Baptism / Lord's Supper
We believe in the Biblical teachings of water baptism and the regular celebration of The Lord’s Supper.
Baptism
- The Biblical word for baptism means to plunge, dip, immerse.
- Jesus taught that one of the marks of a follower of Christ is that they will be baptized. (Matthew 28:19)
- Baptism plays no role in one’s salvation. It is however an act of obedience one should engage in after their salvation.
- Baptism through immersion provides a metaphor of one’s conversion. (Col 2:12)
- When the candidate for baptism goes down into the water, it is a picture of going down into the grave and being buried. Coming out of the water is then a picture of being raised with Christ to walk in newness of life. Baptism thus very clearly pictures death to one’s old way of life and rising to a new kind of life in Christ
- The pattern revealed in the New Testament is that those who give a believable profession of faith should be baptized. (Matthew 28:19;Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 10:47-48; Ro 6:3-4; Gal 3:27)
- There are those within orthodox Christianity who hold to a Paedo- Baptist (Paedo=child) conviction. That conviction states that baptism can be administered to children of believing parents. That conviction is based on the following premises:
- Infants were circumcised in the Old Testament: As an outward sign of entrance into the community of God’s people. (Circumcision was administered to all Israelite males when they were eight days old)
- Baptism is parallel to circumcision: In the New Testament, the outward sign of entrance into the community of God’s people is baptism. Therefore baptism is the New Testament counterpart. (Col 2:11-12)
- The New Testament mentions household baptisms which may have included infants. (Acts 16:15; Acts 16:33; 1 Cor 1:16)
The Lord’s Supper
- Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper in Matt26:26-29. Several things are symbolized and affirmed in the Lord’s Supper:
- Christ’s death: (1 Cor 11:26) When we participate in the Lord’s Supper, we symbolize the death of Christ because our actions give a picture of his death for us.
- Spiritual nourishment: (John 6:53-57) The symbols of the bread and cup illustrate the fact that there is spiritual nourishment and refreshment that Christ is giving to our souls.
- The unity of believers: (1 Cor 10:17) When Christians participate in the Lord’s Supper together, they also give a clear sign of unity with one another.
- The Lord’s Supper is reserved for those who believe in Christ because it is a sign of being a Christian and continuing in the Christian life. One should also engage in a process of self examination prior to partaking in the Lord’s Supper. (1 Cor 11:27-30)