[quote=magisterfaust;50383254]2. Some Bible scholars have pointed out that there was no scriptural basis for regarding the sacraments as essential to salvation or Christian living. Many Christians assumed that Jesus commanded the use of baptism and holy communion. But there very few New Testament references to these practices and it was argued that none of them showed any intention by Jesus that they (or any other practice) should have become fixed ceremonies.
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Some Bible scholars??? There are some Bible scholars that would deny just about anything that is held by Christians throughout the centuries. There are some Bible scholars who deny the deity of Christ, or the resurrection of Christ, or the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch. I once read that some “Bible Scholar” once said that Jesus and apostles were homosexuals!
The Bible is very clear that Jesus instituted holy communion and baptism. It matters not how often it is in the Bible. There is a false assumption that if it is only mentioned one or two times that it is not important. That is not true. The apostles and other sacred writers of scripture wrote to deal with controversies at their time. For instance, we would have no knowledge of Paul’s view of the gift of tongues if the Corinthian were not abusing this gift. So the sparcity of references on a subject could be because that subject was widely believed and practiced without any controversy.
Still, there are clear verses in the Bible about the importance of baptism and communion.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God!
John 3:5
We must be born of water and Spirit.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.
Mark 16:16
Here, Jesus clearly states that we must believe and be baptized in order to be saved.
who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water. This prefigured baptism, which saves you now.
1 Peter 3:20, 21
Although not Jesus himself, Peter was a close apostle to Jesus. Here, Peter compares the water at the time of Noah’s ark and the waters of baptism. Just as Noah and his family are saved through water, so are we saved through the waters of baptism
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?
38 And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:37. 38
The very first public sermon preached after the birth of the Church. The people were convicted of their sins, and asked Peter what they should do. Peter lays it out clearly: First they must repent and be baptized. Second, this will lead to the remission of their sins. Third, they will receive the Holy Spirit. So remission of sins and the receiving of the Holy Sprit comes after they repent and are baptized.
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27 And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins.
29 But I say unto you, I shall not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
Matthew 26:26 – 29
22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and when he had blessed, he brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take ye: this is my body.
23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and they all drank of it.
24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
Mark 14:22-24
19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
20 And the cup in like manner after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, even that which is poured out for you.
Luke 22:19 – 22
The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) have only a few things in common – the feeding of the 5,000, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the Lord’s Supper.
23 For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread;
24 and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of
me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body.
30 For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.
1 Cor 11:23 - 30
This is the only time Paul retells exactly what happened when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. He did not do this for any other event in Jesus’ life.
Also, Paul said that receiving it unwoetthily can lead to sickness and death. That shows how imporant it us
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers
Acts 2:42
The breaking of the bread was the term for the Lord’s Supper. The first Christian were devoted to it, along with teaching and fellowship.
