And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:18-21 (emphasis added)

Corporate worship in a local church is the primary ministry of the local church. Corporate worship has four indispensable components: (1) Reading & Preaching the Word, (2) Prayer, (3) Worship in Song, (4) The Sacraments—Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

We have considered the Word (both reading and preaching), Prayer, and Worship in Song. We began last time considering worship in the administration of the sacraments. We continue with that consideration.

Baptism is an initiatory sacrament. It is ideal for believers to be baptized soon after being born again. Because sacraments are outward physical symbols of an inward spiritual reality, unless the reality has taken place (the person has been born again) the sacrament is meaningless. Only born again believers should be baptized.

Baptism cannot save anyone, but everyone who is saved is commanded to be baptized (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:28).

Baptism is symbolic of having one’s sins washed away. Baptism by emersion is symbolic of dying with Christ, being buried with Christ, and rising to new life in Christ.

Public baptisms are a wonderful time for believers to give testimony of their conversion: (a) in the hearing of the church because it is an encouragement, and (b) in the hearing of non-believers as an evangelistic opportunity.

Next time: The Lord’s Supper