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Objective

In this lesson, we’ll discover that baptism and communion are the only ordinances that Jesus established for the church, and we’ll learn how these ceremonies point us to Christ and His work for us.

Key Verse

1 Corinthians 11:24: And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Introduction

An ordinance of the church is a public ceremony that pictures a spiritual truth. Think of it as a visible demonstration of an invisible reality—like a wedding ring that shows the world you are married, even though love itself cannot be seen.

Jesus gave two special ordinances to the church: baptism and communion. In this lesson, we’ll see that both of these ordinances testify to the work of Christ and lead us to remember the Lord.

Here are the main points we will explore together:

• The meaning and purpose of baptism
• The meaning and purpose of communion

Baptism

Water baptism is one of the most beautiful pictures of salvation that we find in the New Testament. To understand this ordinance properly, we need to examine several important questions about what the Bible teaches.

➤ What is the ordinance of water baptism?

The Bible speaks about different types of baptism, and it’s important that we understand the differences. There was John’s baptism, which was a sign of repentance and preparation for Christ (Acts 19:4). There is our spiritual baptism into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit, which happens when we are saved (1 Corinthians 12:13). There is also the baptism by the Holy Spirit that gives believers power for service (Acts 1:5).

But the baptism Jesus established as an ordinance for the church is water baptism, which new believers are commanded to receive:

Matthew 28:19: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38: Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

When a new believer is baptized, he makes a public profession of faith. He is declaring his identification with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection. Paul explains the spiritual meaning of this powerful ceremony:

Romans 6:3-4: Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

This ordinance serves as a testimony to the world of a changed life through Christ. But it is also a reminder to Christians that we are called to walk in our new life with Jesus. (Notebook Moment: If you have been baptized, what did that experience mean to you? If you haven’t been baptized yet, what questions do you have about taking this important step?)

➤ What is the proper way to baptize?

The Bible seems to teach baptism by immersion—that is, immersing the whole body beneath the water. We can see this pattern in several places in Scripture. When Philip baptized the Ethiopian official, the Bible tells us something very revealing about the process:

Acts 8:38-39: So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away.

Notice that they both “went down into the water” and then “came up out of the water.” This suggests more than just sprinkling or pouring—it points to complete immersion.

The Bible seems to teach immersion because going under the water perfectly symbolizes death and burial, while coming back up symbolizes new life in Christ. This is the only way our complete identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection can be fully pictured. We are buried with Him beneath the water and raised to walk in newness of life.

Some Christians baptize by sprinkling water on the head. Others baptize by pouring water over the person. While immersion appears to be the biblical pattern, this is a doctrinal point that should not divide Christians or separate them from fellowship with one another.

➤ Does water baptism save us?

Many Christians are confused about this important question. Some verses seem to suggest that baptism is part of our salvation (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38), so we need to study the Bible carefully and let Scripture interpret Scripture for us.

Baptism does not save us. When Peter tells people to “repent and be baptized for the remission of sins,” he is not saying that baptism brings forgiveness. Repentance and faith bring forgiveness. Baptism is a sign that we have already been forgiven through faith in Christ.

Other passages make this point crystal clear. When Paul and Silas spoke to the Philippian jailer, they did not tell him he had to be baptized to be saved. Instead, they said:

Acts 16:31: So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Once the jailer believed in Christ, then he was baptized to declare his conversion publicly. The order is always the same: first salvation through faith, then baptism as a public testimony.

Those who believe that baptism saves us must ignore what the Bible clearly teaches. They must ignore the teaching about salvation through grace and faith alone. They must ignore Abraham’s example of justification by faith. They must ignore that it is the blood of Jesus, not baptism water, that washes our sins away. They must ignore the clear teaching that baptism is a sign of identification with Christ, not the means of salvation itself.

➤ What about infant baptism?

Some Christians practice infant baptism by sprinkling water on babies. They see this as a form of dedication and faith, believing that the family is making a covenant with God about their children. Those who practice infant baptism often point to examples such as Acts 16:33, where the Philippian jailer “and all his family were baptized.” This might have included children as well.

