Sacred Symbols: Why We Baptize and Take Communion
- Boundless Team
- Mar 22
- 7 min read
Baptism and Communion are two of the most meaningful things Jesus told His Church to practice.
They’re not random traditions, and they’re not “extras” for super-spiritual people.
They’re simple, sacred symbols that point us back to the gospel: Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and His promise to return.
In Assemblies of God language (the 16 Fundamental Truths), these are called ordinances: practices Jesus commanded that are deeply spiritual and deeply practical.
If you’re new to faith: or you’ve been around church a long time but still feel fuzzy on why we do these: this is for you.
Ordinances vs. “Earning” Salvation (a quick clarity moment)
Before we go any further, here’s the foundation:
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus.
Not by being baptized.
Not by taking Communion.
Not by being “good enough.”
The Bible is clear that salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone: through repentance and faith.
Baptism and Communion don’t replace that. They announce it. They reinforce it. They train our hearts to remember what’s true.
This matters because it protects two key truths we hold tightly:
Jesus is the only hope for salvation (not rituals, not performance).
God still works through obedient faith: real, lived-out trust in Christ.
Why symbols matter (especially online)
We’re living in a world full of noise.
Scroll culture can make everything feel temporary, shallow, or disposable: even spiritual things.
But God is not afraid of using simple, physical reminders:
water you can feel
bread you can taste
a cup you can hold
Symbols slow us down.
They help faith move from “I agree with that idea” to “I’m staking my life on Jesus.”
And for people who are watching from a distance: skeptics, seekers, people in hard places, people who can’t safely attend a church building: ordinances become a gentle, clear way to say:
“This is what Christians believe, and this is who we belong to.”
Baptism: what it is (and what it isn’t)
Baptism is a public step of obedience
Baptism is a believer’s way of saying:
“I have decided to follow Jesus.”
In the Great Commission, Jesus told His disciples to make disciples and baptize them.
Baptism is part of discipleship. It’s not the finish line: it’s often the first bold step forward.
Baptism is not a magical reset button
Baptism doesn’t erase sin by itself.
Jesus saves.
Baptism is the outward sign of an inward reality: what God has already done in your heart when you trusted Christ.
Baptism is for believers
In AG teaching, baptism is for those who have personally repented and believed in Jesus.
It’s a response to the gospel.
That’s why you’ll often hear the phrase: “believer’s baptism.”
What baptism symbolizes (the gospel in one picture)
The clearest picture of baptism is immersion: going under the water and coming back up.
It’s like acting out the gospel:
Down into the water: identifying with Jesus’ death and burial
Up out of the water: identifying with Jesus’ resurrection and new life
Baptism is a visible way of saying:
“My old life is not the boss of me anymore. Jesus is.”
It’s also a picture of cleansing: not because the water is special, but because God makes us clean through Christ.
If you’ve ever carried shame, regret, or the feeling of “I’ll never be past that,” baptism can be a powerful moment of clarity:
Jesus didn’t just forgive you.
He gave you a new identity.
Baptism and the bigger story: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Christian baptism is done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
That matters because our faith isn’t vague spirituality: it’s the real God revealed in Scripture.
Baptism points to:
The Father who loves and calls us
The Son who saves us through the cross and resurrection
The Holy Spirit who empowers us to live a new life
And that leads to an important encouragement:
If you’re thinking, “I can’t live the Christian life,” you’re not wrong: not by your own strength.
God gives His Spirit to help you live with power, purity, and purpose.
Common baptism questions (real-life stuff)
“What if my faith feels shaky?”
You don’t have to have perfect faith.
You need real faith: even if it’s small.
Baptism can be a way to say, “Jesus, I’m trusting You, and I’m taking my next step.”
“What if I was baptized as a child?”
Many people were baptized as infants or young children.
If you later come to personal faith in Jesus and want to follow Him intentionally, it’s normal to consider being baptized as a believer.
If you’re unsure what to do next, that’s okay. You’re not alone.
“What if my life isn’t cleaned up yet?”
Baptism isn’t a trophy for people who finally got it together.
It’s an act of surrender.
The point isn’t “I’m perfect now.”
The point is “Jesus is Lord now.”
Communion: what we’re doing when we take the bread and cup
Communion (also called “the Lord’s Supper”) is a practice Jesus gave the Church on purpose.
It’s a repeating moment where Christians remember: and re-center: on what Jesus did for us.
