Doctrine of the Church

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday evening service August 23, 2015:

X.  The Ordinances of the Church

Ordinance:  A decree or command given by Christ Himself

The two ordinances given by Christ are the Lord’s Supper and Baptism:

A.  The Lord’s Supper

1. The Scriptures describing the Lord’s Supper:  Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:17-20; I Corinthians 11:23-34
2. The names for the Lord’s Supper
   1. The eucharist – (Greek word for the “giving of thanks”).  I Corinthians 11:24
   2. The eulogia – (Greek word for “blessing”).  I Corinthians 10:16 “the cup of blessing”
   3. The prosphora – (Greek word for “offering”).
   4. Communion – This name derives from I Corinthians 10:16, “the communion of the blood of Christ.”
   5. The breaking of bread – This expression is found in Acts 2:42 and is thought by some to refer to the Lord’s Supper.
3. The views concerning the Lord’s Supper
   1. Transubstantiation – The Roman Catholic doctrine which teaches that the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Christ when consecrated by the priest during mass, even though they still look and taste the same.  Thus the one partaking literally eats Christ’s flesh and drinks his blood.  Needless to say, this is without scriptural support.  In fact, it is totally refuted by the book of Hebrews (7:24-27; 9:12, 24, 25, 28; 10:11-12).
   2. Consubstantiation – The Lutheran doctrine which teaches that, while the bread and wine remain the same, the presence of the body of Christ is nevertheless “in, with, and under” both elements.  While this error is not as severe as the above, it too is totally unscriptural.
   3. Memorialization – The doctrine which teaches that the bread and wine are mere symbols to remind and aid the believer in observing both the first and second comings of our Lord.  This practice is both scriptural and sensible (I Corinthians 11:24-26)
4. The Old Testament type of the Lord’s Supper
5. The purpose of the Lord’s Supper – The Lord’s table involves a threefold look
   1. We are to look back.  “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death”  -I Corinthians 11:26
   2. We are to look inward.  “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of that cup.”  -I Corinthians 11:28
   3. We are to look forward.  “Till He come”  -I Corinthians 11:26
6. The partakers of the Lord’s Supper
   1. Only for believers
   2. For all believers
7. The prerequisites of the Lord’s Supper
   1. The unsaved and unclean (unresolved sin) are forbidden
8. The penalty of the Lord’s Supper
9. The frequency of the Lord’s Supper
   1. It should not be done in such a way as to become a habit

B.  Baptism

The term baptize is from the Greek word baptizo which means to dunk, to dip, to submerge, or to immerse.

Baptism:  “An act of obedience whereby the believer publicly identifies through immersion with Jesus death, burial, and resurrection.”

1.  Misconceptions about Baptism:

• Baptism is believed to be a part of salvation
• Baptism prior to salvation
• Baptism of infants

2.  The Purpose of Baptism:

• Identification with Jesus Christ – Declaring your faith
• Outward showing of what the Lord has done in your life
• Baptism is a sign of a commitment or allegiance to a new master and a new way of life
• Baptism is an act of obedience to the Lord – Matthew 28:18-20
• Baptism needs to be considered as the next step after salvation
• Baptism signifies the believers’ inclusion in God’s family – Acts 2:41

*Some contents adapted from Dr. Harold Willmington’s notes on the church