Doctrines Concerning
The Church
E. That there are two scriptural ordinances of the local, New Testament church.
1. Baptism - The believer's identification with Jesus Christ. It symbolizes Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
Rom 6:1
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?Rom 6:2
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?Rom 6:3
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?Rom 6:4
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.Rom 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:Rom 6:6
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.a. There must be a proper candidate, a born-again believer.
Act 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.Act 8:37
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.b. There must be a proper mode, immersion.
Act 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.Act 8:39
And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.c. There must be proper authority, a local, New Testament church.
Act 2:41
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.2. The Lord's Supper - A memorial of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Mat 26:26
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.Mat 26:27
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;Mat 26:28
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
1Co 11:23
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:1Co 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.1Co 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 oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.1Co 11:26
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.1Co 11:27
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.1Co 11:28
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.a. The bread and the cup symbolize the broken body and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 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.1Co 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 oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.1Co 11:26
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.b. This memorial is for self-examination that the believer is right with God.
1Co 11:27
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.1Co 11:28
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.1Co 11:29
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.3. The two ordinances should not be practiced outside the context of the local, New Testament church.
Act 2:41
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.Act 2:42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.Act 2:43
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.Act 2:44
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;Act 2:45
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.Act 2:46
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,Act 2:47
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
1Co 11:20
When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.1Co 11:21
For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.1Co 11:22
What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.1Co 11:23
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:1Co 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.1Co 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 oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.1Co 11:26
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.1Co 11:27
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.1Co 11:28
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.1Co 11:29
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.1Co 11:30
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.1Co 11:31
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.1Co 11:32
But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.1Co 11:33
Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.1Co 11:34
And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.Personal Opinion:
I have yet to see how the water baptism symbolizes Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
John was baptizing multitude (and baptized Jesus) prior to the time when Jesus performed his death, burial, and resurrection; in fact a few years before he announced he was going to perform those happenings.
John's (water) baptism was "of repentance for (unto) the remission of sins" and took place when the people to be baptized confessed their sins.
Mat 3:5
Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,Mat 3:6
And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.That's birth # 1
Birth #2 is a spiritual rebirth and that takes place when the believer looks to Jesus on the cross (similar to Moses' lifted up serpent).
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.Joh 3:3
Joh 3:14
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:That baptism must take place in a local church seems to me poorly backed up with scripture.