In Communion:
the bread points to Jesus’ body given for us
the cup points to Jesus’ blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins
This isn’t about being dramatic.
It’s about being grounded.
We remember the cross, and we proclaim that Jesus saves.
Communion is remembrance… and it’s also proclamation
Communion is a looking-back moment:
“Jesus, thank You for the cross.”
But it’s also a looking-forward moment:
“Jesus, we’re still waiting for You to return.”
When the Church takes Communion, we’re quietly: but clearly: declaring:
Jesus really lived
Jesus really died
Jesus really rose again
Jesus is coming back
That ties directly into the bigger hope of Christianity: the return of Christ and the future God is bringing.
In a world that feels unstable, Communion anchors us.
Who is Communion for?
Communion is for believers: people who have placed their trust in Jesus.
It’s not about being worthy because you had a perfect week.
It’s about coming honestly:
confessing sin
remembering grace
renewing surrender
choosing unity with the Body of Christ
If you’re exploring faith and you’re not ready yet, you’re welcome to observe and ask questions.
God is not intimidated by your questions.
What Communion is not (and why that matters)
Different Christian traditions explain Communion in different ways.
In AG teaching, Communion is a memorial and a deep spiritual moment, but it does not become a new sacrifice of Christ.
Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was complete and sufficient.
Communion doesn’t replace the cross.
It points us back to the cross.
And it invites us to live the “cross-shaped life”:
humility, forgiveness, reconciliation, holiness, and love.
A practical “heart check” before you take Communion
Communion is simple, but it isn’t casual.
Before you take it, it’s wise to pause and pray through a few questions:
Jesus, is there sin I’m hiding?
Is there someone I need to forgive?
Have I been treating Your grace like it’s cheap?
Am I willing to obey You: not just believe facts about You?
This isn’t about fear.
It’s about staying close.
Communion is one of the ways God keeps pulling our hearts back into alignment.
How Baptism and Communion connect to the 16 Fundamental Truths (without getting “too churchy”)
These ordinances aren’t isolated church practices: they’re connected to the full message of Christian faith:
Scripture is our authority: we baptize and take Communion because Jesus taught it
Jesus saves: both ordinances point to His work, not ours
The Holy Spirit empowers: we don’t just start with Jesus: we keep walking by the Spirit
The Church is God’s mission people: these practices shape us into a distinct, unified community
Divine healing and hope: the cross we remember is also the place where God meets suffering with redemption
Jesus is coming back: Communion keeps our hope future-facing, not just present-focused
These are not abstract doctrines.
They’re lived-out faith.
They shape how we handle temptation, grief, anxiety, loneliness, fear, and the pressure to blend in.
What if you’re in a hard situation (or a hard place)?
Because we’re an online church, we talk with people all the time who are in complicated circumstances:
caregivers who can’t leave home
people working nights or rotating shifts
people with disabilities or chronic illness
people in unsafe or restricted environments
people carrying trauma or spiritual distrust
If that’s you, hear this clearly:
Jesus sees you.
And you still belong.
Baptism and Communion aren’t meant to exclude you.
They’re meant to remind you: the gospel is for you too.
If you want to talk through what participation could look like in your context, you can start with our online community spaces here: https://www.boundlessonlinechurch.org/group-page/im-new-q-a-welcome-center/discussion
Next steps (simple and real)
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I want to follow Jesus,” here are a few good next steps:
Read the Bible with a fresh lens (start with the Gospel of Luke or John)
Pray honestly (even if your prayer is messy)
Join a discussion and ask questions in community
Plan for baptism as a next step of obedience if you’ve put your faith in Christ
Take Communion with reverence and gratitude when you’re able: remembering Jesus and re-centering your heart
If you want another solid foundation piece, this may help: https://www.boundlessonlinechurch.org/post/inspired-truth-the-gift-of-god-s-word
A note for people who feel “not good enough”
Baptism says: “My past is not my identity.”
Communion says: “My future is not based on my performance.”
Both ordinances preach grace to us again and again.
And for anyone who’s been hurt by religion, pressured by shame, or exhausted by trying to prove yourself: Jesus offers something better:
forgiveness, new life, and a steady presence.
Not because you earned it.
Because He loves you.
Need prayer? Text 1-901-213-7341 (message & data rates may apply). Not for emergencies.
Boundless Online Church is a ministry of FA Memphis.
Comments