Info Baptism and Communion
Why Be Baptized
    It is God’s command that believers 
be baptized. Just before Christ left this earth, He left these instructions to His disciples, “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, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and so, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19)
Jesus gave us an example of obedience to follow. “And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized 
of John in the Jordan.” (Mark 1:9-11) The baptism of Jesus was an act of obedience to the heavenly Father.

Baptism is a public statement of a person’s faith in Jesus Christ and his or her identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism also symbolizes our death to the old life 
of sin and proclaims our resurrection to 
a new life in Christ.
You do not have to be in a certain place to accept 
Christ into your heart.


What is Baptism
We at O.B.C. believe that the proper way of believer's baptism is by 
immersion in water.

The Greek word “baptizo”, which is translated “baptism” in our English Bibles, means “to immerse, dip or submerge.”Jesus was immersed in his baptism. The Scripture says, “…Jesus, when he was baptized (immersed), 
went up straight-way out of the water.” (Matt. 3:16)

---Immersion is the only method of baptism that properly identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. When we are immersed in water we identify ourselves with Christ in his death. Arising out of the water, we declare our faith in his resurrection.
“…buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” (Col. 2:12).
What is Communion?

Communion, often called "The Lord's Supper," is a memorial in which Christians identify with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:20). It's a time for believers to remember the Lord's broken body and His shed blood for all people (Luke 22:19-20). 

ORIGIN OF COMMUNION 
Jesus Christ instituted communion on the eve of His death when He ate the Passover meal with His disciples (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25). 

MEANING AND SYMBOLISM OF COMMUNION 
Bread and wine were once served for the Lord's Supper. (Today many churches, including ours, use bread and grape juice.) The bread symbolizes Christ's body, which was beaten and broken for us as He died for the sins of humanity. The cup of wine symbolizes His blood, which was shed for us as He paid for our sins (John 10:17-18; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 5:8-9). 

WHO SHOULD OBSERVE COMMUNION 
Anyone who participates in the Lord's Supper must first be a believer. Jesus commanded His disciples to observe communion (Matthew 26:26); therefore, a person must have placed his or her faith in Jesus Christ for salvation before taking part in communion. In addition to being believers, we must prepare our hearts to participate in the Lord's Supper. Paul instructed believers not to "eat this bread or drink this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner..." (1 Corinthians 11:27). 
Last, we must examine our lives for any unconfessed sin. Paul reminds us, "Let a man examine himself" (1 Corinthians 11:28) to avoid bringing judgment upon ourselves. As we become right with God through confessing our sins (1 John 1:9), we may then participate in the Lord's Supper in a worthy manner.
PAST SIGNIFICANCE OF COMMUNION 
Communion is a time to look back, remembering the Lord's death on the cross. His death was more than just an atoning death – it was a substitutional death. He died in our place so that we might live. He took our sins upon Himself so that we could receive His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

PRESENT SIGNIFICANCE OF COMMUNION 
Communion is a time to look within, considering our lives in light of our profession of faith. As we enter into a time of communion with the Lord, we are to thank Him for our salvation and the privilege of being His children. 

FUTURE SIGNIFICANCE OF COMMUNION  
Communion is a time to look ahead toward the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Paul said we're to "Proclaim the Lord's death till He comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26). The Lord's Supper foreshadows the great Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19). 
Today, we stand between the two most important events in human history:
the First and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
When we observe The Lord's Supper as Christians, we become connected to both.

 
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