Baptism & Communion

Baptism & Communion

We believe that Baptism and Communion are the two ordinances that Jesus Christ has commanded his church to observe. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to obey the Lord in all things, yet the obedience of these two ordinances is not to be understood as means of obtaining salvation. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in the completed and all-sufficient work of Christ alone.

(Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 Peter 3:18)

Communion

Communion is a visible, symbolic reminder that Jesus Christ gave His body and shed His blood on a cross for our redemption. So, it is an act of remembrance and celebration of the Gospel, and yet it is also an act of anticipation as we await our Lord’s return. In this way, it is looking back and looking forward, looking back at Christ’s first advent and what He accomplished on our behalf in His death and resurrection, and looking forward to His second advent, when he comes to judge and make all things new.

As we observe communion together, the bread and the cup are available not strictly to members of SGCC, but to all who are believers in Jesus Christ.

(Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-23; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Baptism

Baptism is a public testimony by which the believer identifies himself with the Savior who died, was buried, and rose again. In baptism, there is also the visible demonstration that the believer is no longer who they used to be, but are in fact a new creation in Christ. We believe that baptism is for believers only, and we practice baptism by immersion.

(Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:37-41; Acts 10:44-48; Romans 6:1-4)