An Overview of Baptism and Communion

Many adults were baptized as children - and even if they weren't, they have had their own children baptized.

So what does that symbolize?

From religion to religion, what baptism actually "means" can vary widely. Some denominations consider it a time when all sin is washed away, while others teach that it is a way to exorcise evil spirits. Some churches consider baptism a way to acknowledge salvation a believer has already achieved, meaning the sacrament is simply a step of obedience and doesn't actually cleanse or save one from sin.

Two basic definitions of baptism found at answers.com are, "A religious sacrament marked by the symbolic application of water to the head or immersion of the body into water and resulting in admission of the recipient into the community of Christians" or "A ceremony, trial, or experience by which one is initiated, purified, or given a name."

References to baptisms are found frequently in the Old Testament, but Biblical scholars say it was likely practiced in those times more as a tradition without any real significance or meaning attached to it.

In the New Testament, however, God instructs John the Baptist to spread the news of the coming of Christ and to baptize those who believed what John was saying.

Biblically, water baptism is a connection of a believer with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In the New International version of the Bible, Matthew 28:19 states, 
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Many churches see baptism as a turning point in the life of the believer who is to participate. It is a time when once decides to serve the Lord and give up his or her sinful and selfish nature.

It is a time when the believer is to put all his or her pride, material possessions and past transgressions before the Lord - in essence, turning his or her life over to God.

Romans 6:4-5 (NIV) 
"He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God. So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able Communion

The taking of bread and wine (or juice) is commonly simply called Communion. Things and other names associated with Communion in the Christian community include Holy Communion, The Sacrament of Communion, Bread and Wine (the Elements), The Body and Blood of Christ, The Lord's Supper and The Eucharist.

Communion is a practice meant to be observed by Christians over and over throughout their lives (unlike Confirmation or Baptism, which only happen once).

The general idea behind Communion is that it is a time for a Christian to remember and celebrate what Christ did for his people. Often, communion is given as part of worship or other church services so that the congregation can come together as one body.

From a Biblical standpoint, Communion is something Christians were told by the Lord to do. In the New International Version of the Bible, I Corinthians 11:24 says the Lord broke bread for his disciples and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."

I Corinthians 10:16-17 tells Christians that participation in Communion means they are, in fact, the body of Christ.

"His life becomes our life and we become members of each other: 
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf."

In addition to remembering Christ and his sacrifices, Communion is also a time, the Bible says, for self-reflection.

"A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup," says I Corinthians 11:28.

Communion is an outward sign that those partaking believe that Christ died and that he will come again.

I Corinthians 11:26 states, "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."

There are three main Christian ideals about the bread and wine used during communion:

• After being blessed, the bread and the wine actually "become" the body and blood of Christ (Catholics refer to this as Transubstantiation).

• The bread and the wine are unchanged elements, but Christ's presence by faith is made spiritually real in and through them.

• The bread and the wine are unchanged elements, used as symbols, representing Christ's body and blood, in remembrance of his enduring sacrifice.

Some scriptures that refer to Communion include:

• Matthew 26:26-28 - "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take and eat; this is my body.' Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'

• Mark 14:22-24 - "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take it; this is my body.' Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.'

• Luke 22:19 - "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'

• I Corinthians 10:16-17 - "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf."

• I Corinthians 11:24-26 - "And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."

• John 6:53-54 - "Jesus said to them, 'I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.'"