Imagine a soldier standing before his nation’s flag during a commissioning ceremony.
That ceremony does not make him a citizen, nor does it create his loyalty—
but it publicly declares where he stands, who he belongs to, and what authority he follows.
Now imagine a married couple wearing wedding rings.
The ring itself does not create the marriage covenant,
but it visibly represents the covenant already made in the heart.
In the same way, baptism and communion do not save a person,
but they publicly proclaim identification with Jesus Christ.
Many people today misunderstand the ordinances.
Some treat baptism as salvation itself.
Others treat communion as a ritual without meaning.
Still others neglect both completely.
But the ordinances were given by Jesus Christ Himself to the church for powerful spiritual purposes.
Baptism is the believer’s first public act of obedience.
Communion is the believer’s continual remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice.
Both ordinances point directly to:
the death of Jesus,
the burial of Jesus,
the resurrection of Jesus,
and the return of Jesus Christ.
The ordinances are not empty religious ceremonies.
They are visible sermons of the gospel.
Christianity is centered upon one glorious reality:
Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again.
The ordinances given to the church continually point believers back to this gospel truth.
God understands human nature.
We forget easily.
We drift easily.
We become spiritually distracted easily.
So Christ established TWO ORDINANCES to anchor believers continually in the gospel message:
Baptism
The Lord’s Supper
These ordinances are not pathways to salvation.
Salvation comes only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
However, the ordinances are acts of obedience that reveal:
faith,
surrender,
remembrance,
identification,
and devotion to Christ.
A believer who truly loves Christ desires to obey Him publicly and remember Him continually.
THE MEANING OF BAPTISM
(Identification with Christ)
THE POWER OF OBEDIENCE THROUGH THE ORDINANCES
(Why the ordinances matter spiritually)
THE PURPOSE OF COMMUNION
(Remembering Christ until He comes)
Baptism existed in various forms among the Jews before Christ, often connected to ceremonial cleansing.
However, Christian baptism took on completely new meaning after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Himself was baptized publicly before beginning His earthly ministry.
After Christ’s resurrection, He commanded His disciples:
“Go ye therefore… baptizing them…”
The early church immediately practiced baptism after salvation.
Communion was instituted during the Passover meal on the night before Jesus was crucified.
During this sacred moment, Jesus transformed the Passover into a memorial centered on Himself.
The Passover remembered deliverance from Egypt.
Communion remembers deliverance from sin through Christ.
From the book of Acts onward, believers regularly gathered to observe the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20
Romans 6:1-7
Acts 8:36-39
Matthew 3:13-17
1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Luke 22:19-20
Mark 14:22-25
Romans 10:9-10
1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Isaiah 53:4-6
One of the clearest truths in Scripture is that baptism follows salvation—not before it.
Salvation occurs through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Ephesians 2:8-9 declares:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith…”
Baptism is not salvation.
Baptism is obedience flowing from salvation.
“BAPTIZE”
The Greek word for baptize is baptizō (βαπτίζω).
It means:
to immerse,
to plunge,
to dip fully,
to submerge.
This is why biblical baptism was always by immersion.
Sprinkling cannot fully picture the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Romans 6 explains baptism beautifully.
Romans 6:4
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death…”
When the believer goes beneath the water:
it pictures burial with Christ.
When the believer rises:
it pictures resurrection into new life.
Baptism visually preaches the gospel.
BAPTISM AS IDENTIFICATION
Romans 1:16 says:
“I am not ashamed of the gospel…”
Baptism is a public declaration:
“I belong to Jesus Christ.”
It is the believer’s testimony before:
family,
friends,
the church,
and the world.
The believer publicly identifies with:
Christ’s death,
Christ’s burial,
Christ’s resurrection.
LIFE EXAMPLE
A man gets saved in a country where Christianity is heavily persecuted.
Privately believing in Jesus is one thing.
