WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.799 Welcome to DeSoto Hills Baptist Church. 00:00:02.959 --> 00:00:07.200 Our Sunday morning services are weekly at 9 and 10 30 a.m. 00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:11.439 You're listening to an audio recast of this past week's service. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:12.960 We hope you enjoy. 00:00:13.279 --> 00:00:14.240 God bless. 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:20.079 If you have your Bibles this morning, we're going to be in two different passages. 00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:24.640 So you can mark one with your finger and then go to it. 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:30.239 We're going to be in Matthew chapter 3, and we're going to look at verses 13 through 17 in Matthew. 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:35.280 And we're also going to be in Luke chapter 22, verses 14 through 23. 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:40.880 So Matthew 3, 13 through 17, and Luke 22, 14 through 23. 00:00:41.119 --> 00:00:43.280 As you turn there, let me ask you a question. 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:49.600 Do you know why we put wedding rings on our left finger? 00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:51.920 On our left ring finger, left-hand ring finger. 00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:53.520 Do you know why we do that? 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:58.960 Now, if you come up and tell me I'm wrong after this, I'll take it. 00:00:59.039 --> 00:00:59.759 I'll believe you. 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:07.840 But the research I did says that we wear rings, our rings, our wedding bands, on our left hand ring finger. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:15.359 It goes back to ancient time, really kind of to Roman days, to what they called the Venus amoris. 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:24.079 The Venus amoris, and they said there was a vein that ran from your left finger directly to your heart. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:31.439 And so they started wearing wedding bands on the left, the left-hand ring finger. 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:36.000 Now, science has since told us that that is not actually true. 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:38.799 But we still do it. 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:41.200 And you don't even know why. 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:49.519 If you're married and have that ring on your finger, you just put it on your left, I just put it on my left-hand ring finger because that's what you're supposed to do, right? 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:51.439 Just what you're supposed to do. 00:01:51.840 --> 00:02:03.120 Well, I my concern is sometimes in our churches, we have things that we do and things that we practice, and we don't know why. 00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:04.719 We don't know why we do them. 00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:06.079 We don't know, we don't understand. 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:09.439 We just know, hey, we did it growing up. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:12.319 You're supposed to do it, so I'm just gonna do it. 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:14.319 I'm just gonna just gonna take part. 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:32.000 And so today, what I want us to do is I want us to look at two of these practices that Jesus ordained for the church to help the church observe and identify with the death and the resurrection of Christ. 00:02:32.719 --> 00:03:02.240 And so as while while these practices were started over 2,000 years ago, there were things that began, but that were begun over 2,000 years ago, there are things that we still celebrate and practice today that I want us this morning to take apart and look at so that we may faithfully observe these ordinances and ourselves identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the church today. 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:06.240 So our challenge today is hey, let's identify with Christ. 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:09.759 Let's identify with his death, burial, and resurrection. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:16.639 So the question that we seek to answer in doing this is this What are these two ordinances? 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:26.879 If we want to recognize the two that we celebrate here at DeSota Hills and as Southern Baptists, if we want to recognize us, what are those two ordinances? 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:33.039 So this morning, if you will read with me, I invite you to stand as we give honor to the reading of God's word. 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:38.000 We'll start in Matthew chapter 3, begin reading in verse 13. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:46.639 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him. 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:52.400 John would have prevented him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? 00:03:52.639 --> 00:04:02.800 But Jesus answered him, Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:04.560 Then he consented. 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:16.319 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:24.720 And behold, a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased. 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:28.079 Now turn over to Luke chapter twenty-two. 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:31.439 I'm again reading there in verse fourteen. 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:49.680 And when the hour came he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him, and he said to them, I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 00:04:49.920 --> 00:05:03.199 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, Take this and divide it among yourselves, for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:11.439 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you. 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:15.279 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:23.120 And likewise the cup, after they had eaten, said, This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:27.600 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:33.759 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed. 00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:40.639 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this. 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:42.079 Let's pray together. 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:54.399 God, we thank you for today, and we thank you for your word, and then we thank you for the opportunity to open your word and study it to unpack it and see how you have revealed yourself to us through it. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:57.759 Help us now as we engage. 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:00.319 Reveal yourself to us today. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:02.560 Draw us closer to you. 00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:04.639 Jesus, it's in your name with it. 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:05.519 We pray. 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:06.480 Amen. 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:10.959 So you can tell today a little bit different message. 