Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-09

Baptism and the Lords supper SYM
bolize all the vital elements of Chris
tianity. Baptism was the contribution
of John the Baptist to the religion OF
Jesus. Some have traced the origin OF
baptism back to pre-Christian ages. to
the practice of similar rite by both
the Jews and heather. Our Lord
adopted it for part of His program
for the advancement of His church
among men because 1t could be given
significant spiritual symbolism 1t
placed an accent upon the individu-
alistic aspect of His religion, while the
Lords supper emphasized the social
character of the gospel Tt had its
origin at the close of the observance of
the Jewish Passover, that was typical
of the Lords death upon the cross, when
He became our Passover.
Both of these sacraments had their
roots in the religious movements of the
Jewish faith, that was the cradle of
Christianity 1t is the tragedy of his
tory that these sacred rites, which
should have served to unite the follow
ers of the Lord Jesus, have been asso-
ciated with some of the most bitter
dissensions that have separated profess
ing Christians. There is one thing
about each of these ordinances con-
corning which there has been an agree
ment-baptism is to be administered
only once and the observance of the
Lords supper is to be repeated fire.
quently.
Baptismal Ordinance.
Jesus sanctioned baptism by insist
ing upon John administering the rite
to Him. His disciples, with His ap-
prevail, baptized new disciples. He COM
manded its observance in His great
commission to His church. when He
outlined His program of winning the
world, insisting that His followers
should evangelize, enlist and educate
all nations. They were to fit men for
membership in His kingdom by preach
ing the gospel of reconciliation, re-
demption and resurrection. All who
demonstrated they were worthy of citi-
zenship in the kingdom, were to be
naturalized by being baptized. They
were to be baptized in water, into the
name of the Father, and of the Son
and of the Holy Ghost" The formula
of authority by which baptism Is adj
ministered teaches that the person
baptized has entered into the mystica
union which exists between all true be-
levers and the Triune God. 1t pro-
claims an inward publication through
divine grace, as the condition by which
one enters into spiritual life.
Our Lord gave to baptism a signifi'
cant spiritual symbolism that John:
baptism and the other uses, that hat
been made of it, as a religious rite, die
not possess. 1t had marked a crisis ir
His own life, preceding His entrance
upon His mission as the MesSianic Scr
of God. He placed it at the opening
of every Christians life, so that 1t Woulc
interpret for the believer his own re-
ligious experience. 1t represents the
saving truths of the gospel. Baptism
teaches the great saving truths OF the
gospel. Paul points out in the pas
sage, selected from Romans. how the
great facts by which the atonemen,
was made for sin-the death, burial anc
resurrection of Christ Jesus-are I'M
pressively set forth by this rite. -.
Baptism is a confession of sin. II
proclaims repentance that is more
than a mere regret for our mistakes
1t emphasizes a complete renovation
through a complete break with the past
and the entrance upon a new life BY
faith in Lord Jesus. Being buried with
Christ in baptism is a confession OF
faith In the resurrection of the Savior
and of the fact that one rises to live q
new life through the Masters presence
and power in the Holy Spirit. 1t sym
bolizes the promise of a future life
through the power of Christ's resurrec-
ton and His victory over death. II
proclaims the unity of all Christ's true
followers of every name and creed IN
lone Lord, enc faith, and one baptism.
Tho Tnrd's Simmer
Christ established the memorial rite
because He recognized the weakness OF
humanity. He wanted to draw them
into closer fellowship with one another
He knew that not only his apostles, but
men, throughout all coming ages, would
need something to remind them OF the
reality of the presence of the unseen
God. Paul found the cause OF
spiritual weakness to be due to the
neglect of the Lords supper by men,
bers of the Corinthian Church. ANY
one, who will examine his own life, will
recall how easy it is to forget In the
rush of modern life to read the Bible
daily, to pray every morning. to neglect
the attendance of the midweek church
service and the regular Sunday services.
The modern Pharisee, who is satisfied
with his own religious life, is apt to be
one who neglects the communion serv-
ice of his church. He has neglected to
examine his life, his sin, and his failure
to do the things that Jesus desired him
to do. He has neglected the opportuni-
ties to improve his spiritual life and
manifest personal interest in the sal
walton of others.
Psychologists teach that memory is
aided by symbolism and repetition. 1t
was not that He wished them for His
own sake to remember Him that He
established this symbolical reminder OF
His death. The repetition OF this rite
would prevent men forgetting the cost
of mans redemption. the finest social
hopes of the race, and the inauguration
of the kingdom of God through the
return of the Master. He called upon
them to remember that they were COM
muning with living Lord and not a
dead benefactor. In instituting the
Lords supper the Master used what
is now recognized to be one of the laws
of memory, that all memory helps
should be common and familiar. Jesus
found this requirement met i'll the hard.
fiat, round and thin sheet of unleavened
bread that was always broken, never
cut, and In the wine of the Passover
feast and daily meal.
Meaning Of the Rite.
An Oriental would have no difficulty
In understanding the symbolical mean
ing of the Lords supper. The giving