Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Selected Passages
Today we were due to start a new section of the Gospel of Matthew. But since on this special Lord’s Day we are observing both baptism and the Lord’s Supper, I thought it would be good to remind ourselves of the meaning and importance of these church ordinances. So, we will wait until next time to begin Matthew 13. While I prefer to preach expositional sermons verse-by-verse through a book of the Bible, sometimes, it is helpful to pull together verses from the scripture that speak to a specific topic to help us get a wider biblical understanding. So, that is what we will briefly do today. I will not be able, in the time we have today, to present a comprehensive study, rather I intend to simply give a quick overview of the ordinances of Baptist and the Lord’s Supper.[i]
Let me begin by making some statements about ordinances. Like most Baptists, we refer to Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as “ordinances” because they were especially “ordained” or ordered by Jesus. Other churches will sometimes use the term “sacraments” instead. This term comes from the Latin word sacramentum referring to a rite or oath of allegiance. In the sense that we observe baptism and the Lord’s Supper in allegiance to our Lord Jesus, we could call these events sacraments. But largely due to the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church, that term has taken on a different meaning. For them, a sacrament is a rite which, by its very nature conveys the grace of God. In other words, some churches teach that when a person is baptized or takes communion, by that act itself, salvation is imparted and sins are forgiven. We believe the Bible teaches that salvation is a gift of God’s grace through faith alone. So, to avoid confusion, we don’t usually use the term sacrament.
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are symbols, or visual aids of the gospel as they retell the story of redemption. Church ordinances are determined by three factors: they were instituted by Christ, taught by the apostles, and practiced by the early church. And therefore, we are called to observe them today.
Baptism in the Gospels
In the Gospels, baptism begins with John, the prophet God sent to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. Mark 1:4 says, “John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” Baptism was a sign that people repented from their sin. Mark 1:7-8 says, “And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”” So, baptism was a sign that people repented and believed in the coming Messiah.
In Mark 1:9-11, Jesus Himself was baptized: “It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, ‘You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” Jesus had no need to repent because He had no sin. Yet, as Matthew records, Jesus was baptized “to fulfill all righteousness.” In being baptized, Jesus identified Himself with sinners and with the righteousness He would provide to all who repent and believe. In this way, baptism depicts the work of the Father, Son, and Spirit in the salvation of those Jesus came to save. The Father loves the Son and sends Him into this world to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). The Son gives His life on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. The Spirit convicts of sin (John 16:8) and draws the believer to the Father through the Son. All the glorious truth of the mercy of God through Jesus Christ is on display at His baptism.
How did baptism become a lasting ordinance for the church? In Matthew 28:19-20, we see that Jesus commands new disciples to be baptized: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Simply put, we believe in baptism, and we practice it, because Christ commanded it. Making disciples of all nations includes baptizing them.
The early church in the Book of Acts practices baptism. There are ten accounts of obedience to this ordinance in Acts alone. Let me point out a couple of them.
Baptism in the Book of Acts
In Acts 8, the evangelist Philip preached Jesus to an Ethiopian eunuch. Then Luke records, “Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:36-38).
When should I get baptized? As soon as possible after conversion. As in the case of the Ethiopian eunuch, it often happened immediately after someone got saved. Remember, baptism is not a mark of spiritual maturity, but rather a statement of personal identification with Jesus Christ. You don’t have to wait until your spiritual life is where you want it to be. It’s an obedience issue, not a maturity issue. Baptism has always been a sign of submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
When Paul preached the gospel in Corinth, Acts 18:8 says, “Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.”
Here’s one overriding truth from how it was practiced in the book of Acts – baptism always takes place after someone believes! This is why we practice “believer’s baptism”. The order is important—believe and be baptized. In the Bible, belief always precedes baptism. So, this is why we do not baptize babies. Without the ingredient of faith, baptism becomes just an empty church ritual. Someone put it this way: “Unless you have already come to faith in Jesus, being baptized does no more than get you wet.”
Someone might ask, “If I was baptized as an infant do I need to be baptized again as a believer?”
Yes. Since baptism is a public statement of your own personal faith in Jesus Christ, then it’s important to make your statement as a believer. Actually, you’re not really being baptized again because when you were sprinkled as a baby it wasn’t biblical baptism. When you are baptized as a believer by immersion, it will be your first baptism.
Meaning and Mode of Baptism
Why do we baptize by immersion in water when some other churches baptize by pouring or sprinkling? First, the primary meaning of the word “baptize” is “to dip, plunge, or immerse.” Interestingly, while there were Greek words for sprinkling or pouring that were available; the writers of Scripture chose the word baptizo, or immersion.
Also, baptism by immersion gives us a picture of the Gospel that other modes do not. In Romans 6, Paul writes,
3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, (Rom. 6:3-5).
