Baptism signifies and seals, but it doesn't save. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 72 Q. Does this outward washing with water itself wash away sins? A. No, only Jesus Christ’s blood and the Holy Spirit cleanse us from all sins Summary Passages like today's are difficult for people who've grown up knowing Christ. Many of us can't remember a time when we didn't know the truth of God's Word, and although we certainly didn't live up to that Word each day and have done things we're deeply ashamed of, we can't honestly say that our foolishness and disobedience stemmed from our not knowing the love of God or our Savior. What a blessing we've been given to always know and live in God's grace! Maybe some of you can point to a specific time where you went from living in malice and envy to being renewed in the Holy Spirit, and you've experienced the night and day difference that comes from suddenly coming to know Christ. What a blessing you've been given, to understand clearly that your salvation doesn't stem from doing a bunch or righteous deeds, but because of God's mercy! Regardless of how or when you came to be aware of your salvation, know that all Christians became Christians in the exact same way: by being washed. The sacrament of baptism signifies the fact that when you were re-born, whether that happened so early in life that you can't remember, or it just happened last week, that you were washed and made clean by the power of the Holy Spirit. Dig Deeper It's important to remember that the sacrament of baptism, while both beautiful to experience and witness, and necessary because our Savior commanded it, does not in and of itself actually save the recipient. As we've recently been reminded, sacraments are signs and seals. Baptism signifies that the recipient's sins have been washed away, and there's not enough water in the world to physically accomplish the cleansing that we require to live in peace with a holy God. Paul here reminds us that the true washing we need comes by the power of the Holy Spirit who has been 'poured out on you generously through Jesus Christ your Savior. We also talk about the covenant often when baptizing a person, noting that their baptism seals them into the covenant family of God - that is, the Church. As awesome as that is, v7 reminds us that as a baptized member of the church, you're not just joined to a distinct group of people, rather you've become an heir of God and you have the certain hope of eternal life. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who has shown His kindness and love to His children by washing them in the power of the Holy Spirit; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that having been made clean by the washing you've experienced, you will stay clean and free from sin. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Luke 4

The washing symbolized in your baptism gives you a clear conscience towards God. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 71 Q. Where does Christ promise that we are washed with his blood and Spirit as surely as we are washed with the water of baptism? A. In the institution of baptism where he says: “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.” “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” This promise is repeated when Scripture calls baptism the washing of rebirth and the washing away of sins. Summary Baptism is a sign and a seal of God’s covenant of grace. There is a close relationship between the baptism as a sign of God’s grace and the work of Christ it signifies. Enough so, that Peter uses the words “baptism…. now saves you,” which is not used to describe salvation via the sacrament of baptism, but salvation via the grace symbolized in baptism. Peter also makes a connection between the waters of baptism and the waters of the flood during the days of Noah. This connection may feel out of place at first. Especially considering how the flood was an act of God’s judgment on the wickedness of mankind. What can be missed in this is how the flood was also a means of salvation for Noah and his family. While judgment was cast by God, grace was also extended. Dig Deeper There is a question from back when I was taking the written test to get motorcycle license that has stuck with me. The question referred to safety procedures when riding a motorcycle and which of the listed answers was the “most true” as a means of making yourself visible to other drivers. The trick here was that all of the answers were true and listed in the reading I had done ahead of time. While proper lane position and high visibility clothing were good answers, what they were looking for is which of the options was deemed the most important. In this case, I remembered the answer was to have a functioning headlight. The thing to keep in mind, however, is that one answer being correct does not mean the other options are without merit. As the catechism rightly points out from scripture, baptism is described as “the waters of rebirth” and “the washing away of sins.” It is easy to see the grace symbolized in baptism, but what we sometimes miss is the presence of God’s judgment. Just as both grace and judgment were present in the flood narrative, so too are both present in baptism. Salvation and new life in Christ are seen in the waters of baptism, but these waters also symbolize God’s judgment on sin, which can be seen in the removal of sin by means of Jesus’ death and resurrection. While the grace symbolized in baptism might appear to be the “most true” answer, this does not diminish the presence of God’s judgment on sin. In recognizing the price paid to separate you from that sin, do not overlook the importance of repentance. Jesus paid a high price to set you free from your sin, which speaks into the necessity to continually turn away from sin and abide in Christ. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who saved believing Noah and his family from the judgment on sin that flooded the world; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask God that you would reflect your status as a baptised believer by continually repenting and turning away from sin; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Luke 3

