Why be Baptized? Why Take Communion?
CHAPTER SIX
WHY BE BAPTIZED? WHY TAKE COMMUNION?
Different churches have different practices, but there are two which all churches, in one form or another, observe. One of these is baptism, the other is communion. Sometimes we call the latter “The Lord’s Supper”. What do these things mean? Why do most churches believe in the practice of them?
Occasionally we see Christians who refuse to be baptized and who avoid communion. Do such Christians disobey the Word of God? Will it do harm if we do not observe them? Are there good reasons for observing them? A Christian who really understands the teaching of Jesus will want to do what the Lord has commanded. Did He command baptism? Did He expect Christians to observe the communion?
We are going to study what the New Testament teaches about these practices and see if you are asked to observe them. If so, why are you commanded to observe them?
1. The Origin of Baptism
The religious practice of baptism as we know it began with the man who introduced Jesus to the world, John the Baptist. John had one great message to preach. “The kingdom of God is at hand! Repent!” (Read Matt. 3:1-6). Those who heard him and believed him confessed their sins and John baptized them.
When Jesus arrived and John introduced Him to the world, the Lord asked John to baptize Him that they might fulfill all righteousness (Read Matt. 3:13-15). Jesus then began to preach and His message was the same as that of John, except that He added, “believe the good news” (Read Mark 1:15). After He had selected His disciples, He had them baptize all who came to Him (Read John 3:26, 4:1-2).
After the death and resurrection of Jesus, when He gave the disciples what we call the Great Commission, He said to them, “Go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Read Matt. 28:19). Thus it was that baptism passed into the work of the church. Jesus commanded that it be so.
II. Meaning of Baptism
Baptism is a burial in water. It is true that many of the churches practice sprinkling, but the New Testament teaches that baptism is a burial (Read Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12). We do not insist that baptism be an immersion in water just to be different from others or to be contentious. We insist that it be immersion because the Bible teaches that to be the way.
However, it goes deeper than that. Baptism represents something. It is a figure, a picture. It seeks to tell those who see it performed a great truth. Baptism is “like as” something; what is that something? Read Rom. 6:4. It is “like as” Christ was raised up from the dead. Thus, baptism shows forth the burial and the resurrection of Jesus. And it says to the world that “like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the power of the Father” even so have we been raised from the death of sin to walk in the newness of life by that same power.
Baptism plays a part in our Christian life just as any other act of obedience plays a part in it. Baptism does not wash away the filth of our sins; it is an act of ours that is prompted by a good conscience (Read I Peter 3:21). Our salvation came by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We dedicate ourselves to His service when we are converted. By this outward symbol of baptism, we show our dedication to His service.
It is important that we remember that faith and repentance always precede baptism (Read Acts 16:30-31; 2:37-38; 8:35 -37). Since baptism intended to show that we have risen from sin through Christ to walk in a newness of life, we must indeed believe and repent before baptism has any real meaning.
Now, as we have seen, Christ commanded that converts be baptized. The baptism was to show forth their death and burial to sin and their newness of life in Christ. We have seen that it was commanded. Tell me, why should any really converted person want to disobey Christ? We cannot be His disciple if we will not obey Him (Read John 14:21). Do you want to be a disobedient Christian? Surely such a person would not expect to be saved.
Baptism by immersion is a requirement for membership in our church.
III. Origin of the Lord’s Supper
When the Hebrew people were delivered from bondage in Egypt, the Lord ordered that they keep an annual feast or meal to observe that event, to make them remember what happened to them. They called the meal “The Feast of the Passover” (Read Exodus 12). During the eating of that Passover meal, one of the children would ask the father or the elder, “What does this mean?” The father would then tell the story of how the death angel passed through Egypt, striking down the oldest son in each family. However, the Lord had commanded that the Hebrews sprinkle the blood of the lamb on their doorposts. When the angel found a house with that mark, he “passed over” that house. This was the plague that forced the Pharaoh to let the Hebrews leave slavery.
On the last evening of Jesus’ life, He ate the Passover Feast with His disciples. Since He was the real Passover Lamb of God, He knew that the meaning of the Passover would lose effectiveness in the Christian movement. Therefore, at the end of the meal, He did a strange thing. He broke the bread into small pieces and said to the disciples, “All of you eat of this; it is my body which is broken for you.” Then He poured wine into a cup and passed it among them and said, “This is my blood of the New Testament (covenant); all of you drink of this.” When all had complied, He said to them, “As often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me.” After His terrible death and His resurrection, they understood. He wanted them to do this to keep alive the memory of what He had done for them and for us (Read Luke 22:7-20; Matt. 26:17-30).
IV. Meaning of the Supper
In I Corinthians 11:23 -29, Paul show us the meaning of this practice. It is not, he declared, a meal we eat because we are hungry. The Corinthians had turned the Lord’ Supper into a “big dinner” and Paul forbade the continued use of it in that manner.
He recounted the events of the establishment of the Lord’s Supper, with emphasis upon the statement, “This do in remembrance of me.” Then he pointed out the real purpose of the communion was a memorial to the death of Jesus.
The “bread” represents His broken body. The “wine” represents the blood He shed for us on the cross. Jesus does not want a memorial built of stone nor any other objects or materials. He wants a memorial in the hearts of the people of His church. As we remember the death that seemed so tragic but which has turned into such a victory, He is glorified.
V. Who May Take Part?
Paul talks about those who take communion unworthily and what makes them unworthy. If we cannot “discern the Lord’s body,” we should not take communion. This means, “understand why Jesus bled and died.” The unconverted person knows the historical facts about the death of Jesus. The converted person knows the spiritual facts. He discerns that Jesus died for him. He knows what Isaiah 53:5 means (read it now).
Converted persons must be careful that there is not sin in their hearts; that they come to the communion table in an unworthy manner. If there is sin in their lives they should confess that sin and ask for forgiveness before they partake. (Read I Cor. 11:29)
So every converted person may and should take the communion.
VI. Open Communion
Christ died for all Christians. All Christians are saved alike. Jesus prayed in John 17:20-21 (Read it now) that we might all be one. All Christians should take communion, no matter to what church they belong. This is the spirit of oneness for which Christ prayed.
HOMEWORK
1. Look back over this lesson, it tells you the verse where Jesus commanded converts to be baptized. Find the reference and write the verse here.
2. Why do you suppose John was called “the Baptist”? Write your answer here
Write here the book, chapter and verse mentioned in the lesson which indicated your answer
3. Two verses are mentioned in this lesson which show that baptism is a burial. Write the book, chapter and verse here.
4. There are two things we must do before baptism has any real meaning in our lives. Read Acts 16:30-32, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:37. Now write here what those two things are.
5. Why was Jesus baptized? (Matt. 3:13-15)
6. What does baptism have to do with a good conscience? (I Peter 3:21)
7. Why did Jesus suffer? (Isaiah 53:5)
8. At what Jewish feast did Jesus start the Lord’s Supper? (Luke 22:7)
9. Why were the disciples to take the communion? (Luke 22:19)
10. There are two tables that do not mix. What are they? (I Cor. 10:21)
11. When does one take the communion unworthily? (I Cor. 11:29)
12. What is the purpose of the communion? (I Cor. 11:26)
13. For what did Jesus pray that Christians might be? (John 17:21)
14. Does the fact that another Christian does not belong to the same church to which I belong mean that he is unworthy to take the communion with me? Why? (I Cor. 11:29)
15. What one thing disqualifies a person to take the communion? (I Cor. 11:29).