Baptism and the Lord’s Supper for New Believers
Dear brother/sister in Christ,
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are sacred ordinances given by our Lord Jesus to us, his disciples. As a Christian you have the privilege to be baptised and to participate in the Communion. But before taking part in them, ask yourself this important question: “Am I truly a disciple of Jesus?”
The Gospel — Where It All Begins
Let’s begin at the beginning. The Scriptures teach that God created us in His image so that we might know Him, glorify Him, and enjoy Him. But instead of honoring their Maker with heartfelt obedience, our first parents chose to rebel. Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and through their sin, death and destruction entered the world.
The truth is, we have all sinned against God — not only because we were born in Adam’s line, but also through our own choices. Our sins — pride, envy, greed, lust, dishonesty, and more — expose the corruption in our hearts. And with every sin we commit, we add to the load of guilt we carry. That guilt weighs us down, and if nothing changes, it will lead to eternal separation from God.
By ourselves, we have no hope of escape. We cannot change our own hearts, nor can we pay the infinite debt of our sins. But there is hope in the gospel — the good news from heaven! It tells us how we can be rescued from sin and all its consequences, and be brought into joyful fellowship with God.
The gospel is the message of God’s deep love for us: that for our sake and for our salvation, God sent His only Son — Jesus Christ. He is truly God and became truly man, born of a virgin woman, Mary, in Bethlehem. He came into this world, lived in perfect obedience to the Father, and gave His sinless life on the cross as a sacrifice to pay for the sins of His people. He died, was buried, and on the third day, He rose again — becoming the Lord and Savior of all who believe in Him.
Repentance and Faith — The Response of the Heart
This is the essence of the gospel message. But simply hearing it, agreeing with it, or even believing that it is true is not enough. These are good steps — but more is needed.
- You must repent: confess your sins, turn away from evil, and turn toward God with a sincere desire to obey Him in every part of your life.
- And you must believe in the Lord Jesus: trusting in Him to free you from the guilt, power, and punishment of sin, and to reconcile you with God.
Deep down, you know you don’t deserve God’s goodness. Yet, even as you remain aware of your flaws and failures, you heard the gentle, gracious call of Jesus: “Come to Me.” It wasn’t a voice of condemnation, but one of love and invitation. Moved by His mercy and drawn by His kindness, you came to Him, seeking mercy and forgiveness. And He welcomed you with open arms. Now, there’s a new longing in your heart—to honour Him in the way you live, and to follow Him sincerely in every part of your life.
Has this been your experience?
If so, then the Holy Spirit has already begun a beautiful work in you. He has given you the gift of repentance to turn to God, and the gift of faith to trust in Christ for your salvation. You are forgiven. You have a new heart. You are now a member of God’s family. And so Jesus wants to give you two signs – baptism and the Communion – one to mark your new identity in Him, and the other to celebrate your belonging to His Church.
Baptism — One with Christ
Baptism is the sacred rite that Jesus established before returning to heaven. It marks the beginning of your walk with Him. A fellow believer will immerse you in water and raise you up again. Through this act, Jesus confirms beautiful truths about your new life in Him:
- You’ve been cleansed from your sins. Just as water washes the body, so your soul has been washed by faith through the blood of Christ (Acts 22:16, Acts 15:9).
- You are united with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:1–14). Your old life has been crucified with Him; now you are free to live a new life for God.
- You are a member of Christ’s body, the Church, and are now invited into full fellowship with His people (Galatians 3:26–28).
- You confess your faith in the one true God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). As Scripture says, we are “chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood” (1 Peter 1:2).
The Lord’s Supper — Celebrating Our Communion
From the earliest days of the Church, believers have gathered on the first day of the week to worship God together. They sang, prayed, listened to the reading and preaching of the Scriptures — and they shared the Lord’s Supper. Jesus instituted this sacred meal during the Last Supper. It is simple: we share bread and wine, symbols of His body and blood, and give thanks to God.
The Lord’s Supper serves several purposes:
- It is a remembrance of Jesus, and a proclamation of His sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins (1 Corinthians 11:23–26).
- It is a celebration of our communion with Christ and with one another (1 Corinthians 10:16–17). As we partake of the bread and wine, we declare that we belong to Christ and to each other — brothers and sisters around His table.
- It is an act of thanksgiving — which is why we also call it the Eucharist (which means “thanksgiving”) — for the marvelous works of God through Jesus (Matthew 26:26–27).
God’s Gifts to You
So if you believe in Jesus, dear brother/sister, receive these gifts with gratitude and reverence. Through baptism, Jesus confirms your union with Him; while in the Lord’s Supper, we celebrate our communion with our beloved Saviour. I pray that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.