Scriptures on the meanings of water baptism and Communion are shared, today. While baptism and sharing in the Lord’s Supper are often regarded as acts by adults expressing ones desire and willingness to be a member of a local church, infants and small children also may receive water baptism as an aspect of their inheritance (i.e., resources for life lawfully transferred by their living caretakers and parents as a bequest or gift provided on the basis of sacred commitment and duty). A writer at “Yahoo! Answers using the ID “Miss Annon” (Level 2 with 619 points, a member since June 13, 2010) posted the following:
What is the difference between a Communion and Baptism in the Catholic Church? Which one comes first? Thanks!?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1st Corinthians 11: 23-32, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Eternal Life Not Afterlife? (08/11/2015); Becoming Ripe for Harvest? (07/03/2015); To Drink Holy Blood? (02/16/2015); A Formula for Baptism? (06/30/2014); The Bread of GOD (03/01/2014); Belief, Faith, and Proof (03/02/2014); Eat His Body, Drink His Blood (03/21/2013); Foolish For Not Believing? (03/22/2013)
“Miss Annon”, most Christian believers have been received as full members within the body of Christ (i.e., the collection of all who have ever lived upon the earth as set apart, sanctified and saved through the Son of GOD) by receiving water baptism, the same public act of cleansing and submission to the operations of GOD that John the Baptist performed for Jesus at the Jordan River. In such baptism, the believer is to experience the death of their inborn spirit that is vulnerable to sin, and rebirth having fresh spirit content from the makeup of Deity. Sin has not been created by GOD, has no divine content, yet, has direction, effect, and presence. Sin may dominate awareness and self-will in created beings and living creatures. Once “born again”, believers must “grow up again,” and become mature while enduring the same life challenges as all others upon the earth. Through baptism, believers are endowed with inseparable divine substances that include faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, wisdom, and wrath against sin. A new believer is valued by GOD as a new creation, will gradually become ripe (we say, perfected), and be harvested from the earth at the coming of Jesus in glory. The new life of a believer centers in such activity as fellowship with experienced believers, gaining and sharing sacred knowledge (e.g., hearing sermons, preaching, studying the Bible), and prayer (e.g., confession, giving thanks, petition, praise) with unselfish service to GOD and to others. The Lord’s Supper (also called, Communion) is a public act to endorse or ratify a covenant agreement with Deity, a realization of the ancient Passover feast as well as a shared meal to consume and internalize the flesh, and spirit of Jesus. Through both these acts of acceptance, obedience, and submission, believers offer some of their highest expressions of contrition, love, respect, reverence, and solemn worship. Here are some points from the Scriptures that also may be helpful:
(1.) John 3: 1-5, King James Version (KJV): 1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
(2.) 1st Corinthians 2: 9-14, KJV: 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(3.) John 6: 47-51, KJV: 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
(4.) Luke 1: 53-55, KJV: 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
(5.) Luke 22: 15-20, KJV: 15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
(6.) 1st Corinthians 5: 6-8, KJV: 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
There is much more that could be said, and that must be correctly understood and spiritually taken into account. (For example, (7.) 2nd Corinthians 5: 17-21, KJV: 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.) Even so, I trust this collection of verses will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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