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LESSON NO. 6
ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH
SCRIPTURE: Colossians 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
ORDINANCES:
There are only two ordinances in a Church. One is Baptism and the other The Lord's Supper. Both ordinances are very sacred and are regarded as such by our church. Both ordinances are the symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour.
THIS LESSON:
The purpose of this lesson is to acquaint you with the meaning of these ordinances that you might grow in Grace and Knowledge.
1. BAPTISM:
Baptism is an open and public profession of faith in Christ our Saviour. The new convert goes down into a watery grave, picturing the burial of Christ and picturing his own death to sin, the crucifixion of the natural
man, and rises to walk in the newness of life.
TWO ERRORS IN REGARD TO BAPTISM:
1. THAT ONE CANNOT BE SAVED WITHOUT BAPTISM:
To say we are saved by baptism is to say salvation is by works. If it is works, it leaves out grace and the Word teaches, we are saved by grace.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
It is clear in the Bible that people believed first, and then were baptized.
2. THAT BAPTISM IS NOT IMPORTANT:
Although baptism is not essential to Salvation it is important that every Christian be baptized and the Bible declares why:
JESUS WAS BAPTIZED: Matthew 3:13
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
JESUS COMMANDS US TO BE BAPTIZED: 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.
THE CONVERTS OF THE EARLY CHURCH WERE BAPTIZED:
THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH: Acts 8:38
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.
PAUL, THE APOSTLE: Acts 9:18
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received eight forthwith and arose, and was baptized.
CORNELIUS AND HIS HOUSEHOLD; Acts 10:48
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
LYDIA: Acts 16:15
And when she was baptized, and her household,
PHILIPPIANS JAILER: Acts 16:33
" And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
FORM OF BAPTISM:
There ale many different opinions as to the form of baptism, but. let us look into the Word and see what the Bible says:
REQUIRES WATER: John 1:26
John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not.
REQUIRES MUCH WATER: John 3:23
And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
REQUIRES GOING DOWN INTO THE WATER: Acts 8:38
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water.
REQUIRES BURIAL IN WATER: Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death.
REQUIRES RESURRECTION FROM THE WATER: Matthew 3:16
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water.
THE LORD'S SUPPER:
WE come now to observe the Lord's Supper, the most sacred service we can observe. This is a time when our very soul is drawn close to the Lord. A time when we should humbly repent of the sin in our life and turn to the cross.
QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE LORD'S SUPPER:
WHY DO WE OBSERVE THE LORD'S SUPPER? I Corinthians 11:26
For as often as ye eat this bread and drink the cup, ye shew the Lord's death till he come.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE COMMUNION: 1 Corinthians 11:28
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup.
WHAT DOES THE BREAD REPRESENT? I Corinthians 11:24
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
WHAT DOES THE CUP REPRESENT? I Corinthians 11:25
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood; this do ye, as of t as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE OBSERVE THE LORD'S SUPPER?
Some churches observe the supper every Sunday, some every month, some each quarter, some once each year. The Bible doesn't give a set time but only says as oft as you do.
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