Baptism doesn't make you a Christian, it's always been a core part of Christianity. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 71 Q. Where does Christ promise that we are washed with his blood and Spirit as surely as we are washed with the water of baptism? A. In the institution of baptism where he says: “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.” “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” This promise is repeated when Scripture calls baptism the washing of rebirth and the washing away of sins. Summary Matthew’s Gospel closes with Jesus giving the Great Commission to the Disciples. This passage has been quoted as the rallying cry behind countless outreach and discipleship efforts. While commanding the eleven remaining disciples to go and make more disciples, Jesus teaches them how to do this: by baptizing and teaching. Dig Deeper Jesus’ command to baptize new disciples in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit was taken seriously by the first disciples. In the history of the Christian Church, there is no time that we are aware of where the people of God were without baptism. On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit poured out on the Disciples, Peter preached what is considered the first Christian sermon. This is the response of the crowd and Peter’s reply from Acts 2:37-38: When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thousands came to faith in Christ that day and what was it they were commanded to do? Repent and be baptized. From the beginning, the Church has taken Jesus’ command to baptize seriously. It would be hard to deny that there has been a cultural shift in the United States in the last few decades. With the rise of the “nones” (those without a declared faith), there is an increasing number of people in the United States who are not baptized. As the Church reaches out to these people groups, the discussion around baptism will grow ever more important. Are we, the Body of Christ, ready for those discussions? If you have never been baptized yourself, what is holding you back from taking this step of faith? If you have been baptized, do you feel prepared to share the significance of baptism with someone who asks? AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who has equipped us His children and commissions us to gather those He's called into His Kingdom; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for your baptism, or if you haven't been baptized, pray that you will step forward and request it; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Luke 2

If you're a Christian, you're a born-again Christian. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 70 Q. What does it mean to be washed with Christ’s blood and Spirit? A. To be washed with Christ’s blood means that God, by grace, has forgiven my sins because of Christ’s blood poured out for me in his sacrifice on the cross. To be washed with Christ’s Spirit means that the Holy Spirit has renewed me and set me apart to be a member of Christ so that more and more I become dead to sin and increasingly live a holy and blameless life. Summary Nicodemus was a Pharisee who had shown respect for Jesus because of the signs, also known as miracles, that Jesus had done. It was during this discussion that Jesus explained to Nicodemus how he needed to be born again. This rebirth was not a second physical birth, but a birth of water and spirit. Jesus makes this spiritual rebirth an absolute necessity, proclaiming that “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Unless is a strong word, setting an absolute condition that must be met for one to enter the kingdom of God. This spiritual rebirth is not an optional addition to one’s faith, instead this rebirth has been set apart by Jesus as an essential part of following Him. Without this spiritual rebirth, one cannot enter God’s kingdom. Dig Deeper Regeneration is the theological term we use to describe this spiritual rebirth. Much like how Jesus’ physical body had died and was raised to new life on the third day, regeneration points to one’s spiritual death and new life in Christ. This is not an action you take as a believer, since regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit. This regeneration, or rebirth, is more than a change of heart; it is an entrance into a new life. Where you were once spiritually dead in your trespasses and sins, you are now made alive. This spiritual rebirth is your entryway into a new life, one receptive and inclined towards God. Regeneration originates with God, it is not something we can initiate for ourselves or for others. While this lack of personal control may spark different feelings in various individuals, I feel an appropriate response to this regeneration is to turn to God in prayer. For those who have either a long held or newly formed faith in Christ, we pray out of gratitude for God’s work of regeneration in their lives. For those who do not yet have faith in Christ, we pray that God may work in their lives, planting a desire for Christ where there previously was none. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the King, whose kingdom we long to enter into; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will recognize and live into the regeneration (rebirth) you've been given by the Holy Spirit signified and sealed in your baptism ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Luke 1

