Understanding Christianity

The church has two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the initiating oath-sign of the new covenant whereby a new believer formally submits to the Triune God in obedience to Jesus’ command to be baptized by immersion. Baptism does not save anyone, but instead shows visually and verbally that God has saved him or her by His free grace alone. Baptism is a sign of the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. The Lord’s Supper uniquely depicts continuing fellowship with God, a repeated act whereby the believer remembers the Lord’s death and renews his commitment to Christ and participation in His church. Lord’s Supper is a means of grace through which Christ is present by his divine nature and through which the Holy Spirit nourishes the souls of believers with the benefits won for us by Christ’s death. www.seancole.net