Baptism And The Lord's Supper

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We observe two ordinances in the Baptist Church, water baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These two practices are called ordinances because through Scripture we have been given an authoritative directive by our Lord Jesus Christ. We begin with baptism. The Bible teaches that the act of water baptism is a spiritual ritual by which an individual announces publicly that he/she has accepted salvation which is offered through belief in Jesus Christ. It is a visible symbol which declares one’s belief in the new birth. In Romans 6:1-10 Paul the apostle explains the significance of water baptism. Romans 6:3-4 “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

As we participate in the ordinance of the church we should be careful to neither reduce the Lord’s Supper and baptism to mere rituals nor to elevate their meaning to something that may equate to idolatry. In baptism a person signifies repentance toward God, trust in God’s mercy and surrender to God’s will.

There is no salvation in the water. The act of water baptism alone does not bring salvation into a person’s life. We are saved by grace alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Conversion happens before the Spirit gives the desire to get baptized. Upon one’s confession of faith the Holy Spirit takes up his permanent residence in the heart. The Spirit then gives the believer a desire to get baptized. A person is baptized because he is saved; no one is saved simply by participating in the ritual of water baptism.

The following is a paraphrase of the doctrinal statement from the Baptist beliefs.

We believe the Scriptures teach that an individual first believes the gospel and receives Christ as Savior and is then baptized. In Scripture, water baptism follows a personal confession of faith in Jesus Christ. We call this “believer’s baptism”. Mark 16:16; Acts 2:41; 8: 35-37; 10:47; 16: 14-15 In the Baptist faith infants are not baptized because they are incapable of making a confession of faith.

The Bible teaches that immersion is the mode of proper baptism. To immerse means to plunge into something that surrounds or covers. Baptism by immersion means to be completely submerged in water. This mode of baptism symbolized the death of the old sinful way of life by going down into the water as one would go down into a grave. By faith we are crucified with Christ, buried with Him symbolically in baptism and symbolically raised to newness of life upon coming up from immersion. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We are therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6: 3-4

We baptize in the name of the Father, and Son and Holy Spirit; to show forth our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. Jesus’ instructions to the disciples are very clear. We find in Matthew 28: 18ff these words from the resurrected Christ, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” So, not only was Jesus himself baptized, even though he had no sin, He also commanded the disciples to baptize all those who believed. Baptism is a public event which announces ones membership into the Church. It also is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation; and to the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the church by the sacred use of bread and wine are to commemorate together the sacrificial love of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination.

The celebration of the Lord’s Supper is the second ordinance in the Baptist Church. This practice was introduced by the Lord Jesus at the last supper. The Bible says, “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” Matthew 26: 26-28


After reviewing this lesson on Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, please answer the following questions:

1. According to scripture, what is an ordinance?





2. What two ordinances are practiced in the Baptist Church?





3. True or False: We know that a person is saved because he has been baptized. Defend your answer.





4. Who first introduced the Lord’s Supper to the Christian Church? When was the Lord’s Supper first observed?





5. What are the “elements” of the Lord’s Supper? What does each “element” represent?