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:12.560 We're not in Acts. 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:20.079 And the focus of this message is a little more theological than it is how what we normally do. 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:23.439 But today we are celebrating in the second service. 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:30.480 We've talked about, we are celebrating baptism in the second service, and at the end of both services, we are going to be celebrating the Lord's Supper. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:45.920 Since we are doing both, I thought what a great opportunity it will be for us to unpack what both of those are and understand a little bit more why we celebrate baptism, why we celebrate the Lord's Supper, and why we do the things that we do. 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:52.319 Now, before we dig into that, there's some definitions that I think we need to unpack a little bit. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:59.920 The first of all is this question what is the difference between an ordinance and a sacrament? 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:02.000 What is the difference? 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:04.319 Because you you hear those two used. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:14.319 Sometimes you we usually hear the word sacrament used among the Catholic Church, but there are some Protestant churches that use that here at the Soda Hills. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:18.160 What we tend to use, and most Southern Baptist churches use the word ordinance. 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:19.040 Well, what's the difference? 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:20.800 Why do we do that? 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:30.240 Well, Millard Erickson, who wrote a great theological book about this thick, he identifies and defines a sacrament as this. 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:39.279 It is a religious rite regarded as a means of or a sign of grace. 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:41.040 So it's a religious rite. 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:46.720 It's something that we do as a means of grace or a sign of grace. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:56.959 Now, if we take that definition, and as as Baptists, as if we use, if they if we use the word sign of grace, not a big problem with that. 00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:05.920 It is a sign or a symbol, but when we say a means of grace, there are some issues with that. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:17.120 Because when we say it is a means of grace, what we mean is this it is a way, it is necessary for us to take this to receive grace. 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:22.000 God is not going to give grace unless we take this sacrament. 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:24.399 It is how he gives grace. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:27.920 I have issues. 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:33.200 I have problems because God gives his grace as he does. 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:42.000 And listen, this is not Lord's Supper nor baptism is not necessary for salvation. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:49.919 If it is a means of grace, what they're saying, it is necessary for salvation. 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:54.320 We do not hold that it is necessary for salvation. 00:08:54.480 --> 00:09:01.840 So if you say a sacrament is a sign of grace, okay, but what we do is let's try to remove confusion. 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:07.759 Okay, so instead of saying sacrament that could mean either way, why don't we just say ordinance? 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:10.320 Okay, well, what is an ordinance, grant? 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:44.480 Here's what it is an ordinance is a practice that we believe is what was ordained, ordinance ordained, ordained by Jesus Himself, and it is a practice that we should continue and carry out as so that we can live in obedience to him, and it is a symbol of what he has done, so we can identify with his death, burial, and resurrection. 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:51.679 So we get sacrament and ordinance, and so now that you're thoroughly confused, let's break these two ordinances down. 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:53.360 What are these two ordinances? 00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:55.200 Well, the first is baptism. 00:09:57.440 --> 00:10:04.559 One of the ordinances that we recognize here at DeSota Hills as Southern Baptists is the ordinance of baptism. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:10.320 Now we have read that where Jesus was baptized in in Matthew chapter 3. 00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:16.320 And we have to ask the question then, how did he ordain this practice? 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:20.720 Well, we see it when he comes to John and he says, John, I want you to baptize me. 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:24.320 And John says, You should be baptizing me, Jesus. 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:25.279 What are you doing? 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:38.480 And in verse 15, Jesus said this, let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:52.480 Jesus said, We need to, he is being baptized as a example, sorry, as an example to us to fulfill all righteousness. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:56.480 Well, what does he mean when he says to fulfill all righteousness? 00:10:56.639 --> 00:11:13.360 Well, another really smart guy named Craig Bloomberg, he says that Blomberg says this, to fulfill all righteousness means to complete everything that forms part of a relationship of obedience to God. 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:21.759 To fulfill everything that forms part of a relationship of obedience to God. 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:33.440 So Jesus is fulfilling righteousness by being baptized, giving us an example for us to live in obedience to God, we should be baptized. 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:40.879 That is to fulfill all righteousness so we can show we are in a relationship of obedience with God. 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:47.200 We see it also in Scripture in Matthew chapter 28, verses 19 and 20, in the Great Commission. 00:11:47.360 --> 00:12:08.080 When Jesus, the last thing that Jesus tells his disciples before he ascends to the right hand of the Father, he says, Go therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:13.200 Baptizing them is something that they are supposed to be do, like doing like they are teaching. 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:17.679 It is something that we do to show people how to live in obedience. 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:25.600 It is an act of obedience of us in our relationship with Christ, and it identifies us with Christ. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:28.320 Now there are different views of baptism. 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:37.200 Sometimes we get confused by that, or sometimes we get the question of why does this church do this and this church do this and which is right, and all of those kind of things. 