4/6/25

The Sacraments

Baptism

Matthew 3:13–17 NIV

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 28:16–20 NIV

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The Lord’s Supper

Matthew 26:26–29 NIV

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

It's interesting that our sacraments come at the beginning and the end of Jesus’ ministry.

Both acts are things that are only done once by Jesus but carry enormous weight.

Baptism is the act that initiates or welcomes us “officially” into the family of God.

It says to everyone else what we know in our hearts all ready.

I am loved by God and I love God. I love God to the point that I want every one else to know it too.

Baptism is our declaration of our love, repentance, and commitment to God.

The Act of Holy Communion is Jesus’s statement to us of the same thing.

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—> baptism is our acknowledgement of the truth of the Lord’s Supper.

—> The message of the Lord’s Supper is offered to us without the need to accept it.

—> Jesus offered himself, his whole self for us. The broken body of God made man.

—> His shed blood is the seal of the new covenant.

—> This isn’t for us to decide if its valid or not these are just the facts of faith.

—> it doesn’t matter what we do with it, its already been done.

—> Baptism is our acknowledgment that yes, we believe and we want everything that Jesus offered his disciples during that meal.

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Both baptism and the Lord’s Supper are acts of grace. Baptism is a known act. The Lord’s Supper can be known or unknown.