The Ordinances – Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

The Deliberate Church (Chapter 10) – Mark Dever & Paul Alexander

Baptism

Baptism is a physical sign of a spiritual reality (Dever)

The Bible and Baptism:

Matt. 28:18-20

• Important from the very beginning
• for believers only
• Initial step of living the life as a disciple

Romans 6:1-4

• Our death and burial with Jesus Christ as our representative head
• Our resurrection with Him from the symbolic grave

Colossians 2:11-14 (Gen. 17:11, Deut. 10:16)

• Physical representation of the spiritual circumcision of our hearts

Things to consider:

Baptism is the believer’s public profession of faith.

• Not walking an aisle, but rather their baptism.

Baptism is where a born-again believer acknowledges:

• Their new life in Christ.
  • They have repented of their sin and placed their faith in Christ
• Their new life in Christ’s Church
  • They are expressing their desire to be part of the local body.

The steps at FBCAP that lead to baptism:

1. Acknowledge your DECISION to one of our church staff.
   1. As soon as you believe God has quickened your heart. Acts 2:37-42
      1. At the conclusion of one of services.
      1. Contacting one of the staff directly.
2. Meet with one of the leaders of the church.
   1. To walk through the Gospel and the decision you are making.
3. Work through the material given by the church.
   1. Material (Bible Study) will be given to you that must be completed on your own. (the go and do)
4. Once the material is completed a date for baptism will be set.

Lord’s Supper

What 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 teaches us about the Lord’s Supper

• An opportunity to express the unity of the church (vv. 18-19, 33)
• Therefore, it is a fellowship of God’s people  and devoted to the Lord (vv. 20-21, 33)
• It is a symbolic remembrance of Christ’s sinless life and atoning death, resurrection, and return (vv. 24-25).
• It is a proclamation of Christ’s death, resurrection, and return (v. 26).
• An opportunity for self-examination (vv. 28-29).

Taking the Lord’s Supper, then, is a participation in the unit of the church’s fellowship around the remembrance of Jesus Christ and the proclamation of His saving person and work through the symbols of bread and wind.

Concluding Thoughts:

Both ordinances are symbolic acts of worship that stress the importance of one’s assurance in their conversion and the importance of one’s devotion to the Lord’s Church.

• Union with Christ
• Union with the Church

Scripture References:

Matthew 28:16–20 – [16] Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. [17] And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. [18] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV)

Romans 6:1–4 – [1] What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? [2] By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? [3] Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (ESV)

Colossians 2:11–14 – [11] In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, [12] having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. [13] And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, [14] by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (ESV)

Acts 2:37–41 – [37] Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” [38] And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” [40] And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” [41] So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 11:17–34 – [17] But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. [18] For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, [19] for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. [20] When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. [21] For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. [22] What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

[23] For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, [24] and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” [25] In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

[27] Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. [28] Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. [29] For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. [30] That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. [31] But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. [32] But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

[33] So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another—[34] if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come. (ESV)