Howard Taylor.

85. Q. What is baptism?

A. Though  Jesus  was  sinless,  he publicly identified himself with our sinful humanity when he accepted John's baptism of repentance and confession of sin in the Jordan river. When we sinners are baptised, we publicly identify ourselves with Jesus our Saviour and Lord.

86. Q. In baptism what is the significance of the water?

A.  In the Old Testament water was used for ceremonial cleansing. For example, the lamb was cleansed in water before it was killed and its blood sprinkled in sacrifice. When Jesus was baptised in water, John said of him 'Look, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world'. When we are baptised in water we acknowledge that it is the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin. It is interesting that Jesus refers to his own death as a baptism. On the cross he was, as it were, dipped into the sin and death of the world that our hearts might be purified by faith in him.

87. Q. What is baptism in the Holy Spirit?

A. When Jesus was baptised in water by John, his Father poured down upon him the Holy Spirit and publicly identified him as his Son. When we humbly open our hearts to the Lord, God by his Holy Spirit sets his seal of fatherly love upon us so that all that water baptism signifies becomes real in our experience and we are given the power to live as children of God and we become effective witnesses for Christ.

88. Q. Is it right to baptise little children who have no understanding of the gospel?

A. Many people believe that it is right for parents and the church publicly to identify their little children with Jesus, whose humanity embraces them  as  well.  However  some Christians say that children must make their own decision for Christ before they are baptised.

89. Q. How would you describe our daily communion with Christ?

A. It is a relationship of hearing his Word and speaking to him. So daily prayer  and  Bible  reading  are essential for the life of a Christian. This time of devotion every day should be on an individual basis, family basis, and also on the Lord's day (Sunday) each of us should take our place in public worship in church, morning and evening.

90. Q. Is this daily communion with Christ an easy thing?

A. Yes and No. It is given to us freely, and yet the basis is the death of Christ, that is his broken body and shed blood. This we must never forget.

91. Q. Is there a special service that helps us remember that our communion with him is based on his body and blood?

A. Yes. Just before Jesus was betrayed, arrested, tried and crucified, he celebrated the Jewish Passover feast with his disciples. At the Passover festival the Jews remembered how a lamb was slain and  its  blood sprinkled during the night the Lord delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt. Jesus took the bread and wine at the Passover meal and told his disciples to eat the bread in memory of his body given for them, and to drink the wine in memory of his blood shed for them. The church has continued this service ever since. As we remember his body and blood we also have communion with him. Through the Holy Spirit we feed on him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving. Thus we call this service 'the Lord's Supper', or 'Holy Communion', or 'the Eucharist' (which means 'thanksgiving').

92. Q What are the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit?

A. Through the Holy Spirit we draw near to Christ and share in his love, joy, peace, patience etc. This is the fruit of the Spirit which is intended for us all. Through the Holy Spirit Jesus also gives each Christian different gifts to be used in his service. We are not all meant to serve the Lord in the same way. Thus the gifts differ from one another. There are, for example,   gifts   of  healing, administration,  inspired  faith, teaching and many others. I will refer to the gift of tongues later on.

REFERENCES

85. Matt. 3:1-6, 13-17; Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:1-4; Col. 2:9-12.

86. Lev. 1:9; Exod. 30:17-21; Lev. 15; Num. 19; 2 Chron. 4:6; Ps. 51:7-10; Ezek. 36:25-27; John 1:29, 36; 1 John 1:7, 5:6-8; Mark 10:39.

87. Matt. 3:11, 16-17; Acts 1:4,5; 2:1-4; Eph. 1:13,14; 1 Cor. 12:13; John 7:37-39.

88. Matt. 18:1-5; Acts 16:29-34; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38-39.

89. Matt. 11:27-30; 4:4; 6:6; Mark 1:35; Luke 3:21; 11;1-13; 18:1; Acts 1:12-14; 3:1; Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6; James 5:13-18; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 13:15-19.

90. Luke 9:23; Eph. 3:14-19; 1 John 1:7.

91. Exod. 11,12; Matt. 26:26-29; John 6:35-63; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:20-29.

92. Gal. 5:22; Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Cor. 12.