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  THE MYSTERY OF FAITH
  by G.W. North
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Summary: The sermon reveals the mystery of faith through the combined
symbolism of baptism and communion, highlighting their indivisible
relationship and necessary connection.

Topics: "Baptism", "Communion"
Scripture References: Matthew 28:19, John 6:53-58, Acts 2:38, Romans 6:4, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Galatians 3:27, Ephesians 4:4-5, Colossians 2:12, Hebrews 10:22, 1 Peter 3:21

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DESCRIPTION
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G.W. North explores 'The Mystery of Faith' by illustrating the profound
connection between baptism and communion, emphasizing that water
symbolizes the Holy Spirit while bread and wine represent the body and
blood of Christ. He explains that baptism signifies forgiveness,
cleansing, and regeneration, while communion serves as a personal
testimony of this transformation. North asserts that these two
ordinances are inseparable, reflecting the essential elements of spirit,
body, and blood necessary for life. Together, they encapsulate the
mystery of faith, ordained by the Lord to convey a complete and coherent
doctrine. The relationship between baptism and communion is essential,
as each complements the other in the believer's spiritual journey.

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CONTENT
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Water is the element in which the Baptism is symbolised; it represents
the Holy Spirit. The experience of baptism betokens the powerful
application of forgiveness, cleansing, death and resurrection to the
believer, namely regeneration. Bread and wine are the elements by which
the Communion is represented. Participation in the act of communion is a
personal testimony that the Baptism has taken place, and that the
participant is eating and drinking Christ after the Spirit. As truly as
the water of baptism represents the Spirit of God, the bread and wine of
communion symbolise the body and blood of Christ.

In these three, spirit, body and blood, (or if we slightly rearrange the
order into one more readily suited to our minds, namely body, blood and
spirit) we have the three basic elements without which life cannot
exist.

Herein then lies the wisdom of the Lord in combining baptism with
communion; in reality they are as indivisible as are body, blood and
spirit. By the Baptism we are baptised into and made members of the body
of Christ (who is) in the Spirit; by the Communion we live in that body
which is and can only be in the Spirit. The elements and enactments of
these two ordinances set forth in proper relationship the mystery of the
faith in clearest symbolism, and this is the reason why the Lord
ordained them.

The doctrine of their combined typical meaning is so unmistakably
complete in itself that nothing need be added to it or them. They are as
logically necessary to each other as are two parts of one whole, each of
which needs the other to complete it.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/gw-north/the-mystery-of-faith/
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