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What we believe and teach - Ordinances - |
Water baptism
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Jesus
Christ, before He was received up into heaven at the right hand of the Father,
commanded the apostles to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore whoever believes in the Gospel of the grace of God must be baptized
immediately – by one immersion – in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is an outward act which attests that the
believing person has experienced the new birth: his immersion represents the
burial of the old man, while his coming up out of the water represents his
resurrection with Christ. Therefore we were buried with Christ, through
baptism, into His death, so 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.
Water baptism is an appeal to God for a good conscience. |
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Therefore
since water baptism follows faith it does not remit sins nor does it
regenerate man; and in addition to this it must be said that since baptism
must follow faith it cannot be administered to infants. |
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The Lord’s Supper
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The Lord’s Supper is a rite during which we eat some
bread and drink some fruit of the vine in order to proclaim the death of the
Lord Jesus Christ till He comes. The bread symbolizes the body of Christ,
while the fruit of the vine symbolizes His blood. The bread which we break is
the communion of the body of Christ; the cup of blessing which we bless is
the communion of the blood of Christ. We reject transubstantiation and consubstantiation.
This rite was established by Christ Jesus on the night He was betrayed, while
He was having supper with His twelve apostles. Before partaking of the Lord’s
Supper we ought to examine ourselves, lest we be judged by God. Yes, because
those who eat or drink in an unworthy manner are struck with sickness or put
to death by God. |