That Which God Has Joined Together
The sermon emphasizes the importance and obligatory nature of baptism and communion as the most fundamental and necessary ordinances of the Church.
G.W. North emphasizes the foundational significance of baptism and communion in the early Church as recorded in Acts 2. He explains that Jesus established the Church through the Holy Spirit, and the first believers immediately engaged in both baptism and communion, highlighting their essential role in Christian life. North argues that these two ordinances were divinely ordained to be the primary practices of the Church, with no other ordinances holding the same universal obligation for all believers. He stresses that while other practices exist, baptism and communion remain the core elements that bind the Church together. This sermon calls for a deeper understanding and commitment to these fundamental ordinances.
Text
The marriage of these two is finely displayed by Luke in Acts 2. The opening part of this chapter records the establishment of the Church on earth by the Lord Jesus. He accomplished this miracle by baptising the 120 into the Baptism which He had previously undergone at Calvary, and He did it with or by means of the Holy Ghost. The major reason He endured His crucifixion was that this should be accomplished.
Following the record of the founding of the Church and the swift addition of a further 5000 to them, Luke loses no time in telling us that 'they (all) continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship (Communion) and in breaking of bread (the symbol of Communion) and in prayers'.
So we see that right in the beginning, upon the very threshold of Church history God set the pattern -- it was first baptism then communion. Every single member of that first church assembly went straight from one into the other. God and the apostles joined these two together that they should remain for all time the most fundamental and necessary ordinances of the Church.
He added no other to them as though He were implying that together with them it should form an obligatory trilogy of common acceptance among His people; He ordained these two and made them universally obligatory upon His Church, and that is all. Other ordinances there are and each has its proper place and in that place is binding upon the person or persons concerned, but consideration of them reveals that none is obligatory upon every member without exception as are these two.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Baptism and Communion
- The Founding of the Church
- The Obligatory Nature of Baptism and Communion
- The Pattern Set by Jesus
- The Role of the Holy Spirit
- The Baptism of the 120
- The Addition of 5000 to the Church
- The Uniqueness of Baptism and Communion
- The Binding Nature of Baptism and Communion
Key Quotes
“He added no other to them as though He were implying that together with them it should form an obligatory trilogy of common acceptance among His people;” — G.W. North
“God and the apostles joined these two together that they should remain for all time the most fundamental and necessary ordinances of the Church.” — G.W. North
“He ordained these two and made them universally obligatory upon His Church, and that is all.” — G.W. North
Application Points
- Baptism and communion are essential ordinances that every Christian should participate in.
- The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in baptism and communion, and Christians should seek to understand and participate in these ordinances with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
- The pattern set by Jesus regarding baptism and communion should be followed by every Christian, with baptism preceding communion.