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Fundamentals of Christianity 2
Lesson 2
Today we are going to discuss two Christian practices that has great purpose and meaning to the Christian believer. One is water baptism and the other is communion. Most Christian churches regardless of denominational affiliations take part in both of these. The way they participate may vary, but the purpose and meaning remain the same. Both water baptism and communion are holy practices, and both are God's will for His children.I. Water Baptism:
A. How is it performed?
One person at a time enters into waist deep water with two that are performing the baptism. The minister will confirm that the person being baptized has made Jesus the Lord of his life. He may talk a moment about baptism. The two performing the baptism lower the one being baptized under the water and immediately bring him back up. The minister says, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. After everyone has been baptized, the congregation may sing a song or two and close the service in prayer.
B. What does water baptism symbolize?
It is the public, outward symbol or representation of the inward born-again experience. Inwardly, we have been baptized into Jesus. When we are baptized in water, we are showing symbolically what happened on the inside of us when we were saved. It is one way that we give testimony of our salvation experience.
When we are submerged under the water, it symbolizes the death and burial of our old sinful nature. When we are raised up from the water, it symbolizes us being "raised from the dead". It speaks of our new life in Christ. Water baptism also identifies the newly born again believer with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
John the Baptist came before Jesus telling men that God's kingdom was soon coming near to them and that they should repent of their sins and be baptized. Before Jesus came, God sent John to begin to get people's heart ready for the ministry of Jesus. He acted out the "inside change" that was about to be available to them through Jesus' death on the cross. Until that time, salvation had been available to no one.
For John is the one of whom the scripture says: 'God said, I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you.' I tell you," Jesus added, "John is greater than anyone who has ever lived. But the one who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John." All the people heard him; they and especially the tax collectors were the ones who had obeyed God's righteous demands and had been baptized by John.
Luke 7:27-29
C. Why should all believers be baptized?1. To give testimony, publicly of our salvation experience.
2. To follow the example of Jesus.
3. In order to be obedient: We are instructed in God's word as believers to be baptized.Jesus left Galilee and went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. Matthew 3:13
Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and they asked him to stay on for a few days. Acts 10:48
Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit... Matthew 28:19
To be baptized in water once is sufficient unless God leads you to do it more times. Water baptism does not save us, only repentance from sin and trusting in Jesus alone for salvation saves us. True repentance happens in our hearts, water baptism is only a public confession of that inward work.
II. Holy communion, sometimes called the Lord's supper:
A. How is communion taken?A small amount of juice and a small piece from a loaf of bread are taken. (Some people use crackers or wafers.) Everyone eats and drinks at the same time when told to by the person leading the communion. The leader will then speak, read from the Bible or pray before, during and/or after taking the elements of communion. Different churches may do communion a little differently but the meaning remains the same. The scriptures normally used are the ones describing the last supper Jesus had with His disicples in either Matthew 26: 26-29 or 1 Corinthians 11:27-34.
While they were eating, Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples. "Take and eat it," he said; "this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks to God, and gave it to them. "Drink it, all of you," he said,"this is my blood, which seals God's covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. Matthew 26:26-29
B. What does communion symbolize?
The bread symbolizes the body of Jesus that was broken for our healing; body, soul and spirit.
Christ carried the burden of our sins. He was nailed to the cross, so that we would stop sinning and start living right. By his cuts and bruises you are healed. 1 Peter 2:24
The juice symbolizes the blood of Jesus that was shed to seal our covenant with God, bringing forgiveness of our sins. By eating the bread and drinking the juice, we are signifying that we receive the flesh and blood of Jesus into ourselves, becoming one with Him.
(Paul speaking to the Corinth church) When we drink the cup of blessing, aren't we taking into ourselves the blood, the very life, of Christ? And isn't it the same with the loaf of bread we break and eat? Don't we take into ourselves the body, the very life, of Christ? Because there is one loaf, our many-ness becomes one-ness. Christ doesn't become fragmented in us. Rather, we become unified in him. We don't reduce Christ to what we are; he raises us to what he is. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
C. Why should Christians regularly take communion?
1. To be obedient to God's word.
2. To continually remind ourselves of what Jesus did for us through his death and resurrection.
3. To continually remind ourselves of who we are in Christ.
4. To continually remind ourselves of the covenant we entered into with Jesus.
5. To continually remind ourselves of our unity with Jesus and with other believers. All believers are bound together as one with each other, and Christ through our faith in God.D. Warnings from Paul about how we should approach communion:
(Paul speaking to the church at Corinth) Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord's Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember me. After supper, he did the same thing with the cup: This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you. Each time you drink this cup, remember me. What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of "remembrance" you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe. If you give no thought (or worse, don't care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you're running the risk of serious consequences. That's why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won't have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later. So, my friends, when you come together to the Lord's Table, be reverent and courteous with one another. I Corinthians 11:27-33
You cannot drink from the cup of demons and still drink from the Lord's cup. You cannot eat at the table of demons and still eat at the Lord's table. 1 Corinthians 10:21
Paul warns us of the sanctity of communion. He warns us to take it reverently, mindfully, respectfully and with a clean heart and to take it any other way will result in our own sickness, weakness or even death. Communion is a Holy spiritual act, ordained by God and it must be taken seriously or not at all.
E. Who is eligible to participate in a communion service?Every born-again believer that has no sin in his life that has not been repented of. Unbelievers should never take communion.
Weekly Challenges:
Scripture Memorization: Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. RKJV 1Corinthians 10:21
Scripture Reading: Read a chapter of the Bible each day working your way through the new testament.
Think and Discuss: Briefly discuss what the above scripture means to you?
L.O.V.E Challenge: This week during your lunch break at school find someone new or sitting alone and either set with them or invite them to sit with you and your friends. If you cannot find anyone, do an act of kindness for someone else in your school that appears to need some kindness.Prayer: Pray at least 20 minutes daily.