Obedience in the Ordinances:
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
1. Christ Commands, We Obey
There are two sacred practices that Jesus Christ himself commanded his church to observe: baptism and the Lord's Supper. These are not suggestions. They are not optional traditions that we can take or leave depending on our preferences or convenience. They are direct commands from our Lord and Savior, and our response to these commands reveals the true condition of our hearts toward God.
Let’s begin with the Great Commission found in Mat 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
I want you to notice that baptism is not presented to us as an afterthought or an optional ceremony. It is woven into the very fabric of the Great Commission itself. We are to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey everything Christ commanded.
Along the same vein, when Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper in the upper room, he gave us a clear command. Luk 22:19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Those words "do this" are not a gentle suggestion. They are an imperative command from the Son of God who was about to lay down his life for us.
Now, some might wonder about the importance of baptism when we consider what the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church when he said 1Co 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius... And then again, in the same letter, he wrote 1Co 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void
Does this mean baptism is unimportant? Absolutely not! Paul is addressing a specific problem in the Corinthian church where people were dividing themselves based on who baptized them. Some were saying, "I am of Paul," others "I am of Apollos," and still others "I am of Cephas." Paul's point is crystal clear: the power is not in the person who performs the baptism, but in the gospel message itself and in the one being baptized.
Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through the act of baptism or through the person administering it. Paul was emphasizing that his primary calling was to preach the gospel that saves, not to be known as a great baptizer. But notice that Paul never said baptism was unimportant. In fact, he did baptize some people, and he wrote extensively about the meaning and significance of baptism in his letters.
The most powerful example of obedience in baptism comes from Jesus himself. In Matthew chapter three, we read about Jesus coming to John to be baptized. John was troubled by this. Verse fourteen tells us that, Mat 3:14 …John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" John recognized that Jesus was sinless and had no need for a baptism of repentance. But listen to Jesus' response in verse fifteen: Mat 3:15 …"Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he *permitted Him.
Think about this for a moment. The sinless Son of God, who had no personal need for baptism, submitted himself to this ordinance. Why? To fulfill all righteousness. To model perfect obedience to the Father's will. To identify with humanity. To set an example for every believer who would follow him. If Jesus, who knew no sin, was baptized in obedience to the Father, how much more should we who have been saved by his grace follow his example?
After His baptism, when Jesus came up out of the water, Mat 3:16-17 …behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, [17] and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." The entire Trinity was present and active at Jesus' baptism, and let me tell you brothers and sisters, that was a powerful affirmation of the significance of this act of obedience.
Beloved, obedience is not about earning our salvation. We are saved by grace through faith, not by works. But genuine faith produces obedience. Jesus said Jhn 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. Our willingness to obey Christ's commands regarding baptism and the Lord's Supper demonstrates the reality of our love for him and our submission to his lordship over our lives.
So, baptism and the Lord’s Supper are commands from our Lord which we are to obey, but now I want to look at each one individually, beginning with…
2. Baptism: Our Public Profession of Faith
Baptism is far more than just getting wet. It is a powerful symbol, an outward sign of an inward transformation that has already taken place in the heart of the believer. When we understand what baptism represents, we begin to grasp why Jesus commanded it and why it matters so much to our faith.
The apostle Paul gives us the clearest explanation of baptism's meaning in his letter to the Romans. Rom 6:3-4 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? [4] Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
Baptism is a picture, a dramatic reenactment of the gospel itself. When a believer goes down into the water, it symbolizes death and burial—death to the old life of sin, burial of the person we used to be. When that believer comes up out of the water, it symbolizes resurrection—being raised to walk in newness of life through the power of Christ's resurrection.
This is not just ancient symbolism though. This is the reality of what happens spiritually when someone truly comes to faith in Jesus Christ. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote, 2Co 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Baptism is the public declaration of this internal reality.
Let me be absolutely clear about something: baptism does not save you. The water itself has no magical properties. You can be baptized a hundred times and still be lost if you have not genuinely repented of your sins and placed your faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. The thief on the cross was saved without being baptized. Salvation is by grace through faith, period. But here is what baptism does do: it publicly identifies you with Jesus Christ and his church. It marks the beginning of your journey as a disciple. It is your public profession of faith before the world, declaring, "I am no longer my own. I belong to Jesus Christ. The old me is dead and buried. I am a new creation, raised to walk in newness of life."
Think back to Jesus' baptism. He had no sin to die to, no old life to bury. Yet he was baptized "to fulfill all righteousness." His baptism was an act of identification—identifying with sinful humanity, identifying with God's redemptive plan, identifying with the path of obedience that would lead him to the cross. When we are baptized, we identify with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection.
In the book of Acts, we see that baptism immediately followed conversion. When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost and three thousand souls were saved, Act 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. When Philip preached to the Ethiopian eunuch and he believed, the eunuch immediately asked, Act 8:36 …“Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” When Paul was converted on the road to Damascus, Ananias came to him and said, Act 22:16 'Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'
The early church understood that baptism was not something to be delayed or treated casually. It was the natural, immediate response of a heart that had been transformed by the gospel. It was the first act of obedience in the Christian life.
Some people say, "I believe in Jesus, but I don't think I need to be baptized." But if Jesus commanded it, if Jesus himself modeled it, if the early church practiced it immediately upon conversion, on what basis do we think we can ignore it? Jesus said Luk 6:46 "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?
Baptism is also significant because it connects us to the body of Christ, the church. Paul wrote, 1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. When you are baptized, you are publicly joining yourself to the community of believers. You are saying, "I am part of this family. I am committed to this body. I will walk with these brothers and sisters in faith."
