The Sacraments in the Church
At Masihi.Church, we believe that the Sacraments are sacred practices instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ to be observed by His Church. They are visible signs and means of grace, through which God works to strengthen believers’ faith and nourish their spiritual lives. The sacraments are not merely symbolic but are channels through which God’s grace is conveyed to believers, helping them grow in their relationship with Him. The two main sacraments practiced in the Church are Baptism and The Lord’s Supper (also known as the Holy Communion). These are essential to the life of the Church and the believer’s walk with Christ. The Church is entrusted with the responsibility to administer these sacraments faithfully.
Baptism
Baptism is the sacrament symbolizing the believer’s identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a public declaration of faith and a sign of the new birth in Christ. Baptism is an act of obedience to Christ’s command and is a means of identifying with the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Baptism can be administered through immersion or pouring, depending on the tradition, but the essential focus is on the believer’s faith in Christ and their commitment to follow Him. It is important to note that baptism does not save by itself but is an outward expression of an inner transformation and faith in the finished work of Christ.
Scripture References: Matthew 28:19-20 – Jesus commands His disciples to baptize new believers; Romans 6:3-4 – Baptism symbolizes our union with Christ in His death and resurrection; Acts 2:38 – Peter instructs believers to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit; 1 Peter 3:21 – Baptism is a sign of a clean conscience toward God.
The Lord’s Supper (The Holy Communion)
The Lord’s Supper, also known as the Holy Communion or Eucharist, is a sacrament instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ on the night before His crucifixion. During the Last Supper, the Lord Jesus broke bread and shared wine with His disciples, commanding them to continue this practice in remembrance of Him.
The bread represents Christ’s body, broken for our sins, and the wine represents His blood, shed for the forgiveness of sins. The Lord’s Supper is a means of grace through which believers are nourished spiritually and reminded of Christ’s sacrifice. It is the commemoration of Christ’s death and resurrection through the bread and the cup, signifying His body and blood given for us.
The Lord’s Supper is an act of communal worship that reflects the believer’s ongoing dependence on Christ’s work of salvation. It is a time to reflect on Christ’s sacrifice, to examine one’s life, and to renew our commitment to Him and to the body of Christ, the Church.
As we celebrate these sacraments, we are reminded of our identity in Christ, our obedience to Him, and our hope in His return. At Masihi.Church, we cherish these practices as vital parts of our life together as believers in Christ.
Scripture References: Matthew 26:26-29 – Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper, symbolising His body and blood; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 – Paul’s instructions on how to observe the Lord’s Supper, emphasising remembrance and proclamation of Christ’s death. Luke 22:19-20 – Jesus instructs the disciples to do this in remembrance of Him; Acts 2:41 – The disciples partake in the Holy Communion.
Significance of the Sacraments
Means of Grace
Both baptism and the Lord’s Supper are considered means of grace, through which God strengthens believers’ faith and spiritual lives. They are not simply rituals but are tangible ways in which God works through His Word and Spirit to deepen the believer’s relationship with Him.
Remembrance and Obedience
In baptism, believers publicly identify with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and in the Lord’s Supper, they remember Christ’s sacrifice. Both sacraments are expressions of obedience to the commands of Christ.
While Baptism is a one-time event symbolising the believer’s entrance into the Christian faith, the Lord’s Supper is repeated regularly as a continual reminder of Christ’s work on our behalf.
Community and Fellowship
The sacraments are communal acts. Baptism brings believers into the body of Christ, and the Lord’s Supper reinforces the unity of the Church as believers partake of the one bread and the one cup. They are acts that unite the body of Christ across generations and cultures.
Symbolism of Spiritual Realities
While Baptism symbolises the washing away of sin and the new life found in Christ, the Lord’s Supper symbolises the spiritual nourishment believers receive through Christ’s body and blood. It points forward to the future hope of the believer’s full communion with Christ in the eternal kingdom.