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:44.399 And so I'm not necessarily going to tell you that everybody's wrong except Southern Baptists, but I'm just going to tell you what we as Southern Baptists believe. 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:45.440 How about that? 00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:52.000 So as Southern Baptists, here's what we believe is the symbolic view of baptism. 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:55.440 That it is a symbol of what we believe. 00:12:55.600 --> 00:13:00.159 The Baptist Faith Message of 2000 defines baptism as this. 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:07.919 Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:16.960 It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior. 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:27.279 The believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in the newness of life. 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:34.799 So we believe that this is a symbolic act that we do is an act of obedience. 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:40.159 We are buried with Him in baptism and raised to walk in newness of life. 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:42.159 Our sins are buried. 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:50.399 We died to our sins, we bury our old self, and we are raised to walk in newness of life with our Savior. 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:54.080 It is a symbolic act identifying us with the cross. 00:13:54.320 --> 00:14:03.600 Now, most hold that baptism, symbolic baptism, the way we observe that is baptism through immersion. 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:05.039 Let me explain to you why. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:07.120 Three reasons that we hold to that. 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:10.240 First of all, that's what happened to Jesus. 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:11.519 He was immersed. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:13.039 And you say, Grant, how do you know that? 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:14.720 That was over 2,000 years ago. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:16.159 Well, read the scripture. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:19.120 What does he tell us in verse 16? 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:26.720 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water. 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:31.679 If he went up from the water, it means he went down in the water. 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:33.919 He went down, he comes up. 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:37.360 So first we hold baptism by immersion because it's what Jesus did. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:40.799 If he's leaving us an example, we are following his example. 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:44.480 Second is from the New Testament word for baptize. 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:48.080 Believe it or not, the Greek word for baptize is baptizo. 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:50.720 Pretty easy to get, okay? 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:58.080 The base of that word, the root of that word means this to dip or immerse. 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:04.799 So from the Greek word that we get that is used here, it means immersion. 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:19.039 Thirdly, we hold baptism by immersion because it helps us best identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:27.440 If you go to Romans chapter 6, verses 3 through 4, Paul writing to the church at Rome talks about what baptism is. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:36.639 Here's what he says: Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:50.639 We were buried, therefore, with him by baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 00:15:51.440 --> 00:16:07.360 If baptism is going to be a symbol, if it is an act of obedience that we are following after the example of Christ, at least as Southern Baptists, we believe that immersion is the best way to follow that example. 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:19.200 So we hold to a baptism by immersion, a symbolic baptism by immersion that comes after conversion. 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:25.919 Baptism happens, it's not a part of conversion, it happens after conversion. 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:42.559 Now, I know that in Acts, we just read one a couple of weeks ago, the song that Ashley sang, we were just there in the choir sang, we were just there a couple of weeks ago in Acts, when the Philippian jailer came to Paul and Silas and fell at their feet and said, What must I do to be saved? 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:44.720 And they said, Repent and be baptized. 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:45.279 Okay? 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:57.039 I know that there are places in Acts where it says that, but overwhelmingly, if you look into Scripture, there are many other places that say nothing about baptism as part of that. 00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.879 Let's think of a few. 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:01.279 The thief on the cross. 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:05.920 That is one, today you will be with me in paradise. 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:08.160 We were just in Romans chapter 6. 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:23.440 What about Romans chapter 10, verse 9 and 10, when Paul is writing again to the church at Rome, and he he says this, because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:30.880 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:35.119 Belief, confession, repentance. 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:38.000 There is nothing here about baptism. 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.519 We could go on. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:41.599 What about John 3, 16? 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:50.400 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:55.839 What about John 20, verses 30 and 31 that we talked through when we were going through the gospel of John? 00:17:56.079 --> 00:18:08.720 Many other signs did Jesus do in the eyes of the disciples, but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may find life in his name. 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:28.240 Now, while I know, again, that the scripture in places it says believe and repent overwhelmingly, what it says is believe and find salvation, and baptism comes after that conversion as a sign or a symbol of what God has done in our lives. 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:30.880 It comes after conversion. 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:34.799 It is a public profession of our faith. 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:40.720 Actually, it is really the first public profession of our faith. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:43.200 We believe in Jesus. 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:45.680 He died on the cross for me. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:48.400 He was buried, he arose. 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:53.279 And now when I place my faith in him, he covers my sin. 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:55.599 I die to my sin. 00:18:55.759 --> 00:19:01.680 I am buried to my old life, and I rise to walk in a newness of life. 