But when he stands publicly in baptism, everyone knows he has chosen Christ.
Baptism often becomes the dividing line between hidden belief and open discipleship.
For many believers around the world, baptism carries great cost:
rejection,
persecution,
ridicule,
even danger.
Yet they obey because Jesus is worth everything.
True faith eventually becomes visible.
JESUS SET THE EXAMPLE
Matthew 3 records Jesus’ baptism.
John the Baptist initially resisted, saying:
“I have need to be baptized of thee…”
But Jesus responded:
“Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.”
Jesus had no sin to repent of. His baptism was not about cleansing—
it was about obedience and identification with God’s mission.
If the sinless Son of God humbled Himself in baptism, how much more should believers obey Him joyfully?
THE DANGER OF DISOBEDIENCE
Some believers delay baptism for years.
Fear,
pride,
uncertainty,
or indifference keep them from obeying Christ openly.
But delayed obedience is still disobedience.
The first command after salvation is baptism.
A believer cannot expect spiritual growth while resisting Christ’s clear instruction.
Obedience unlocks spiritual maturity.
God often uses physical acts to reveal spiritual truths.
Throughout Scripture:
altars,
sacrifices,
memorial stones,
feasts,
and ceremonies
served as reminders of God’s covenant and works.
The ordinances function similarly for the church.
They continually point believers back to Jesus Christ.
OBEDIENCE
The biblical concept of obedience involves more than outward action.
The Greek word hupakoē (ὑπακοή) means:
attentive listening,
submission under authority,
responsive obedience.
True obedience flows from love.
Jesus said:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Obedience is not legalism when it flows from relationship.
BAPTISM REVEALS SURRENDER
Baptism is humbling because it requires public submission.
The believer declares:
“My life no longer belongs to me. I belong to Christ.”
The old life is buried.
A new life begins.
2 Corinthians 5:17:
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…”
Baptism becomes a visible marker of inward transformation.
LIFE EXAMPLE
A woman trapped in addiction receives Christ genuinely.
After salvation, she is baptized publicly.
As she comes out of the water, she weeps because she realizes:
“My old life no longer defines me.”
Though struggles may still exist, baptism becomes a powerful declaration that Jesus has begun transforming her identity.
The ordinances remind believers that grace changes lives.
THE ORDINANCES AND THE LOCAL CHURCH
The ordinances were entrusted to the church.
Baptism identifies believers with Christ and His body.
Communion unites believers in remembrance together.
Christianity was never designed to be private and isolated.
The ordinances reinforce covenant community.
THE GOSPEL VISIBLY DISPLAYED
Every time baptism occurs, the gospel is preached visually.
Every time communion is observed, the cross is proclaimed again.
1 Corinthians 11:26 says:
“Ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”
The ordinances constantly redirect attention back to Jesus.
Not to human effort.
Not to religion.
But to Christ crucified and risen.
On the night before the crucifixion, Jesus gathered with His disciples during Passover.
Then He took bread and said:
“This is my body…”
He took the cup and said:
“This cup is the new testament in my blood…”
Communion became a memorial of the cross.
“REMEMBRANCE”
Jesus said:
“This do in remembrance of me.”
The Greek word for remembrance is anamnesis (ἀνάμνησις).
It means:
intentional recollection,
active remembrance,
bringing something continually to mind.
Communion is not empty ritual.
It is deliberate reflection upon:
Christ’s suffering,
Christ’s sacrifice,
Christ’s grace,
and Christ’s return.
THE BREAD
Unleavened bread represents Christ’s pure body.
Leaven throughout Scripture symbolizes:
sin,
corruption,
false doctrine.
Jesus was sinless.
Isaiah 53 prophesied His suffering:
“He was wounded for our transgressions…”
The broken bread reminds believers:
His body was beaten,
pierced,
and sacrificed for sinners.
THE CUP
The cup represents Christ’s blood.
The blood of Jesus purchased redemption.
Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.
The cup reminds believers:
forgiveness is costly,
salvation is purchased,
grace is not cheap.
Every drop points to Calvary.
THREE DIRECTIONS OF COMMUNION
Communion remembers Christ’s death.
Believers reflect on:
the cross,
the suffering,
the sacrifice,
the love of God.
The cross reveals both:
the horror of sin,
and the greatness of grace.
1 Corinthians 11 commands believers to examine themselves.
Communion becomes a sacred moment of:
repentance,
reflection,
cleansing,
humility.
The table of the Lord calls believers to purity.
LIFE EXAMPLE
A man sits during communion while harboring bitterness against another believer.
As the bread and cup are passed, the Holy Spirit convicts him deeply.
He realizes:
“How can I remember Christ’s forgiveness while refusing to forgive?”
That moment leads him to repentance and reconciliation.
Communion exposes the condition of the heart.
Communion also points forward.
Jesus is coming again.
Every observance declares:
“The King will return.”
The church remembers not only a crucified Savior, but also a returning Savior.
Hope fills the believer’s heart.
THE DANGER OF TAKING COMMUNION LIGHTLY
Paul warned the Corinthian church strongly.
Some partook:
carelessly,
selfishly,
hypocritically,
unrepentantly.
God disciplined some because they treated holy things casually.
Communion should never become routine religion.
It should remain sacred.
If you are saved but have never been baptized biblically after salvation, obey Christ openly.
Do not allow fear or delay to hinder obedience.
Baptism is your public declaration that:
Jesus is Lord,
your old life is buried,
and your new life belongs to Him.
Obedience strengthens spiritual growth.
APPLICATION 2 — APPROACH COMMUNION WITH REVERENCE
Before participating in the Lord’s Supper:
examine your heart,
confess sin,
forgive others,
renew your focus upon Christ.
Communion is not a casual religious tradition.
It is sacred remembrance of the greatest sacrifice in history.
APPLICATION 3 — LIVE DAILY IN THE REALITY OF THE GOSPEL
The ordinances point continually to Jesus.
Remember daily:
Christ died for you,
Christ rose again,
Christ forgave you,
Christ transformed you,
and Christ is returning.
Let the gospel shape:
your identity,
your decisions,
your worship,
your relationships,
and your purpose.
Jesus instituted both ordinances.
Jesus was baptized publicly.
Jesus broke the bread and shared the cup.
Jesus shed His blood for sinners.
Jesus died, was buried, and rose again.
Jesus commanded believers to remember Him.
Jesus is coming again for His church.
The ordinances exist to magnify Jesus Christ.
Church, never lose the wonder of the gospel.
Never allow baptism to become mere ceremony.
Never allow communion to become empty routine.
Every baptism proclaims:
“Jesus saves.”
Every communion service declares:
“Jesus died, Jesus rose, and Jesus is coming again.”
The waters of baptism testify that the old life is buried.
The table of communion testifies that grace has been purchased through blood.
These ordinances preach Christ continually.
Today God calls believers:
to deeper obedience,
deeper remembrance,
deeper holiness,
deeper surrender.
Some need to obey publicly through baptism.
Some need repentance before approaching the Lord’s table.
Some need to rediscover the beauty of the cross.
Look again to Calvary.
See the Savior:
wounded,
pierced,
mocked,
crucified,
buried,
and risen in glory.
He did not die to create religious spectators.
He died to redeem transformed disciples.
Declare today:
“Jesus Christ is my Lord.
My old life is buried with Him.
My new life belongs to Him.
I will obey Him publicly.
I will remember His sacrifice faithfully.
I will live in the power of His resurrection.
And I will wait expectantly for His glorious return.”
May the church once again treasure:
the cross,
the gospel,
obedience,
holiness,
remembrance,
and the returning King.
And may every believer leave today walking boldly in the grace, truth, and victory of Jesus Christ our Lord.