BAPTISM.. AND THE LORD'S SUPPER

Acts 8:26-39

 

Intro:  There are only two church ordinances taught in the New Testament, and these two are to be carried out only by the Church, not individuals. I personally like to observe the Lord's Supper after I have had a Baptism, and thus bring them both into one service. Here is a study I prepared for such a Sunday night service at our church.

 

BAPTISM

 

I.    THE PREREQUISITE OF BAPTISM.. V 35-37

A.                 Must hear the message of the Lord Jesus. ..v 35

Acts 8:35  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

B.                 Must believe the message of the Lord.. .v 37

Acts 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.

 

II.   THE PLAN OF BAPTISM...v 38-39

Acts 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.

Acts 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.

A.            The Involvement of two in the water.

B.            The Immersion of total being in the water.

 

III.  THE PURPOSE OF BAPTISM...

A.                 The Command of Christ...Matt. 28:18-20

Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

B.                 The Command of the early Church...Acts 2:38, Acts 10:44-48

Acts 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.

Acts 10:44  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Acts 10:45  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10:46  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

Acts 10:47  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Acts 10:48  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

C.                 The Command of the Conscience... I Peter 3:21

1 Pet 3:21  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

 

IV.  THE PICTURE OF BAPTISM...I Cor. 12:13

1 Cor 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

 

It is an outward expression of an inward experience.

A.                 Death to the old man...Rom. 6:1-3

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?

 

B.                 Resurrection of a new man.. Rom. 6:4-5

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:

 

 

THE LORD'S SUPPER

The Table is a family affair. The Table is a fellowship affair.

 

I.    THE INSTITUTION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER... Matt. 26:26-29

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.

Mat 26:29  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

A.                 The fulfillment of the law... (passover)

B.         The focus of His love

 

II.   THE INGREDIENTS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER...Matt. 26:

A.                 The unfermented fruit of the vine.. V 29

B.         The unleavened bread...v 17

 

III.  THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER...I Cor. 11:23-26

A.                 The memorial of it.. V 24-25

1 Cor 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.

1 Cor 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.

B.         The message of it...v 26

1 Cor 11:26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.

IV.  THE INVESTIGATION BEFORE THE LORD'S 8UPPER...l Cor. 11

A.     The individuality of the investigation.. V 28

1 Cor 11:28  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

B.     The intention of the investigation.. .v 27 & 29

1 Cor 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.

1 Cor 11:29  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

by Bro. Stinnett Ballew

Created by 

SuzyB