Baptism symbolizes you've been washed with the costliest of all detergents. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 70 Q. What does it mean to be washed with Christ’s blood and Spirit? A. To be washed with Christ’s blood means that God, by grace, has forgiven my sins because of Christ’s blood poured out for me in his sacrifice on the cross. To be washed with Christ’s Spirit means that the Holy Spirit has renewed me and set me apart to be a member of Christ so that more and more I become dead to sin and increasingly live a holy and blameless life. Summary In his letter to the church in Ephesus Paul writes of the redemption we have through the blood of Christ. Redemption is deliverance through a price or ransom that is paid. The redemption to which Paul is speaking is the deliverance from the guilt of sin which has been paid by the blood of Christ shed for us on the cross. Redemption is not free; there is a price that must be paid. That price has been paid by Jesus and is offered freely to those who believe in Him for salvation. Dig Deeper When Katie and I were first married, she worked for a ministry out of Sioux Falls, SD named LifeLight. LifeLight’s claim to fame is being the largest outdoor free Christian music festival. Being a free music festival there was no required entrance fee, however that does not mean that there were no costs. As you can imagine, it can be quite expensive to hire some of the best Christian bands in the world to come sing at the festival, plus all the other costs (electricity, water, etc.) that come with hosting a festival. And while entry was free, these costs still had to be paid. LifeLight ran on donations. While many enjoyed a free experience, others would donate above and beyond to make sure there was enough to cover the festival. Essentially, some people gave more than the value they received in order that others could come for free and hear the gospel proclaimed. In this case, some paid for the many. When it comes to redemption it is not some, but the one who has paid for all. The people of God receive this gift via the grace of God seen in the blood of Christ poured out for us in his sacrifice on the cross. In baptism, we are reminded of Christ’s death on our behalf. This sacrament points to the redemption found in Christ and the price paid for our deliverance. Recognizing the price that has been paid on your behalf, live as one who has been forgiven, turning away from the vices of this world and living a life full of gratitude for the gift of grace found in Christ. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who lavishes grace and forgiveness of sin upon us, His children; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will understand more and more the cost of your salvation so that more and more your life will reflect the necessary gratitude for such a gift; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Philemon

Baptism doesn't just join you to the Church, it joins you to Christ. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 69 Q. How does baptism remind you and assure you that Christ’s one sacrifice on the cross is for you personally? A. In this way: Christ instituted this outward washing and with it gave the promise that, as surely as water washes away the dirt from the body, so certainly his blood and his Spirit wash away my soul’s impurity, in other words, all my sins Summary In his letter to the Romans, Paul shares the significance of baptism. Baptism is a sign and a seal of God’s covenant of grace. In baptism, we proclaim that those who belong to Christ through faith are united to Him in His death and resurrection. Just as Jesus died and rose from the grave, the believer likewise dies to sin and is raised to new life. Notice that baptism is not just an external rite to perform, but rather it's a sign of full participation in Christ. When you were baptized, it was much more than a photo op: you were spiritually joined into Christ's death & resurrection! This means that those who've experienced baptism must live differently than those who've not. Those who've been joined to Christ's death have also been joined to His resurrection so that they may live a new life. Dig Deeper After a long day, few things are as refreshing as a nice hot shower. The water washes away the dirt and sweat that have accumulated throughout the day. And once you wash yourself clean, the water along with its newly acquired contaminates do not stay with you. The water, dirt, and sweat are washed down the drain never to be seen or heard of again. Just as water washes away the visible filth our bodies accumulate, by the blood of Christ your inward impurities, your sin, is washed away. This is no partial cleansing, Jesus’ death and resurrection wash away all the sins of those whose faith is in Him for salvation. Baptism does not bring about this cleansing, it instead points to the work of Christ. The visible cleansing of water seen in baptism is a visible representation of the invisible work of God in the life of a believer. Baptism points us to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and the cleansing that washes away your soul’s impurity, that is, all your sins. In the sacrament of baptism all present, not just those being baptized or bringing their child forward to be baptized, are reminded of Christ’s promise to wash away all our sins. If your faith is in Christ and you have not been baptized, take a step of faith and talk to your minister about baptism. If you have been baptized already, remember the significance of this baptism and Jesus’ promise of new life in Him. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, whose glory raised Christ, and those who've been baptised into Him, from the dead ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: If you've been baptised, pray that you'll live the new life that you've been raised with Christ into. If you haven't, pray that God will lead you to the fount. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Colossians 4