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:03.920 It is a public profession of faith. 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:12.240 That being said, there are some other views of baptism that we don't hold to as baptists, Southern Baptists. 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:16.240 One of those is paedo baptism or infant baptism. 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:18.000 We don't do that here. 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:19.440 Let me tell you why. 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:24.559 We don't do that here because an infant can't profess his faith in Christ. 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:42.559 When churches do infant baptism, what usually that is is they are looking for a probable regeneration of that child, that probably in the future this child will be regeneration, or the church doesn't fully recognize their baptism until later they go through confirmation. 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:43.200 Okay. 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:48.160 We hold to baptism after conversion. 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:51.279 We place our faith in Jesus Christ. 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:56.960 It is not a work of our, it is not a work done for our salvation. 00:19:57.119 --> 00:20:05.119 It is an act of obedience that comes after our salvation to show what Christ has done in our lives. 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:11.359 In Ephesians chapter 2, verse 8 and 9, really kind of summarizes it best. 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:19.039 In Ephesians 2, 8 and 9, Paul writes this for by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:21.200 This is not your own doing. 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:28.720 It is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one could boast. 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:38.000 If baptism were a part necessary for salvation, that is a work that we do trying to earn our salvation. 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:46.079 So we hold to a symbolic baptism by immersion after conversion. 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:49.200 As Southern Baptists, this is what we believe in. 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:52.559 This when we baptize is what we celebrate. 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:56.240 That someone has placed their faith in Jesus. 00:20:56.480 --> 00:21:04.640 They have died to their sin, their old self has been buried, and they have been raised to walk in newness of life. 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:07.680 That's the first ordinance that we celebrate. 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:15.519 The second one that we have even read about in Luke 22 is the Lord's Supper, which we will participate in today. 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:18.960 The Lord's Supper that we will take. 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:29.920 We read about it in Luke 22, but but go with me back to Luke chapter 22 and look with me in verse 19 of Luke 22 and see why this is an ordinance. 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:34.880 Here's what he says in verse 19. 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:46.319 And he took the bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which is given for you. 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:51.119 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:53.440 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:55.519 Understand what's taking place. 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:59.599 Jesus is with the disciples as they partake in this. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:03.759 In this first Lord's Supper, they don't have to remember him. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.279 They have to look at him. 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:15.119 So it is something that he is telling them to do, that they must do and continue to do to remember him, to remember what he is doing or about to do. 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:21.359 Paul tells us in Corinthians, in 1 Corinthians chapter 11, verses 23 through 26. 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:32.640 Paul writes to the church at Corinth and says, This, for I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:38.160 And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body which is for you. 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:41.680 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:43.680 So Paul is saying the same thing. 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:50.880 He has given what was given to him, he has given to the church that they celebrate this Lord's Supper in remembrance of Christ. 00:22:50.960 --> 00:23:00.400 But he goes on and says, This in the same way also he took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:08.480 Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:15.680 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:30.319 So what Paul is writing to this is not only do we do this in remembrance of me, as often as you do it, what Paul is telling us, what Paul is telling the church at Corinth is this is an activity, this is a practice that is continually done throughout the church. 00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:33.200 It's not a one-off, it's not a one-time, and we walk away. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:41.839 It is over and over we celebrate, we we celebrate what Christ has done for us, his death on the cross. 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:45.839 We celebrate that and remember that through the Lord's Supper. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:55.440 It helps us to identify with Christ by remembering his death on the cross for our salvation. 00:23:56.240 --> 00:24:00.480 So there are some views here that we need to look at as well. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:04.000 There's different views of the Lord's Supper. 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:11.759 Again, I'm not going to tell you that all the other views are wrong and only Southern Baptists is right, so let's let me tell you what we as Southern Baptists believe. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:17.599 Again, we hold to a symbolic view of the Lord's Supper. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:24.160 In this symbolic view, the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, it prescribes this for the Lord's Supper. 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:42.079 The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience, whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate his second coming. 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:44.640 It's an act of obedience. 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:46.880 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:24:47.119 --> 00:25:05.680 And when we remember this, when we participate in this act through taking of the bread and the vine, when believers partake of the bread and the wine, we memorialize the death, the death of Christ, but we also look forward to his second coming. 00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:09.680 It is a symbolic act of obedience. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:16.079 We do not believe in the practice called transubstantiation, which means this. