significance of being “one” with Christ and each other.
The Lord’s Supper, also known as the Eucharist (Matt 26:27; Luke 22:17–19; Acts 27:35; 1 Cor 10:30; 11:24) or Holy Communion (1 Cor 10:16) is the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, or the sacrament of communion with Christ and participation in his risen and ascended sacrifice.
Christian traditions vary significantly in their views on the nature of the Lord's Supper, or Communion, and these distinctions are grounded in different theological doctrines:
Transubstantiation
Belief: Held by Roman Catholics, transubstantiation is the belief that the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ during the Eucharist. Though the elements retain the appearance of bread and wine, their substance is transformed to the essence of Christ’s body and blood.
Scriptural Support: Catholics often cite Jesus’ words, “This is my body...this is my blood” (Matthew 26:26-28), to support a literal interpretation.
Purpose: This doctrine emphasizes the sacrificial presence of Christ, offering life and grace to the participants in a real, ongoing connection with Jesus.
Consubstantiation
Belief: Associated with some Lutherans, consubstantiation holds that Christ’s body and blood coexist “in, with, and under” the bread and wine. The bread and wine remain, but Christ is also truly present in the elements.
Scriptural Support: This doctrine maintains that Christ’s words in the institution of the Lord’s Supper mean He is present in a real way without changing the elements themselves.
Purpose: The emphasis is on the real presence of Christ in Communion as a means of grace, though not as a literal transformation of substance.
Memorialism
Belief: This is the view held by most Baptists and other evangelical Christians, who see the Lord’s Supper as a symbolic act of remembrance. The bread and wine (or juice) symbolize Christ’s body and blood, serving as a memorial of His sacrifice.
Scriptural Support: Key passages include “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19), which is understood as a command for symbolic remembrance rather than a literal transformation.
Purpose: The focus here is on recalling and honoring Christ’s sacrificial death as a communal act of worship, with no claim to a mystical presence in the elements.
Reformed or Spiritual Presence
Belief: Common in Reformed and Presbyterian churches, this view holds that while the bread and wine do not become Christ’s body and blood, Christ is spiritually present in the act of Communion. Participants spiritually feed on Christ by faith.
Scriptural Support: John 6:63, which emphasizes the Spirit giving life rather than the flesh, is often cited. This view interprets Jesus’ words symbolically, with a spiritual depth.
Purpose: Communion becomes a means of grace through which believers experience Christ’s presence and receive spiritual nourishment.
Each doctrine reflects a unique understanding of Christ's presence and the purpose of Communion, rooted in different interpretations of biblical texts and traditions within church history.
Open-Ended Question
Open-Ended Question
“How does our understanding of the Lord’s Supper shape our experience and expectations when we come to the table?”
Illustration Idea
Illustration Idea
You could illustrate these views with the metaphor of a photograph. Imagine a photo of a loved one:
Catholics view the photo as that loved one physically present.Lutherans view it as if the person is present “in, with, and under” the photo.Baptists see it as a reminder of the person, evoking memories.Reformed believers see it as the means through which the person’s spirit or influence is felt.
The Lord's Supper:
Luke 22:19-20 – Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper, explaining its symbolic nature.
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.”
20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
1 Corinthians 11:27–28“27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 – Paul provides instruction on the observance and significance of the Lord's Supper.
Matthew 26:26-29 – Jesus breaks bread and shares the cup, foretelling His sacrifice.
20 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. 21 Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”
22 And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”
23 He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”
25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?”
He said to him, “You have said it.”
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! 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.
It’s not about the meal, but a means of grace.
Questions:
The Lord’s Supper:
"How does the Lord’s Supper help us remember Christ’s sacrifice in our daily lives?"
"What does it mean to examine ourselves before taking the Lord’s Supper?"
"How might partaking in the Lord’s Supper strengthen our unity as a church body?"
Illustration for the Lord's Supper:
Describe a powerful experience of a Lord’s Supper shared by a church community in a difficult time (like during a natural disaster or at the bedside of a dying loved one). Emphasize how the ritual of the Lord's Supper becomes a reminder of unity, hope, and the eternal bond believers share in Christ, even in times of hardship.
Ex: Wedding