In a world that values privacy and individualism, baptism is a radically public act. It requires humility. It requires vulnerability. It requires a willingness to stand before others and declare your allegiance to Jesus Christ. And that is precisely why it is so important. Faith that remains private and hidden is not the faith of the New Testament. Jesus said, Mat 10:32 "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.
If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior but have never been baptized, I urge you today: follow the Lord in obedience. Follow his example. Make your faith public. Declare to the world that you are a new creation in Christ Jesus. Then after this first step of faith and obedience, you are invited to participate in…
3. The Lord's Supper: Our Continual Remembrance
While baptism is a one-time public profession of faith, the Lord's Supper is an ongoing act of obedience that continually draws us back to the cross of Jesus Christ. If baptism marks the beginning of our journey as disciples, the Lord's Supper sustains us along the way, keeping the gospel central to our Christian walk.
Paul gives us the most detailed instructions about the Lord's Supper in First Corinthians, where he wrote: 1Co 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; [24] and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." [25] In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
“…do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” The Lord's Supper is fundamentally about remembrance. In our busy lives, with all the distractions and demands that pull at us, we need regular reminders of what Jesus Christ has done for us. We need to be brought back again and again to the foot of the cross, to remember the price that was paid for our redemption.
The bread represents Christ's body, broken for us. Every time we take that bread, we should remember the physical suffering Jesus endured. The beatings, the crown of thorns, the nails driven through his hands and feet, the spear thrust into his side. Isaiah wrote of this hundreds of years before it happened. Isa 53:5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
The bread is His body, and the cup represents His blood, shed for us. Every time we take that cup, we should remember that Heb 9:22 …according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. We should remember that Jesus became our Passover lamb, that His blood covers our sins, that through His blood we have been redeemed, forgiven, and made righteous before God.
But the Lord's Supper is not just about looking back. It is also about looking forward. 1Co 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. Every time we partake of communion, we are proclaiming our faith that Jesus Christ is coming again. We are declaring that this present world is not all there is, that we are Tit 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.
The Lord's Supper also serves as a time of self-examination. Paul gives us a strong warning against misusing or taking the bread and wine unworthily. He said, 1Co 11:27-29 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. [28] But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. [29] For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.
Folks, this is serious business. We are not to come to the Lord's table casually or flippantly. We are to examine our hearts. Are we harboring unconfessed sin? Are we holding grudges against our brothers and sisters? Are we living in willful disobedience to God's Word? The Lord's Supper calls us to regular spiritual inventory, to repentance, to reconciliation, to renewed commitment to holy living.
Some people avoid taking communion because they feel unworthy. But here is the truth: none of us are worthy. If worthiness were the requirement, none of us could ever partake. The question is not whether we are perfect, but whether we have examined our hearts, confessed our sins, and come in faith to receive God's grace. The apostle John promises us that 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The Lord's Supper also reminds us of our unity as believers. Paul tells us that Co 10:17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. When we gather around the Lord's table, all distinctions fade away. Rich and poor, educated and uneducated, young and old—we all come as sinners saved by grace, all dependent on the same Savior, all nourished by the same spiritual food.
In the early church, the Lord's Supper was often celebrated as part of a fellowship meal called the love feast. It was a time of joy, of community, of celebrating God's goodness and grace. While we may not practice it exactly as they did, we should still approach communion with hearts full of gratitude and joy. Yes, we remember Christ's suffering, but we also celebrate his victory. Yes, we examine our hearts, but we also rejoice in God's forgiveness and grace.
It’s often been asked, “How often should we observe the Lord's Supper?” Well, the Bible does not give us a specific command. Paul said the Lord told him, 1Co 11:25 …as often as you drink it, leaving the frequency to the church's discretion. Some churches observe it weekly, others monthly, others quarterly. What matters is not the frequency but the attitude of our hearts when we come. We should never let it become mere ritual or empty tradition. Every time we partake, it should be with fresh awareness of what Christ has done and renewed commitment to follow him.
Brothers and sisters, the Lord's Supper is a means of grace. It strengthens our faith. It reminds us of the gospel. It calls us to holy living. It unites us as the body of Christ, and it points us to Christ's return. When Jesus said, "do this in remembrance of Me," he was giving us a precious gift—a regular opportunity to refocus our hearts and minds on him and on the amazing grace that saved us.
Let me close with this thought: both baptism and the Lord's Supper are acts of obedience that keep us connected to the gospel. Baptism declares what Christ has done for us and in us. The Lord's Supper continually reminds us of what Christ has done and what he will do. Together, these ordinances frame our Christian life—baptism at the beginning, communion throughout the journey, both pointing us to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.
If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, I urge you today to repent of your sins and believe in him. And when you do, follow him in baptism, publicly professing your faith.
If you are a believer, I encourage you to take the Lord's Supper seriously, examining your heart, remembering Christ's sacrifice, and renewing your commitment to walk in obedience to him.
These are not burdensome commands. They are gifts of grace, opportunities to express our love for Christ and to be strengthened in our faith. May we be a people who joyfully obey our Lord in all things, including these sacred ordinances that he has given to his church.
Would you pray with me? Heavenly Father, thank you for all that you have done for us, and especially for sending your Son to save us from our sin. We lift our hearts and thoughts up to you as a sweet-smelling incense.
The commands you have given to us in baptism and the supper are a precious remembrance of your atoning sacrifice by which you purchased our pardon and redeemed us to yourself. As we continue to walk in faith in your Son, strengthen us to always stand for your truth, for righteousness, holiness, and with compassion for our fellow man.
Let our lives always be a reflection of you in this world. Amen.
