Baptism & Communion Messages from "with"ness series
Water WITH Word (part one)
Matthew 28.19 & Mark 16.16
1. Baptism extends the “With”ness of the Incarnation (Luke 3.21-22)
Jesus, at his incarnation and his baptism, identified with us, so that even in the flesh, and at our baptism we may be completely identified with him.
Baptism: God’s Activity of GRACE (even for Jesus!) Luke 2.52 says that Jesus grew in Xariti (Charity-love-grace) with God and Man.
2. Baptism is water WITH the Word (Matthew 28.19)
“Isn’t Baptism a work? And, we are not saved by works?"
“To be baptized in God’s name is to be baptized not by men, but by God Himself. Therefore, although it is performed by human hands, it is still truly God’s own work. From this fact everyone may conclude that Baptism is a far higher work than any work performed by a man or a saint. For what work can we do that is greater than God’s work?” Large Catechism, Baptism, 10)
3. The promises of Baptism are to apprehended (lay hold of) WITH belief (Mark 16.16)
Luther, “a treasure, which God gives and faith grasps.” (Ephesians 2.8-9)
Water WITH Word (part two)
WITH Jesus (Romans 6.1-11 & Titus 3.4-8)
New identity
-death of sin (Romans 6.6) so "alive to God" (Romans 6.11)
-no longer slaves (Romans 6.6) so free
-Regenerated, Renewed in the Spirit, Justified, Heirs (Titus 3.5-7)
Newness of life
-"devoted...to good works." (Titus 3.8)
-walking in newness of life (Romans 6.4)
Bread/Wine WITH Word (part one)
The Story of God WITH Us
Begins with Fellowship (Genesis)
Ends with Eternal Feast (Revelation)
In between, lots of Food!
The Meal of God WITH Us
Is it really bread and wine with Jesus body and blood?
1. Hoc est corpus meum
2. I believe in miracles
3. Since incarnation, Jesus has integrity
(451, Chalcedon’s description of Jesus’ two natures—human & divine as “born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the Manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten, God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the prophets from the beginning [have declared] concerning him, and the Lord Jesus Christ himself has taught us, and the Creed of the holy Fathers has handed down to us.”)
Bread/Wine WITH Word (part two)
The Lord’s Supper is for…
…eating & drinking WITH believing.
…the self-examined not the self-righteous., or…the penitent sinner not the perfect saint.
Guide to self-examination based on 1 Corinthians 11.27-34
Have I correctly interpreted (dokimazo) myself?
The importance of an objective interpretation to measure myself (God’s Word).
“I need Thee, every hour.”
Have I correctly judged (diakrino) the body?
The importance of an objective judgment about what it is I am participating in (God’s Word). The Scriptures teach that eating and drinking the bread and wine are participating in the body and blood of Jesus Christ. We receive more than a spiritual snack or a heavenly pat on the head.
Worthy reception: We receive Jesus, in whom our sins are judged when he bears them all away. “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
Unworthy reception: We receive Jesus, who judges our sins with us, if we refuse to let him bear them all away.
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