Water baptism is a picture of the spiritual reality that occurs at salvation when we believe in Jesus Christ. When we are saved, we are united with Christ. By faith, we have died with Him and been raised to a new life with Him. As you stand in the water waiting to be baptized, you symbolize Jesus dying on the cross. As you are lowered into the water, you’re providing a visual demonstration that Jesus was buried in the tomb. As you come out of the water, you’re picturing Jesus rising from the dead. And you are declaring that Jesus has done that spiritual work in you. I have died with Christ to sin, my old life has been buried, I am raised to a new life with Christ.
If you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, have you followed Him in baptism?
The second ordinance of the church is…
The Lord’s Supper
In Exodus 12 we learn about the roots of Passover. The head of the family was to take a lamb without blemish and slaughter it at twilight and then the blood was to be put on the sides and tops of the doorframes. That same night they were to roast the lambs, and gather bitter herbs and unleavened bread. They were to eat in haste and be ready to travel because God was going to judge the Egyptians by killing their firstborn. Only those who were under the blood of the lamb would be “passed over.”
After being freed from the Egyptians, God’s people enjoyed a covenantal relationship with the Almighty for hundreds of years. As you read their history however, you quickly discover that they disobeyed and ruptured their relationship with Him time and again. When we come to the prophet Jeremiah we discover that God promised a new covenant: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah” (Jeremiah 31:31).
The night before Jesus was crucified He had a final Passover meal with His closest followers.
Luke 22:14-16 says, “When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”” Jesus was set on celebrating this supper because He knew the meaning behind this final meal.
During this Passover meal, Jesus changed the ritual that the Jews had always done because Jesus Himself was the fulfillment of the Passover. So Matthew 26 records,
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.” (Matt. 26:26-29).
The Savior is saying that this bread is a symbol for His body that was about to be broken for them on the cross. The cup represents His blood, His death, which would inaugurate the new covenant.
In the early church in Acts, we find that the church practiced the Lord’s Supper, calling it, “the breaking of bread” (Acts 2:42; 20:7; cf. 1 Cor. 10:16). It was always practiced in a church community as they gathered for worship and instruction, not individually. As far as we know, this memorial meal was celebrated with dignity and decorum, until we get to the chaotic and confused church in Corinth. Because of their abuses (1 Cor. 11:17-22), Paul finds it necessary to correct the Corinthian church concerning the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11. In doing so, Paul gives us some timeless principles for observing the Lord’s Supper.
We observe the Lord’s Supper …
1. To Remember – “Look Back” (1 Cor. 11:23-25).
Paul received these instructions from Jesus Himself: “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; 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.” 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.”” (1 Cor. 11:23-25). Twice in this passage we’re told to remember what Jesus did for us. The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of the Gospel—that Jesus Christ died for our sins. The bread and the cup are tangible representations of a deep spiritual reality.
When we take the Lord’s Supper, let’s pause and remember what Jesus did for us.
Also we observe the Lord’s Supper…
2. To Rejoice – “Look Forward” (1 Cor. 11:26).
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” Not only do we look back and remember His cross, but we also look forward and proclaim His crown. To “proclaim” means, “to announce publicly, to declare, publish, and perpetuate.” The bread and the cup tell the story of redemption and look ahead to the culmination of history. Jesus said He would “drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Matt. 26:29). We eat and drink now in anticipation of a glorious heavenly banquet to come.
When we take the Lord’s Supper, let’s pause and rejoice that Jesus is coming again.
And then, we observe the Lord’s Supper …
3. To Repent – “Look Within” (1 Cor. 11:27-28).
“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. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” Once we remember by looking back, and rejoice by looking forward, we can’t help but look inside and see our need to repent. Paul is cautioning us about approaching the Lord’s Table in a trite manner. Take time before coming to the Lord’s Table to examine your attitudes, actions, and your affections. Pause and repent of those sins the Lord shows you.
Finally, we observe the Lord’s Supper…
4. To Reconcile – “Look Around” (1 Cor. 11:29-34).
The Corinthians were not showing love to one another in their observance of the Lord’s Supper. They were split into factions (1 Cor. 11:18). They did not wait to eat together and had no concern for others who had nothing (1 Cor. 11:21-22). Listen, the Lord’s Supper is a time for community in the body of Christ. We need to make sure we’re living in unity with each other. Jesus has made us one, so we need to act accordingly. 1 Corinthians 10:17 says, “For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.”
Is there anyone you need to ask forgiveness from? Anyone you need to extend forgiveness to?
In the Bible, dining together signifies two things: appropriation and participation. By eating the bread and drinking from the cup we’re saying that we have received redemption and we’re declaring that we are in community with one another and with the Lord.
Conclusion
When our church practices the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, we obey the command of Jesus, and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus. What a gift from our Lord these precious ordinances are for us!
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[i] Brian Bill, Engage with the Ordinances, https://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/engage-with-the-ordinances/ I am indebted to Brian Bill for his outline and ideas in this sermon. He drew some of his content from Ray Pritchard, John MacArthur, and Warren Weirsbe.
