Baptism & Communion

Baptism

What is Baptism?

We believe that baptism is for believers by immersion upon profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and is symbolic of their identification with Him in his death, burial and resurrection.

What does baptism mean?

Baptism is “the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace”. In baptism believers bear public testimony to their faith in Jesus Christ. It is a public confession of belonging to Christ and identifying with Him.

Why should a person be baptised?

Before He returned to heaven Our Lord gave a command to his disciples – “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19,20)

This was a divine command (so we call “baptism” an “ordinance”) which the early Church was faithful in administering – Acts 2:38, 41; 8:38; 9:18; 10:47; 16:15; 16:33.

Who should be baptised?

Baptism is for those who profess repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ. Our Lord’s command is very clear – “Go and make disciples … baptising them … and teaching them.” Discipleship comes first, then baptism – and that order is always the same in the New Testament. A person becomes a believer first and is then baptised.

How should a person be baptised?

The word “baptism” comes from a Greek word (baptiso) which means “to dip in or under water, to immerse or submerge”. So the origin of the word signifies that baptism should be by immersion.

In baptism believers identify with the Lord Jesus Christ in what He did to bring about our salvation. The Apostle Paul says that the things that are of first importance are “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). These great truths are clearly demonstrated in the ordinance of baptism. Going down into the water symbolises death. Going under the water shows that we have been “buried with him through baptism into death”. Coming up out of the water is symbolic of resurrection, “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 6:4). Baptism is by immersion, given the meaning of the word and the symbolism being portrayed.

Where should a person be baptised?

Christians have used rivers, lakes, the sea – anywhere, so long as there is enough water!

Remember the story of the Ethiopian official in Acts chapter 8? Beside the desert road was “some water”. “Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptised him. When they came up out of the water…”. For convenience, ( and because of our Irish weather!) we have a purpose-built baptistry in the church. The place should be public and the ceremony carried out before a congregation who can join in the rejoicing and witness the candidate’s confession.

Baptism may take place anywhere there is enough water to make immersion possible.

Is Baptism essential?

The real question, of course, is – “essential for what?” Certainly, baptism is not essential for salvation. The Bible makes it clear that only faith in Jesus Christ brings forgiveness of sins – see, for example, Ephesians 2:8,9.

Baptism is a witness to salvation, not a means of bringing it about. In another sense, however, baptism is essential – for two reasons.

It is essential to be obedient to Our Lord’s command in Matthew 28:19,20.
Secondly, baptism is essential to proper discipleship.

Our confession in baptism is that we are “counting ourselves to be dead to sin.” It is our public resolve to live as those who are “alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11).

Baptism is an act of obedience to Christ and a commitment to live for God.

Communion

We meet around the Lord’s Table each Sunday at our Morning Service except on the first Sunday of each month when it is at our Evening Service. The Lord’s Table is open for all who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

What is the Lord’s Table?

The Lord’s Table was instituted by our Lord on the night before His crucifixion. “He took bread, gave thanks and broke it and gave to them, saying ‘This is My Body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way … He took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My Blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:19,20). In this way our Lord commanded His followers to remember Him and His death for them.

The Apostle Paul reaffirms that the Lord’s Supper is to be observed as a perpetual remembrance of Him “until He comes” 1 Corinthians 11:26.

The Lord’s Table is referred to in a number of ways in the Bible: “the Breaking of Bread” – Acts 2:42; “communion” – 1 Corinthians 10:16 (AV); “the Lord’s Table” – 1Corinthians 10:21; “the Lord’s Supper” – 1 Corinthians 11:20; “Eucharist” (thanksgiving) – 1 Corinthians 11:24.

The Lord’s Supper is not a sacrifice but is a symbolic, visible representation and remembrance of Christ’s Body broken and Blood shed for the salvation of His people.

What does the Lord’s Supper mean?

It is the Lord’s Supper – He invites us to come;
It is a simple and symbolic way of remembering Him – “until he comes”;
It is a visible representation of how salvation was accomplished;
It is an opportunity for thanksgiving and praise;
It is a challenge to believers to renew their vows to Him;
It is a “means of grace” for believers as they meditate of on the love of God in the crucified and risen Christ;
It is a fellowship of love because we do it together;
It is a looking back to Christ’s death and a looking forward to Christ’s return – God’s grace and God’s glory;
The Lord’s Table is the highest and holiest point in Christian worship when only believers gather to worship the Lord in the manner He ordained.

Who should meet around the Lord’s Table?

The Lord’s Table is for believers who have repented of their sins, devoted their lives to Christ and rejoice in the knowledge of sins forgiven and the glory of God.