'An Independent Baptist Church'

THE ORDINANCES

We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are Ordinances of our Lord Jesus Christ appointed for the church, and that none but true believers are the subjects. We believe that FOOTWASHING was not an ordinance to be observed by believers, but rather was simply a one-time example used by our Lord to teach humility and service. No where in the epistles do we see it mentioned again. We believe that baptism should only be for born-again believers AFTER they have been saved...never before a person has been saved! We reject the baptizing of babies or infants, which originated as a practice in pagan religions. The Bible nowhere teaches the baptism of infants, but rather instructs it only to people who are old enough to trust Christ as Saviour. (Acts 8:34-38). We believe that Baptism should follow the decision to trust Christ as quickly as possible, and that there is no Biblical instruction whatsoever to have a ‘proving period’ before one is baptized. Baptism should be done immediately after one is saved. The method of baptism is by IMMERSION only...never by sprinkling or pouring. The Greek word ‘Baptizo’ means to dip under completely...or to ‘immerse’...If sprinkling was to be the method of baptism, the greek word ‘Rhantizo’ would have been used.

This immersion pictures how Jesus died, entered the tomb, and then rose victoriously. When we are baptized we are telling the world that we identify ourselves with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism is symbolic of this event, and certainly does not play any part in salvation. The blood of Jesus washes away our sins, not the water in the baptistry. Believers should be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit); Baptismal regeneration is clearly refused I Corinthians 1:1;6, 17).

The Lord’s Supper is to be observed weekly on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7) and church historians agree that the early church did such for the first few centuries after Christ. the grapejuice and bread are symbolic of Jesus’ body and blood and we are to reflect on how Jesus died for us and how He is coming back again. In light of this, we are to examine ourselves (I Corinthians 11:24-30) in our conduct and behaviour, and if there is anything displeasing to our Lord in our lives, we need to confess and ask forgiveness for it so our fellowship with the Lord can be restored. This prevents the Lord from having to send discipline and chastisement into our lives. We reject the Catholic teaching of transubstantiation which teaches that when the Roman Priest says his magical words, the bread and wine actually turn into Jesus’ body and blood! The Lord’s supper should only be taken by those who are born-again.