BAPTIZED INTO ONE BODY

Baptism proclaims the Gospel and gives us an identity:  I belong to Jesus: we have been united to Christ in his death and resurrection (Rom 6:3; Col 2:12; Mk 10:38)

I belong to Jesus Rom. 6:3-5 “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

Baptism proclaims the Gospel and gives us an identity:  I belong to Jesus: we have been united to Christ in his death and resurrection (Rom 6:3; Col 2:12; Mk 10:38)  I belong to Jesus’ community, I have entered the church (1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:26-28)

I belong to Jesus’ community 1 Cor. 12:12-14 “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.”

I belong to Jesus’ community Gal. 3:27-28 “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Baptism proclaims the Gospel and gives us an identity:  I belong to Jesus: we have been united to Christ in his death and resurrection (Rom 6:3; Col 2:12; Mk 10:38)  I belong to Jesus’ community, I have entered the church (1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:26-28)  the Holy Spirit is at work (Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 6:11)  forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet 3:21; Heb. 10:22)  new life (new birth) is possible (Jn 3:5; Titus 3:5)

Who are you? This is my identity: I belong to Jesus. I belong to Jesus’ community. In that community, the Holy Spirit is working on me, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to me, and I am being born into a new life. I AM BAPTIZED.

I belong to Jesus’ community My baptism declares that:  I belong to God’s people of all times and places

I belong to Jesus’ community My baptism declares that:  I belong to God’s people of all times and places  I am a full member of the church, not a partial member

I belong to Jesus’ community My baptism declares that:  I belong to God’s people of all times and places  I am a full member of the church  I belong at Communion, the covenant family meal

Covenant Community and Communion Kids are family too: the entire family is welcome at to the family meal, all members of the body are welcome to be nourished by Christ’s body

I belong to the Jesus’ community Baptism is a sign and seal of initiation into covenant relationship and the Supper is a sign and seal of continuity in that relationship. (see Belgic Conf. Art. 35; Heid. Cat. Q&A 74, 76-77)

I belong to Jesus’ community My baptism declares that:  I belong to God’s people of all times and places  I am a full member of the church  I belong at Communion, the covenant family meal  I have been called into the priesthood of all believers.

I belong to Jesus’ community My baptism declares that:  I belong to God’s people of all times and places  I am a full member of the church  I belong at Communion, the covenant family meal  I have been called into the priesthood of all believers.  the church should be united as a witness to the world

I belong to Jesus’ community Eph. 4:3-6 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Who are you? This is my identity: I belong to Jesus. I belong to Jesus’ community. In that community, the Holy Spirit is working on me, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to me, and I am being born into a new life. I AM BAPTIZED.

I belong to Jesus’ community How was this symbolized in baptisms in the early church:  Sponsor  Anointing with oil: priesthood of all believers  White robe: Gal. 3:27 “baptized into Christ... clothed with Christ.”  Holy kiss  Communion  At Easter:community dies and rises with Christ together

I belong to Jesus’ community How can this be symbolized in baptisms today:  All the ways it was done in the early church  Carrying child through congregation  Profession of faith (already a full member)  Celebrate baptism birthdays  Baptism reaffirmation vows by the congregation  Font at entrance to worship space  Be creative!

Don’t let them forget their identity …

Who are you? This is my identity: I belong to Jesus. I belong to Jesus’ community. In that community, the Holy Spirit is working on me, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to me, and I am being born into a new life. I AM BAPTIZED.

Who is a member of the church?

ALL baptized. 1 Cor. 12:13, “We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body.” Church = Body of Christ = Covenant Community

Baptism: proclaims the Gospel and gives us an identity How can we remember and celebrate that identity?

Baptism proclaims the Gospel and gives us an identity How can we remember and celebrate that identity?

Reformed Theology 2: Unity of the Sacraments Baptism proclaims Christ’s death and resurrection and promises forgiveness of sins and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the covenant community of faith. (see Heid. Cat. Q&A 69-70)

Reformed Theology 2: Unity of the Sacraments The Lord’s Supper proclaims Christ’s death and resurrection and promises forgiveness of sins and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the covenant community of faith. (see Heid. Cat. Q&A 75-76)

Reformed Theology 2: Unity of the Sacraments Preaching, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper proclaim the same GOSPEL promises.

Reformed Theology 2: Unity of the Sacraments If Baptism and the Lord’s Supper proclaim the same Gospel promises, WHY can Baptism make these promises to all members of the covenant community but the Lord’s Supper can make these promises only to individuals who make Profession of Faith?

Reformed Theology 3: Partnership between Preaching and Sacraments Preached Word Sacramental Word Two sides of the same coin *Question: According to Calvin, God gave us the sacraments because he’s an accommodating teacher. He knows that our weak faith needs the Gospel proclaimed in TANGIBLE form. Might children receive the Gospel by faith through the tangible sacraments first, before they are able to do so through preaching? Do we short-circuit God’s loving pedagogy? Proclaims the Gospel Unites us to Christ Weekly Weekly Weekly (Calvin’s wish) AUDIBLETANGIBLE*

Theology 4: Continuity in Church Membership Who is a member of the church?

Theology 4: Continuity in Church Membership Who is a member of the church? ALL baptized. 1 Cor. 12:13, “We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body.” Church = Body of Christ = Covenant Community

Theology 4: Continuity in Church Membership According to the New Testament, a person is either a member of the covenant community (i.e. baptized) or not a member of the covenant community (i.e. either unbaptized or excommunicated). According to practice of churches that do not allow all baptized to LS:  When an infant is baptized, that infant becomes a member of the covenant community.  Then the infant is “excluded from Communion” (which, incidentally, is the definition of “excommunicant”). The infant might be called a “non-professing member.”  When the baptized who are excluded from Communion have enough knowledge to make an individual profession of faith, they become “communicant” or “professing” members.

Theology 4: Continuity in Church Membership During the period between baptism and profession of faith, are baptized children partial members of the church?... half members?... full members?... excommunicated?... the first of 2 kinds of membership (even though the Bible only mentions 1 kind)?

Theology 4: Continuity in Church Membership Baptism is a sign and seal of initiation into covenant relationship and the Supper is a sign and seal of continuity in that relationship. (see Belgic Conf. Art. 35; Heid. Cat. Q&A 74, 76-77)

Theology 5: Grace Paul is concerned that the way the Corinthians celebrate the Supper undermines one of the things the sacrament proclaims: One body (“the poor are humiliated” by the rich, 1 Cor. 11:22). In churches today that baptize infants but don’t allow young children to commune, does the way in which the Supper is celebrated undermine two things the sacrament proclaims? One body: should we exclude part of the body? Grace: do the “works” of right understanding make us “righteous” enough to receive a means of grace?

GRACE Augustine: Humans come to their heavenly Father in the sacraments with the same helpless abandon as sucking infants do to their mothers.