Heb 10:24-25 Church Study Guide Part 6 Ordinances BC 2/01
IV. Marks of an authentic church: Baptism; Lord’s Supper; Church Discipline
A. Baptism What’s the significance of Baptism? Who should be baptized? Who should baptize? Should one be immersed or sprinkled?
1. Purpose – First step of Discipleship: acknowledging death to sin and pledging a good conscience toward God.
1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us----baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (see Rom 6:11 and TOYL Sanctification : Ain’t gonna Reign No More)
Baptism symbolizes the process of sanctification: dying to self and living to God; of realizing you have been crucified along with Christ therefore the power sin had over your life is gone and you can and should live in newness of life free from sin. (cf Lk 9:23-26)
2. Process
Rom 6: 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 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. 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.
3. Product
Col 2:12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
B. Lord’s Supper What’s the significance of the Lord’s Supper being instituted at a Passover celebration? Should we celebrate or observe it?
1. Purpose - To reinforce the unity/fellowship of the Body with the Lord and each other by recalling Christ’s sacrificial death to serve our greatest need, as well as our participation/commonality (past, present, and future) in Him
1Cor 11:23 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; 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." 25 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."
2. Process
27 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. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
3. Product
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.
C. Church Discipline Why/how does a church exercise church discipline? What’s the purpose of discipline: for the person? For the Body?
1. Purpose - To protect and purify the Bride of Christ so it can reflect His Glory
Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any fault/trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness…
1Cor 5:5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
“ (1) To bring glory to God and enhance the testimony of the flock. www.bible.org/docs/theology/eccles/churdisc.htm
(2) To restore, heal, and build up sinning believers (Matt. 18:15; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; Heb. 12:10-13; Gal. 6:1-2; Jam. 5:20).
(3) To produce a healthy faith, one sound in doctrine (Tit. 1:13; 1 Tim. 1:19-20).
(4) To win a soul to Christ, if the sinning person is only a professing Christian (2 Tim. 2:24-26).
(5) To silence false teachers and their influence in the church (Tit. 1:10-11).
(6) To set an example for the rest of the body and promote godly fear (1 Tim. 5:20).
(7) To protect the church against the destructive consequences that occur when churches fail to carry out church discipline…”
2. Process (see outline How to Respond to Carnal Christians) and especially Mat 18
Titus 3:10 Reject a divisive (one who chooses own way) man after the first and second admonition (warning),
2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly (#813), and not after the tradition which he received from us.
3. Product
1Tim 1:20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
1Tim 5:19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.