While this passage in Acts teaches an important principle about leading one’s family to faith in Christ, it doesn’t actually teach infant baptism. The practice of infant baptism can express the parents’ sincere desire to dedicate their children to the Lord. But the Bible doesn’t teach infant baptism as an ordinance since infants cannot make a personal profession of faith.

Children are not saved by being baptized as infants. They must still make their own confession of faith in Christ when they are old enough to understand and believe. Like other differences in baptismal practices, this is something that should not divide Christians from fellowship with one another.

Communion

The second ordinance that Christ gave the church is communion, also called the Lord’s Supper. This beautiful ceremony connects us to the very heart of our Christian faith—the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins.

➤ What do the bread and wine represent?

Jesus tells us clearly what communion is all about. Before He went to the cross, Jesus took bread and wine during the Passover meal and gave them new meaning:

1 Corinthians 11:23-25: For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Jesus and the disciples were celebrating the feast of Passover, which commemorated how God delivered His people from slavery in Egypt. Communion is beautifully connected to this Jewish feast. Just as the Passover lamb’s blood protected Israel from God’s judgment, Jesus became our Passover Lamb whose blood protects us from eternal judgment. Each time we take communion, we remember our deliverance from sin through Christ’s sacrifice. (Notebook Moment: How does it affect your understanding of communion to know that Jesus established it during the Passover meal? What connections do you see between the Passover story and our salvation?)

Some Christians misunderstand what Jesus taught about the bread and wine. They believe that the bread literally becomes the body of Christ when we eat it, and that the wine literally becomes His blood when we drink it. But Jesus was speaking symbolically, using the bread and wine as signs to help us remember His sacrifice. The bread and wine remain bread and wine—they are pictures that point us to the body and blood of Christ.

➤ What is the purpose of communion?

Jesus tells us exactly why He established this ordinance. Jesus knew how easy it would be for His followers to forget His great sacrifice, so He gave us this simple but powerful way to keep His death and resurrection fresh in our hearts and minds. We are to remember His great sacrifice for our sins, and we are also to look forward to His second coming:

1 Corinthians 11:26: For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Communion is a time when we must examine our hearts and dedicate ourselves again to the Lord. Paul warns us to approach this ordinance with the right attitude:

1 Corinthians 11:27-28: Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

Taking communion “in an unworthy manner” doesn’t mean we have to be perfect to participate. Rather, it means we shouldn’t approach this ordinance carelessly or without recognizing what Christ has done for us. We should examine our hearts, confess any known sin, and focus our thoughts on Jesus and His sacrifice.

➤ What is the proper way to celebrate communion?

There is no single prescribed way to take communion. Many churches read the passage from 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, while others read the same account from the Gospels. Some churches celebrate communion weekly, others monthly, and some at different intervals. Communion can even be celebrated without reading specific verses, though Scripture reading helps us focus on the meaning.

However, it is always appropriate to do three important things during communion:

• Clearly explain the meaning of the bread and wine
• Warn against taking communion in an unworthy manner
• Encourage believers to reflect deeply upon Christ’s sacrifice for them

Conclusion

The ordinances of baptism and communion do not save us, but they serve vital purposes in the life of the church and in our individual Christian walks. Through these simple yet profound ceremonies, we give public testimony of God’s work in our lives, remember what Christ has done for us, and unite together as the Body of Christ in fellowship and worship.

Some Christians also practice foot washing as a sign of humility, following the example of Christ when He washed His disciples’ feet. While this reflects a beautiful spirit of service, Jesus did not command His followers to practice foot washing as a regular ordinance like baptism and communion. When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, He was modeling what a life of service and humility looks like in our daily relationships with one another:

John 13:14-15: If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

The importance of the ordinances that Jesus did establish—baptism and communion—is that they point directly to Jesus Christ and His work for us in salvation. When we witness someone being baptized, we are reminded of our own death to sin and new life in Christ. When we participate in communion, we remember that Jesus gave His body and shed His blood to purchase our redemption. (Notebook Moment: How can participating in these ordinances help strengthen your faith and deepen your relationship with Christ?)

Because these ordinances point us to the heart of the gospel itself, we should treat them with appropriate reverence and joy. They are not merely traditions or rituals to be performed—they are sacred reminders of the greatest love story ever told, the story of how God sent His Son to rescue us from sin and death and give us eternal life.

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