ORDINANCES FOR THE NINETIES
#483 ORDINANCES FOR THE NINETIES
Scripture Acts 8:35-39, I Corinthians 11:23-29 NIV Orig. 9-29-63
Rewr. 1-11-90
Passage: Acts 8:35-39
35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] [a Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
1 Corinthians 11:23-29
23 For I received from the Lord(A) what I also passed on to you:(B) The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body,(C) which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant(D) in my blood;(E) do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.(F) 27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.(G) 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves(H) before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
Purpose: Remind my people that the message and meaning of the Lord’s Supper have not changed.
Keywords: Christ Ordinance Lord’s Supper Ordinance Baptism Communion
Introduction
There is a beautiful passage from John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress (250C77p123), that is most applicable in the context of the Lord’s Supper.
Then said Christian to the porter, Sir, what house is this? The porter answered, This house was built by the Lord of the Hill, and he built it for the relief and security of Pilgrims. . . . Now I saw in my Dream that thus they sat talking together until supper was ready. So when they had made ready, they sat down to meat. Now the table was furnished with fat things, and with Wine that was well refined: and all their talk at the table was about the Lord of the Hill; as namely, about what He had done, and wherefore He did what He did, and why He had builded that House. . . . Thus they discoursed together till late at night; and after they had committed themselves to their Lord for protection, they took themselves to rest. The Pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber, whose window opened towards the Sun rising: the name of the chamber was Peace, where he slept till break of day, and then he awoke and sang,
Where am I now? Is this the love and care of Jesus, for the men that Pilgrims are Thus to provide? That I should be forgiven! And dwell already the next door to Heaven!
The potential thus in the Lord’s Supper is for us to dwell “next door to heaven.”
I. First, a Brief Word about Determining Our Beliefs about Ordinances. We must encounter the teaching of Jesus. His early ministry was similar to that of John. Acts 13:24 “. . . who preached . . . the baptism of repentance.” Similarly, He instructed the disciples. Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, . . . baptizing . . . in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” Likewise He left His imprint upon the observance of the supper. So He led the disciples. So He instructed them to continue. Luke 22:19 “This do in remembrance of me.”
The early church left a relatively clear PICTURE of its practice. Denominationalism has altered it. Individual teachers have abused it. We have the early church with which to compare ourselves. The third determinant has to do with the message of the ordinance. We will deal with this shortly in describing our present beliefs. It is noteworthy, that foot washing, exemplified by Jesus, did not pass into general use. He didn’t advise its continuance, and we are hard pressed to find a celebrant. We ought to learn the humility thus pictured.
II. Next, a Brief Discussion about Our Beliefs. Baptism: Acts 3:36 “Here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” Scriptural baptism is immersion. A.H. Strong writes that every place where the New Testament uses the concept of baptism either requires or mandates a meaning based on immersion. It is the immersion of a believer (Acts 8:37); there is no efficacy in a dunking in water not based on faith. Repeated immersions are a sacrilege because they espouse untruth. Baptism demonstrates a belief in who Jesus is, repentance and confession, and desire for discipleship. It is an act of obedience. Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you . . . unto remission of sin.” It is a three-fold symbol of the Saviour’s life: Death--Romans 6:5 “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, so shall we be in the likeness of His resurrection;” Burial and Resurrection—Colossians 2:12 “Buried with Him in baptism . . . risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God.”
It is a testimony of the believer’s faith in Christ and in His gospel. It is the prerequisite to the privileges of church membership.
The Lord’s Supper: It memorializes the death of Christ. Its elements are twofold: unleavened bread and available fruit of the vine. It is the appropriation of the sacrifice of another for ourselves. Matthew 26:28 “This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” It is the forecasting of His return. We are able to come to grips with this world as it is. We know that the ultimate change will happen only upon His return.
It is one thing more, it is an expression of obedience celebrated by the assembled church, according to Christ, the place of the supreme Lord, displaying a momentary picture of heaven.
Conclusion
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the great British preacher, left a poem describing the supper.
Amidst us our beloved stands,
And bids us view his pierced hands;
Points to the wounded feet and side,
Blest emblems of the crucified.
What food luxurious loads the board
When, at his table, sits the Lord!
The wine how rich, the bread how sweet
When Jesus deigns his guests to meet!
If now, with eyes defiled and dim,
We see the signs, but see not him;
O, may his love the scales displace,
And bid us see him face to face!
Thou glorious Bridegroom of our hearts,
Thy present smile a heaven imparts!
O, lift the veil, if veil there be,
Let every saint thy glory see!
(250C77p169)