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:27.599 If people hold to transubstantiation, they believe that the bread and the fruit of the vine that we will partake of, grape juice here, we are Baptist. 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:34.559 It is, it becomes the actual body and blood of Christ. 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:37.039 We don't hold to that view. 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:39.839 That is a very literal reading of the scripture. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:42.160 This is my body, this is my blood. 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:53.119 We believe, I believe, that when Jesus is saying this, he is talking in metaphor, this is my body, this is, this is, it represents his body. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:26:04.559 There's another view called consubstantiation, which believes, which holds to that the presence of Christ is actually surrounded by the bread and the wine. 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:06.400 And the bread and not wine. 00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:19.519 We hold that this is a symbolic act of obedience. 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:36.000 When Jesus says, This is my body and this is my blood, what it is, is bread and fruit of the vine that helps us to concentrate, remember Jesus' death on the cross. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:42.559 The brutal, horrible death on the cross that He died in our place. 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:57.519 And the blood that was shed for the remission of sin, we remember those through this act of obedience to help us identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. 00:26:58.079 --> 00:27:01.440 Now, in both of these, there's something else that it does for us. 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:07.200 It helps us to look forward to his second coming. 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:15.519 Because he died and arose, we can believe that he is coming again. 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:25.839 Because of his sacrifice on the cross, we can look forward and know and believe that when he said, I'm coming back, it's going to happen. 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:32.079 So we look forward, so we live in obedience, looking forward to his return. 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:42.960 So here's what this means for us: that is that neither baptism nor the Lord's Supper convey grace upon us. 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:47.839 Nor do they manifest Christ's presence among us. 00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:49.920 Christ is already here. 00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:52.480 The Holy Spirit is already here. 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:56.160 Whether we're partaking of the Lord's Supper, He is here. 00:27:57.599 --> 00:28:04.640 We don't need these to convey grace to us because God did that on the cross. 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:17.039 But what we do is through a symbolic act of obedience, we remember what Christ has done for us. 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:21.759 Now that you are thoroughly bored and asleep. 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:49.119 If you are here today and you have never trusted in Christ, you have never believed in your heart, you have never confessed with your mouth, as Paul wrote in Romans, if you have never believed in him, hear me. 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:51.839 Today is the day of salvation for you. 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:53.440 There is no better day. 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:58.799 When we recognize that someone else has placed their faith in Christ, we see their example. 00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:00.640 We've seen the example of Christ. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:06.559 We see what Christ did for us, that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:09.519 Today can be the day of salvation for you. 00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:10.640 You need it. 00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:15.759 What Scripture tells us is that we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:17.680 And we need a Savior. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:19.839 And His name is Jesus. 00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:26.079 So if you have never trusted in Christ as your Savior, I pray that today will be the day for you. 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:38.079 If you have, I pray that today will be a time of recommitment for us today, or a time where we stop in the crazy chaos of our life. 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:47.039 In just a moment when we partake of the Lord's Supper, it will be a time of meditation for us, a time of repentance for us. 00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:51.519 Time of us focusing on what Christ has done for us. 00:29:51.839 --> 00:30:05.599 Maybe the challenge for you today is if you have not been baptized, you've trusted in Christ, but you have not been baptized, maybe today you want to commit to living as an act of obedience in baptism with Him. 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:10.240 However, God is moving in your heart today, we invite you in just a moment. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.279 I'm going to pray for us. 00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:13.839 They're going to come and we're going to sing a hymn of invitation. 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:15.440 We invite you to come. 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:27.119 Maybe this morning you are looking for a church home, a place where we have like-minded beliefs and where we together can celebrate what Christ has done for us. 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:28.640 We invite you to come. 00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:35.039 However, God is moving in your life, in just a moment as I pray, and then as we stand and sing, we invite you to come. 00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:36.400 Let's pray together. 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:40.799 God, I thank you for today. 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:46.559 I thank you for how you love us and all that you have done for us. 00:30:48.960 --> 00:31:01.599 God, I pray that today, as we have looked at these ordinances, that you left for us to live in obedience, in an obedient relationship with you. 00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:06.319 Father God, I pray that we will honor you through this. 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:12.880 God, for those who have never trusted you as their Savior, I pray that today will be the day of salvation for them. 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:22.480 God, for those of us who have, may today be a moment, a time where we stop and we remember what you have done for us. 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:28.799 Spirit, as you are moving and working, lead us to you. 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:32.400 Jesus, it's in your name that we pray. 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:33.680 Amen. 00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:37.200 Thanks for listening to this week's sermon. 00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:43.119 If you have any questions for our pastor, feel free to reach out at DeSotoHills.com.