Sacraments are the two -and only two- God has commanded His Word be made visible. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 68 Q. How many sacraments did Christ institute in the New Testament? A. Two: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Summary We have spent this week looking at what sacraments are and how they confirm our faith in Jesus Christ. As we come to the end of Lord’s Day 25 we are going to look at one more question. It is a question that perhaps we might think should have been asked at the beginning of the week as opposed to now, but there is a reason it is asked at the end. Before we get to the question, let's look at our two passages. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gives the Christian Church our marching orders. We are to go and make disciples. It is an imperative; a command given to all believers. When we make these disciples of Jesus Christ, they are to be baptized. This comes directly from Jesus himself. In 1 Cor. 11:23-26, the Apostle Paul is ensuring the church in Corinth knows what the Lord’s Supper means. It is not simply a meal to be remembered. Paul repeats the words that Jesus used with his disciples when instituted the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper was given by Jesus to his disciples (and the Church) as a sign and seal of God’s grace in Jesus Christ. Dig Deeper Question and answer 68 seems fairly straight forward. Afterall, we have been looking at only two sacraments all week long: the Lord’s Supper and baptism. Why then is this question in the Heidelberg Catechism? Because not all Christians believe there are two sacraments. That is why this question comes at the end of Lord’s Day 25 after we have looked at what sacraments are. The Heidelberg Catechism was written as a tool for teaching and preaching, as well as a confession of faith. It was a tool that ensured that Reformed believers were taught what the Bible says regarding sin, salvation, and Christian living. While not a direct response to Catholicism, some questions address the differences between Catholicism and the Reformed tradition. For example, the Roman Catholic Church has seven sacraments: Baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance, extreme unction, holy orders, and matrimony. Q&A 68 wants to ensure believers know that there are only two sacraments instituted by Jesus. Nowhere in scripture does Jesus give confirmation, penance, extreme unction, holy orders, nor matrimony to the Church as sacraments. Furthermore, the Baptist church does not believe the Lord’s Supper and baptism are sacraments, they believe they are ordinances (an act of man in obedience to God). We celebrate the Lord’s Supper and baptism not because of tradition, but because they have been given to us by Jesus. We celebrate these sacraments because the Holy Spirit works through them to confirm our faith in Jesus. These sacraments are signs and seals of God’s promises to his people, and they impart grace to his children. Praise be to God that he has given us these sacraments as physical signs of what Jesus has done for us. We are saved through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Supper and baptism confirm this truth. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The God of all truth; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that the Holy Spirit would make God’s truth known in your life so that you can follow him faithfully all the days of your life; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Colossians 3

Baptism is more than water on your head... It's a whole new wardrobe. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 67 Q. Are both the word and the sacraments then intended to focus our faith on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as the only ground of our salvation? A. Right! In the gospel the Holy Spirit teaches us and through the holy sacraments he assures us that our entire salvation rests on Christ’s one sacrifice for us on the cross. Summary In Genesis 12, God called Abraham out of his country and told him to go to a new land. God made a covenant with Abraham, saying, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing…and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” In Galatians, Paul affirms that God’s promise to Abraham was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. If you belong to Jesus, you are an heir of God’s promise to Abraham. You are part of the promise that God made to Abraham. How did God fulfill that promise? He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and salvation. When Jesus was crucified on that cross, he took the weight of our sin. When he died and rose from the dead, he defeated death. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus has defeated sin and death. Anyone who is in Christ has been given new life. They are no longer slaves to sin, but are free through the grace of Jesus Christ. Dig Deeper When you celebrate the Lord’s Supper and baptism, you are seeing physical signs and seals of what God has spiritually done. It was through the crucifixion of Jesus that you have a new life. It was through the shedding of his blood that you can be forgiven of your sins. It was through his death and resurrection that you have the promise of everlasting life. All of this is found in Jesus Christ alone. It cannot be found anywhere else or in anyone else. When you celebrate the Lord’s Supper you are reminded of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice on the cross. We are united together as God’s people by the Holy Spirit and to Jesus Christ, the head of the Church. We have hope because we know that death is not the end; Jesus is going to return and is going to make all things new again. In baptism God promises by grace alone to forgive your sins, to adopt you into the body of Christ, the church, to send the Holy Spirit daily to renew and cleanse you, and to resurrect you to eternal life. This promise is made visible in the water of baptism. The Lord’s Supper and baptism point to Jesus and everything he has done. The Holy Spirit works through these two sacraments to confirm your faith in Jesus and bless you. Jesus has given us both the Lord’s Supper and baptism as signs and seals of his amazing grace. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Trustworthy God, who is reliable and above reproach; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank you for the promise to Abraham, and the fulfillment of that promise in Jesus. May I never take them for granted; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Colossians 2

