Baptists believe in two Ordinances: - Baptism - The Lord's supper

We do not use the term "sacrament" like Roman Catholics, because "sacrament" carries the idea that the practice has saving value. We do not believe there is anything saving in the Lord's supper or baptism.

Ordinance: a ceremony given to the church by Christ, practiced in the book of Acts, and expounded upon and defended in the epistles. (From Jason Keith Allen)

Baptism

Baptism in the Bible

Who commanded baptism in Matthew 28:19?

According to Acts 2:41, how what was the result of Peter's sermon at pentecost?

Read Acts 8:36-38 and answer the following questions:

  • What was Phillips qualification for the Eunich being baptized? (v.37)
  • In what was Phillip baptized? (v.36, 38)

From these passages we conclude the following:

  1. Baptism is for believers after salvation, not for babies and not for salvation.
  2. Baptism is by immersion, not by sprinkling.

The Purposes of Baptism

Baptism has four purposes:

It is a sign.

When we are baptized, we are proclaiming to the world that we are now following Jesus.

Baptism is where faith goes public. (Bobby Jamieson)

It is a symbol.

When we are baptized, we are symbolizing our unity to Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.

These things happen to us at salvation, and are merely symbolized by baptism. Read Colossians 3:1-3, and answer the following questions:

  1. According to verse 3, what two things happened to us at Salvation?
  2. According to verse 1, what is our current state?

"Professedly, the baptized is no longer of the world; he is buried to it, and he rises again to new life. No symbol could be more significant. In the immersion of the believer, there seems to me to be a wondrous setting forth of the burial of the Christian to all the world in the burial of Christ Jesus." (Spurgeon)

It is a step of obedience.

When we are baptized, we are obeying Christ's command (Matthew 28:19), and following in the footsteps of believers throughout history.

"I did not fulfill the outward ordinance to join a party, and to become a Baptist, but to be a Christian after the apostolic fashion; for they, when they believed, were baptized." (Spurgeon)

It is a start to church membership.

When we are baptized, we are united with the church in membership. (Acts 2:41)

Concerns About Baptism

Baptizing Young Children

You should be cautious about baptizing young children, because by baptizing them before they are truly saved, you could be giving them false assurance.

When a presbyterian (wrongly) baptizes babies, at least they are doing it anticipating the day when a child will be converted. When we baptists baptize children, we are testifying that they are already saved. (Jason Keith Allen)

We shouldn't put an age limit on baptism. (Let the little children come.) But we should counsel parents to hold off with very young children until they are sure of their salvation.

"We do not contend for baptism of adults; we contend for the baptism of believers. Show us a child however young, who believes in Christ, and we gladly accept him." (Spurgeon)

Alien Baptism

What if someone wants to join your church who has never been scripturally baptized? Consider the following circumstances: - They were saved in a church that practices infant baptism or sprinkling. - They were saved after being baptized by immersion as a young child. - They were saved but never followed Christ in believers baptism.

In those cases you cannot allow them to join the church until they accept believer's baptism by conviction.

Encourage them to study the New Testament for themselves and see what it says about Baptism. Ask them to find infant baptism taught in the New Testament. (It's not there.)

How to Baptize

1. Have a pre-baptism meeting

In this meeting, do the following:

  1. Make sure they are saved.
  2. Make sure they understand the four purposes of Baptism.
  3. Make sure they are prepared for baptism.
    1. Tell them what clothes to bring.
    2. Go over the details of where and when they will be baptized.
  4. Show them how they will stand in the water and how you will baptize them.
  5. Encourage them to invite family and friends.

2. On the day of baptism

Follow this script:

  1. (Baptizer) "Have you repented of your sins and have you trusted Christ for your salvation?"
  2. (Candidate) "I have"
  3. (Baptizer) "Will you continue to walk in faithfulness and obedience to Christ?"
  4. (Candidate) "I will"
  5. (Baptizer) "I now baptize you my brother/sister in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost"
  6. Begin to dunk them
  7. (Baptizer) "Buried with Christ in baptism"
  8. Raise them out of the water
  9. (Baptizer) "Raised to walk in newness of life."
  10. Baptismal candidate exits the water.

The Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper in the Bible

The Lord's Supper is found in Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:14-23 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

Read 1 Corinthians 11:17-24 together and answer the following questions:

  1. What are the two parts of the Lord's Supper? (24, 25)
  2. What is the purpose of the Lord's Supper (25, see also Luke 22:19)
  3. Jesus said "This is my body" - but does this have to be literal? Did Jesus ever use non-literal language about Himself? (see John 10:7, John 15:1)
  4. Roman Catholics, Lutheran and others believe Jesus is literally present during the Lord's supper, and some believe the bread and wine literally become Jesus body. What would you say to them?

The Purpose of the Lord's Supper

The Lord's supper has five main purposes: 1. Reflection on Christ's sacrifice 2. Proclamation of His atoning work. 3. Examination of our hearts. 4. Celebration of the forgiveness of sins. 5. Unification of the church.

Concerns about the Lord's Supper

Who?

  • Open Communion - all believers can participate.
  • Closed communion - only church members can participate.
  • Close - all believers who are members in good standing of a church of like faith can participate.

When?

Consider the following ways of taking the Lord's supper (no timeline is prescribed in the Bible) - discuss benefits and drawbacks of each.

  • Weekly Observance
  • Monthly Observance
  • Quarterly Observance
  • Annual Observance

My suggestion is to do it monthly.

How to give the Lord's Supper

Follow this script:

  1. Weeks before, announce the Lord's Supper for the church.
  2. On the day of, prepare (or have deacons prepare) the bread and grape juice before the observance.
  3. At the beginning of the observance, ask the deacons or ushers to come forward and then have an instrumentalist play a song as the bread is passed out.
  4. Read 1 Corinthians 11:24.
  5. Eat the bread, motioning for the church to eat it too.
  6. As another song plays, have the deacons pass out the grape juice.
  7. Read 1 Corinthians 11:25.
  8. Drink the juice, motioning for the church to drink it too.
  9. Read 1 Corinthians 11:26
  10. Sing a hymn and conclude the service.

Further Reading