The Wedding Ring and the Family Meal

"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19) "Do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19) Imagine a man and a woman who fall in love.

They decide to spend their lives together. They could just promise each other in secret. But they don't do that. Instead, they stand in front of their friends and family. They say their vows out loud.

They put on gold rings. This public ceremony is the Wedding . The ring does not make them married (their love and vows do), but the ring shows the world that they are taken. Now, imagine that ten years later, that same couple goes out for a special dinner.

They eat together, look at their old wedding photos, and remember the promises they made. This is the Anniversary . In the Christian life, we have two special ceremonies that Jesus commanded us to do.

We call them Ordinances . Baptism (The Wedding Ring): This happens once. It is your public declaration. When you go under the water, you are acting out a drama. You are saying, "I am dying to my old life."

When you come up out of the water, you are saying, "I am raised to a new life with Jesus." The water doesn't wash away your sins (only Jesus' blood does that), but it shows the world that you now belong to Him.

It is your wedding ring. Communion (The Anniversary Meal): This happens often. We eat the bread and drink the cup to remember the body and blood of Jesus. It is a family meal where we look back at the Cross and look forward to His return.

It keeps our memory fresh so we don't forget the price He paid for us. Many people try to be "Secret Agent Christians." They believe in their hearts, but they never get baptized. But Jesus never asked for secret followers.

He asked us to go public.

Theologically, why do we do these physical things for a spiritual God? We call these "Visible Words." God knows that we are humans who forget easily. We need to touch, taste, and feel the Gospel, not just hear it.

Baptism ( Baptizo ): The Greek word literally means "to dip" or "to immerse." It implies a total change of identity—like a cloth dipped into purple dye comes out looking completely different. Communion ( Eucharist ): This word comes from "Thanksgiving."

It is not a funeral for a dead Jesus; it is a feast of thanksgiving for a risen Savior. Reflect on this: Have you "put on the ring" (been baptized) since you believed? If not, what is stopping you? Are you keeping your faith a secret?

👣 Take a Step Baptism is your wedding ring; Communion is your anniversary dinner. One declares you are married; the other keeps the love fresh. Don't be a secret believer.