Sacraments are simply signs and seals symbolizing salvation. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 66 Q. What are sacraments? A. Sacraments are holy signs and seals for us to see. They were instituted by God so that by our use of them he might make us understand more clearly the promise of the gospel, and might put his seal on that promise. And this is God’s gospel promise: to forgive our sins and give us eternal life by grace alone because of Christ’s one sacrifice finished on the cross. Summary Jesus uses very interesting terminology when instituting the Lord’s Supper. He says to his disciples when they are eating the communion bread, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then when he gives them the wine to drink, he says, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant.” Why would Jesus use those terms? This builds on what we started to look at yesterday when we studied how the sacraments confirm our faith in Jesus Christ. When we eat the bread of the Lord’s Supper, we are not eating the physical body of Christ. When we drink from the cup of the Lord’s Supper, we are not drinking the physical blood of Christ. While Jesus is present spiritually in the Lord’s Supper through the work of the Holy Spirit, we are not eating his body or drinking his blood. Jesus uses these terms because the sacraments are signs and seals of God’s promises in Jesus Christ. Dig Deeper When we baptize an infant or a new convert, we know that baptism does not save them. We are only saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, baptism is a sign and seal of God’s gospel promise. As surely as water washes away dirt from our bodies, the blood of Christ, shed on the cross, washes away our sins. Baptism is a sign and seal because it points to the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, and shows us how we are saved through faith. It is why we can sing a song like Nothing But the Blood of Jesus so fervently. What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. When we eat of the bread and drink of the cup of the Lord’s Supper, it too is a sign and seal of God’s gospel promise. Communion points to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Jesus’ body was broken and his blood shed for our salvation. Not only that, just as bread and juice physically nourish us, Jesus nourishes us spiritually through his presence. The sacraments are a physical way for God to confirm a spiritual reality. We celebrate them to confirm our faith in Jesus and be nourished by him. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Amazing God, who shows us, as well as teaches us of your power and grace; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you would contemplate the meaning of the sacraments as you are celebrating them; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Colossians 1

The sacraments are a participation in Christ. How much participation would you like? Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 65 Q. It is by faith alone that we share in Christ and all his blessings: where then does that faith come from? A. The Holy Spirit produces it in our hearts by the preaching of the holy gospel, and confirms it through our use of the holy sacraments. Summary Our faith is brought about by hearing the gospel preached. The Holy Spirit works through God’s holy Word to bring about faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit confirms this faith by our use of the holy sacraments. Jesus tells us in the Great Commission (Matthews 28:19-20) to go and make disciples of all nations and baptize them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul says that by eating the bread and drinking from the cup of the Lord’s Supper we are participating in the body and blood of Christ. When celebrating the Lord’s Supper and baptisms, the Holy Spirit works through these two holy sacraments to confirm your faith in Jesus Christ. That is why the sacraments are referred to, along with the preaching of God's Word, as means of grace. By celebrating these two sacraments, you receive God’s grace through the work of the Holy Spirit. The sacraments (baptism and the Lord’s Supper), point us to Jesus and His saving work and deepen your relationship with Him. Dig Deeper When I was a kid, my mother would only use her good plates on special occasions like Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. They were ornately decorated, and were only for important events. Otherwise, they would sit in a hutch. Is that how the Christian Church views the Lord’s Supper? Is it something that is so special, it can only be brought out occasionally? We think, “we cannot celebrate communion too much, otherwise it is no longer special.” How often does your church celebrate the Lord’s Supper? Is it quarterly? More frequently? The Lord’s Supper and baptism are a blessing given by Jesus to confirm our faith in him. While we can only celebrate baptisms when there are children or new unbaptized converts to baptize, we can celebrate the Lord’s Supper more frequently. If the Holy Spirit confirms our faith through the sacraments, shouldn’t we want to celebrate them more often? As followers of Christ, Jesus places the Great Commission before us. We are to go and make disciples. By making disciples we will get to celebrate baptisms, and there will be rejoicing in heaven! The Lord’s Supper is given to us by Jesus to celebrate and confirm our faith in him. Your elders and pastor oversee the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, so if you wonder why you celebrate it when you do, be sure to ask them. We will spend more time on Wednesday and Thursday digging into what it means to receive grace from the sacraments. For now, know that the Holy Spirit works through the Lord’s Supper and baptism to confirm our faith in Jesus. While both are holy, we can celebrate them often to help confirm our faith. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: God of grace, who sends us, His people, out with the good news; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Draw me closer to you through celebrating baptism and the Lord’s Supper; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Philippians 4