We believe and confess that the New Testament Church has two symbols: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These are not sacraments (mysteries that grant grace), but symbolic acts.
Baptism
The Greek word for baptism is baptizo, which means immersion. Thus, the very translation shows that the form of baptism is by immersion and not by sprinkling. Immersion is performed once, in the name of the Holy Trinity.
Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Baptism is the symbol of the burial of the old man and the resurrection of the new man—the new nature unto a new life.
Romans 6:4 “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
Baptism does not have the power to cleanse sins; the cleansing of sins is done only by the blood of the Lord Jesus. Baptism itself is the individual’s public testimony that they have already received this cleansing.
Acts 8:13, 21, 23 “Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized... But Peter said to him... your heart is not right before God... for I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”
1 Peter 3:21 “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
In order for someone to be baptized, they must first receive salvation so that they may have a clean conscience; they must, therefore, have fulfilled the conditions of salvation: repentance and faith. Since children (infants) cannot confess to having fulfilled these conditions, they cannot be admitted for baptism.
Mark 16:16 “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”
Acts 2:38 “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you…’”
Acts 8:36–37 “And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?’ And Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’”
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is the symbol of the death of the Lord Jesus in our place. It consists of bread and unmixed wine. The broken bread reminds us of His body broken for us, and the wine reminds us of His blood shed for the washing away of our sins.
Matthew 26:26–28 “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant...’”
The Lord’s Supper does not have the power to forgive sins. Its purpose is solely to remind us that for the forgiveness of our sins, His body had to be broken and His blood had to be shed. For this purpose, He commanded us to observe the Supper.
Luke 22:19 “…Do this in remembrance of me.”
1 Corinthians 11:24–25 “…Do this in remembrance of me.”
The Supper may be taken by all those who have confessed their faith in the Lord Jesus and have been baptized.
Acts 2:41–42 “So those who received his word were baptized... And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
Each time, at the Supper, the believer must perform a self-examination.
1 Corinthians 11:28 “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”