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Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

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consumeth the chaff, so their root shall beas rottenness, and their blossom shall go upas dust: because they have cast away thelaw of the Lord of hosts, and despised theword of the Holy One of Israel. Thereforeis the anger of the Lord kindled against hispeople, and he hath stretched forth hishand against them, and hath smitten them:...And he will lift up an ensign to thenations from far, and he will hiss unto themfrom the end of the earth: ...And in thatday they shall roar against them like theroaring of the sea." Undoubtedly theprophet is here foretelling of the invasionsof the Assyrians and of the Babylonianswhen the cities of Israel and Judah weredestroyed and the people taken away tolive in a foreign land."Lesson based on International Sunday SchoolLessons: the International Bible Lessons forChristian Teaching, copyrighted 1967 by the Divisionof Christian Education, National Council of Churchesof Christ in the U.S.A."Junior TopicFor May 23,1971UNIT: OUR PUBLICWORSHIP AND SACRAMENTSBaptism, a SacramentBy Mrs. lohn RussellA sacrament is a holy ordinance, ordecree that Christ instituted or startedwhile here on earth. The only sacramentsof the New Testament are baptism and theLord's supper. These are symbols or visiblesigns (pictures) given by God to people ofour times. There were many signs andsymbols in the Old Testament, such assacrifices, the passover lamb, tabernaclefurniture (altars, table of shew bread,candlestick, mercy seat), garments of thehigh priests, the rituals of feast days, etc.which all had some particular meaning.Baptism is clearly commanded byChrist when, among His last instructions toHis disciples, we find this: "Go yetherefore, and teach all nations, baptizingthem in the name of the Father, and of theSon, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28:19).Baptism is administered by a Christianminister, applying water in the name of theFather, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.Adults are baptized when they professtheir faith in Christ and obedience to Him.The infants of church members are also tobe baptized and baptism is not to berepeated. The Roman Catholic Church hasset apart seven sacraments but we believethat only two were set apart.What is the meaning of baptism? It isan outward symbol or picture of an inwardgrace. It shows what takes place in the soulof one who believes in Jesus Christ. Thesign used is water, which in Scripture isassociated with cleansing. It representspurification from the guilt of sin or beingcleansed by the blood of Jesus. It alsorepresents our being united to Christ byfaith.Baptism is a seal, or a promise, ofGod's blessings. A seal on a diploma atschool states the information contained istrue, so baptism is a sign of God'spromises. God showed the Israelite peoplein the Old Testament His ways throughsigns and symbols. Circumcision of thebaby boys was God's seal of His promiseto Abraham. "And he received the sign ofcircumcision, a seal of the righteousness ofthe faith which he had"(Rom. 4:11). Godhas promised we shall be His and He shallbe ours in all the blessings of His savinggrace.Our church believes that theBible teaches that children of believers areincluded in God's covenant promises andare to be baptized. In the Old Testament,children were certainly a part in thesepromises, and in the New Testament, Peterpreached, "For the promise is unto you andto your children..." (Acts 2:39). Examplesin the New Testament were Lydia, who"was baptized, and her household" (Acts16:15); the Philippian jailer "was baptized,he and all his, straightway" (Acts 16:33).Perhaps you have watched one ormany baptisms in your church. We believethat the symbol of water is to be usedand that Christ did not say how much touse, so the water is sprinkled on the child'sor adult's head. When parents bring theirchildren for baptism, at least one must be •a believer. They are assuming a greatresponsibility as well as receiving a blessingwhen they make these promises beforeGod and the congregation. They promiseto instruct the child in the Scriptures, andin the summary of the Scriptures in thecatechism, to pray with and for the child,to set right examples and to bring him upin the "nurture and admonition of theLord."If you, as a junior, were baptized as ababy, you are now a baptized member ofthe church. You are counted as a believerbecause your parents believe. You arecounted an American citizen because yourparents are Americans. Just as a child isgiven a name by his parents, so when webecome God's children, He gives us a newname which is registered in heaven and webecome members of His great Church.You are not a full member, one who cantake part in communion. When you are alittle older, you can express your belief inJesus Christ as your Savior and say youwant to become a communicant memberof His church.Baptism reminds us of God's greatlove. God the Father promises to make usHis children and f<strong>org</strong>ive us our sins. Godthe Son gave His blood to wash away oursins. God the Holy Spirit lives in our heartsto make us pure and holy. All three personsof the Trinity work together to makeus ready for heaven. That is the reason theminister says, "I baptize you in the Name ofthe Father, and of the Son, and of the HolySpirit."As young and growing Christians wecan improve on our baptism all of our lives.We are born into this world only once, butwe celebrate our birthday year after year.When we are tempted to sin, and when wesee baptisms administered to others, thisshould remind us to be thankful, to drawstrength from the death and resurrection ofChrist, to live in holiness, and walk inbrotherly love to others as we rememberthe unity of Christ and Christians.TO LEADER:1. Catechism question — 92,942. Review Memory Psalms for Unit. Sing inmeeting: Ps. 51:1,4,7, p. 132. Otherfavorites.3. Worship Verse — Matt. 28:19 (Put innotebook).4. Worship Notebook — a) Label withpicture of parents and a child, b) Writedown: "Baptism — What it Teaches Me"and list 1) faith in Jesus 2) cleansing fromsin 3) new birth 4) new Father and newname 5) members of His church 6)resurrection to come 7) union with Christ.c) If there has recently been a baptism inyour church, have juniors record theirimpressions, what took place, Psalms used,etc.5. Bible Baptisms — Look these up. Howdid each person at once live for God? Jesus— Matt. 3:16,17; 4:1-11; the Eunuch —Acts 8:36-39; Paul — Acts 9:17-20; Lydia— Acts 16:13-15; Philippian jailer — Acts16:27-34.6. Handwork — Add Friendship to fleet ofships. It is the sister ship of Courtship,flying the banner of Love. Love oneanother. I Jn. 3:18; I Jn. 4:11,12. Also addHeirship. "Heirs of God and joint heirswith Christ." Add "breastplate ofrighteousness" to the Christian Soldiermodel.Prayer MeetingTopicFor May 26,1971CHESTER, ARKANSAS, MISSIONBy Rev. S. Ray Blab-Pastor, Washington, IowaR. P. ChurchChester, Arkansas is a small, formerrailroad town nestled in a valley of theBoston Mountains in northwest Arkansas.Though the town is only two miles fromhighway 71, an arterial trafficway toKansas City, the isolation is evident immediately.12 COVENANTER WITNESS

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