THE CHURCH: RITES AND RITUALS

Lesson 9 for December 1, 2012

R I T E S A N D S A C R A M E N T S

He established the rite of animal

sacrifices to the patriarchs.

He established a complex rite system

to the people of Israel in Sinai.

Jesus also established several

rites for the growing church.

God established rites to teach spiritual truths to believers at all times.

In all cases, new rites replaced old ones as the Plan of Redemption went on.

RITES AND SACRAMENTSThose rites were called “mysteries” or “sacraments” in the early time of the Christian church.During the Dark Age, those sacraments were given a false intrinsic power. That’s why rites like baptism or anointing the ill were considered as something “magic”, just like they had power to forgive sins or to change people.This idea was rejected since the Reformation and the rites were then considered as they were originally established; that is, divine orders (ordinances) that help us in our spiritual life without any power in them.

THE RITES JESUS ESTABLISHED This week we’re studying three of the rites Jesus established for His Church.

BAPTISM• “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing

them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19)

THE ORDINANCE OF HUMILITY• “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you

also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14)

THE LORD’S SUPPER• “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that

the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”” (1 Corinthians 11:23-25)

BAPTISMWhat does baptism represent?

Submerging under the water represents dying to the old life of sin. Rising from the water represents being born to the new life in Christ (Romans 6:4)

It also represents the covenant of the believer with God; He makes him/her part of His people (Acts 2:41)

It is important to understand that baptism does not change people. It is an outward symbol of the change that takes place within them.That’s why baptism cannot take place without the following requisites:

↗ The baptized person must be instructed in the teachings of Jesus before baptism (Matthew 28:19-20)

↗ There must be repentance (Acts 2:38)

The infants don’t fulfill those requirements, since they cannot understand the meaning of the doctrines or true repentance.

“As a Christian submits to the solemn rite of baptism, the three highest powers in the universe—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—place Their approval on his act, pledging Themselves to exert Their power in his behalf as he strives to honor God. He is buried in the likeness of Christ’s death, and is raised in the likeness of His resurrection”

E.G.W. (Reflecting Christ, April 3)

THE ORDINANCE OF HUMILITY“rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded” (John 13:4-5)

Jesus waited for some time to see if anyone was willing to take the role of servant, so He made Himself servant and washed the feet of His disciples. He humbled Himself to set an example of humility for us.

Jesus didn’t wash only the feet of those who were faithful to Him, but He also washed the feet of the one betraying Him. He asks us to do the same; to humble ourselves and to serve and forgive.

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14)

“There is in man a disposition to esteem himself more highly than his brother, to work for self, to seek the highest place; and often this results in evil surmisings and bitterness of spirit. The ordinance preceding the Lord’s Supper is to clear away these misunderstandings, to bring man out of his selfishness, down from his stilts of self-exaltation, to the humility of heart that will lead him to serve his brother.The ordinance of feet washing most forcibly illustrates the necessity of true humility. While the disciples were contending for the highest place, in the promised kingdom, Christ girded Himself, and performed the office of a servant by washing the feet of those who called Him Lord. […]Having washed the disciples’ feet, He [Jesus] said, “I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” ... Christ was here instituting a religious service. By the act of our Lord this humiliating ceremony was made a consecrated ordinance. It was to be observed by the disciples, that they might ever keep in mind His lessons of humility and service.”

E.G.W. (Our Father cares, March 25)

THE LORD’S SUPPERThe last supper Jesus ate with His disciples had three meanings: past, present and future.

“But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29)

PAST“And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’”” (Matthew 26:18)

PRESENT

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.””(Matthew 26:26-28)

FUTURE

THE LORD’S SUPPER: PAST AND PRESENT

The Passover Jesus kept commemorated the exodus from Egypt.In that night, the lamb saved the Israelites from dying thanks to its blood. Thanks to its meat, it gave them food and strength to begin the long escaping trip through the desert.In the same way, the Lamb gives us His meat and His blood to save us from eternal death. He also gives us strength to live a new life, escaping from sin to a life of holiness.

THE LORD’S SUPPER: THE FUTURE“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26)

When we take part in the symbols of the body and the blood of Jesus, we both remember what He did and does for us and proclaim His Coming.He promised that He would not drink wine again until the day He’ll drink it with the redeemed when we’ll be together in Heaven.

JESUS INVITED YOU TO HIS SUPPER… ACCEPT HIS INVITATION TODAY