Baptism - The Church Ordinance

Dictionary explains ordinances as an authoritative rule or law; a decree or command.  It means that it is a command to obey. They are also visual aids to help us to understand better and appreciate what Jesus has accomplished for us by sacrificing himself on the cross. New Testament makes it very clear that Baptism is one of the practices of the early church. Church practices this ordinance because Jesus commands us to do so.

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Not only he commanded us to do so, Jesus himself set an example for us that he himself was baptized by John before started his ministry. 

 

But what does baptism symbolize, why is it so important?

I was baptized on Christmas day in year 2000.  Although it was really long time ago, but I must say it was a wonderful experience for me because it was a special moment in my walk with Jesus Christ. I knew that I was confessing publicly of my faith in Jesus as my personal savior. I remember coming out of the water and feeling such joy in my heart. By going down in the water, it symbolizes that my old man is dead to sin and buried by faith in Christ. By being raised up out of the water, I understand that it symbolizes my new man is raised by the Spirit and made alive by faith in Christ.  

Although baptism very important, but is it necessary for salvation? Or is it sufficient for salvation? 

Bible makes it clear that as Christian we should be baptized, but it is not something we do in order to be saved, but it is something we do BECAUSE we are saved. Can we earn salvation? No, we can’t. We are not saved by ritual or works but “by grace through faith” (Eph. 2:8-9). If baptism is necessary for salvation, then we are saying that the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross is not enough and we need to add something that we do in order to make the salvation complete. 

If it is not necessary for salvation, then why would we be baptized? I think I am doing it because it is a testimony that I have trusted in Christ as savior and it is my new identity in Christ by submitting his command to be baptized.

This Is Church.

Had an interesting discussion in class today regarding the definition of a church.

What is a church? 

What is a true church? 

Simple question but it is a question that each of us have to really think through. 

Then I came across a simple video of what a church really is. Take a look!

I am in agreement.

"The church is the hands of feet of Jesus Christ. Feet shouldn't sit still. Hands shouldn't be idle. Feet go. Hands do. This is the church."

A Such Thing As The Best...

According to Millard J. Erickson, there are several forms of church government that have appeared as the church developed. This four most basic forms are episcopal, presbyterian, congregational and a form of nongovernment. Churches around the globe have been probably debating which is the best form of church government. No doubt the Bible does talk about church leadership but there is no prescriptive exposition of what government of the church is to be like comparable to. The churches are not commanded to adopt a particular form of church order. The closest to it probably is when Paul mentioned the basic qualifications for offices that already existed (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9). If it is so, how then are we to decide on which form we are to follow?

The issue here is not about which form of church government is greater than the other. But rather, which church government is suitable for the individual churches. Each church has a different set of culture, people, vision and mission. With this reason, it is hard to make it as a rule that there is only one way to run the church. As long as the principals of governing the church is in synced with the Word of God, methods can be changed. After all, systems and methods are man-made. So who are we to judge and to compare?

Changing the way we do church

Through the ages, church form and model has changed many times, with the newer generations changing the way older generations do church. You can call it a revolt or a reform but change is imminent. Today we stand at the threshold of yet another change – the cries of a newer generation.

Is the emerging church a reaction of a previous generation that is falling out of relevancy? Or is it a necessity to reach a changing generation? There are some who think the emerging church as overboard and over-compromising, but so were we for the previous generation. There are some who think the emerging church as the only way to reach the postmodern generation, but have we thoroughly thought through the cost? Whatever our comments may be, it is crucial for us to consider once again the purpose of the church.

The church was instituted for a purpose. Erickson clearly defines its purpose to have its members worship God, edify the body, and evangelize the lost. If any form of the church loses its function in any of these areas, it ceases to be what we call the church. Scot McKnight offers a warning to the emerging church movement whom he believes to be losing its evangelistic zeal by compromising its proclamation of the exclusive Good News. That is a warning for the rest of us, as well, who wants to change the way we do church. I echo the age old chant, “the method may change but the message is still the same”. The form of church may change, but the function should not.

The Church

The church began in the times of the apostles soon after Jesus' ascension and the day of Pentecost, as recorded in the Book of Acts. To understand the original nature of the church which the Lord builds, we need to go back to the first community of faith, the first group of believers who were the apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus commissioned his disciples in Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Here, the purpose of the church is so plain and clear: To be His witness, meaning to bear the gospel truth, the salvation message to near and far, till the ends of the earth. The Holy Spirit came upon the 120 believers, granting each one divine empowerment, spiritual giftings, extraordinary boldness and enablement to witness. Everyone began to speak in other tongues declaring the wonders of God (2:11), Peter began to preach the gospel with great boldness, many heard the message of salvation, and 3000 were added to their number that day (2:14-41).

The original nature of the church and her core values are clearly stated in Acts 2:42-47, being filled with the Spirit of God, the believers devoted themselves to the Word of God, to fellowship, to break bread, and to prayer. There were many signs and wonders done by the apostles. All believers shared their material possessions and goods to those in need, worshipping and praising God. And the Lord added new believers to their number daily.

Over the centuries, the nature of the church had developed and evolved as Christianity spreads throughout the globe. There are great structures or buildings, many denominations based on the differences of doctrines, there are modifications in almost every aspect, many methodology, legalism, rituals, traditions, unique cultures in the fellowships of believers. Throughout church history, there were great shifts in the dynamics of the church and radically changed, politically, economically, and socially.

No matter how much the church has developed and evolved over the centuries, narrowing it down just to our very own local church, it is important to go back to the original nature of God's intent for His church to be the bearer of truth, to spread the gospel and be His witnesses, that is the first and foremost. Let us not depart from the very purpose of the divine call, commission and purpose of the existence of church. It is meant to be the extension arm of God to continue to the work and ministry of Jesus Christ, to bring salvation, hope, love, redemption, healing and restoration.