Two Ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
The Scriptures teach that the Lord prescribed immersion and the Lord’s Supper to be carried on as ordinances by each local New Testament church.
- Baptism
As Bible believing Baptists find themselves in disagreement with other churches on the topic of baptism, it would be helpful to summarize the New Testament position with the following five maxims:
- Only believers are to be baptized. This excludes anyone who is an unbeliever (even babies, who neither believe nor disbelieve). Cf. Matthew 28:19 – 20; Mark 16:14 – 16. Acts 8:36 – 37, “36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Notice the order in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost…”
- Baptism is to be by immersion rather than by pouring or sprinkling. There are two main arguments for immersion. (1) The English word baptize is a transliteration of the Greek word baptizein. In order to render a proper translation, we have to use the word immerse. (2) There are many passages that support the immersion translation. Matthew 3:16, “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water:…”
Acts 8:37 – 38, “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.”
- Baptism is not a step to salvation but it is a testimony that one has already received Christ Jesus as Saviour. Baptism is a beautiful picture of salvation through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Romans 6:4 – 5, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”
Colossians 2:12, “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
Every believer who has been immersed pictures the death (dying to self-righteousness and giving in to Christ’s righteousness), burial (going completely under the water), and the resurrection (coming up out of the water) of Jesus Christ.
Immersion also pictures:
Our engrafting into Christ.
Galatians 3:27, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Romans 6:5, “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”
Our remission of sins.
Mark 1:4, “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”
Our giving up to God through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:3 – 4, “3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
- Believer’s baptism by immersion is a requisite to church membership. Throughout the book of Acts we find the order of salvation, baptism, and church membership. Acts 2:41, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Cf. Matthew 16:25 – 33; Acts 8:37 – 38; Matthew 28:19 – 20; 1 Corinthians 12:13.
- When a believer is baptized, he is following Christ’s example. This reason alone should compel any believer to be baptized. If someone does not want to follow Christ in baptism, then it could be that he was never truly born again. Matthew 3:13 – 16, “13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:”
In practicing these five maxims, Baptists not only preserve purity in their local churches, they also honor the Lord Jesus Christ by respecting completely His Great Commission. Matthew 28:19 – 20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:…”
