The Personal Assistant to the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, who doubles as the Resident Minister of PIWC-Tesano, Pastor Benedict Eghan, has asserted that Baptism is a symbolic affirmation of who we are in Christ, and it signifies an outward sign of the believer in Christ.
“Baptism means that we died with Christ and rose with him hence we belong to him, and our outward sign proclaims to the world that we are his royal priesthood.”
“The New Testament has countless examples of how people were baptized in water (Mark 1:9-11), and this gives us an understanding that even Jesus Christ was immersed in water.”
Pastor Benedict made these assertions on Sunday, 1st of October 2023, in the main auditorium of PIWC Tesano-Accra, as he continued with the teachings on the tenets of the church of Pentecost, specifically the 6th and 9th tenants, which talks about the Ordinance of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper and Tithes and Offering.
He reiterated that the church (COP) believes in the sacrament of baptism by immersion as a testimony of a convert who has attained a responsible age of about 13 years (infants and children are not baptized but are dedicated to the Lord). “We believe in the participation of the Sacrament by members who are in full fellowship. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Luke 22:19-20)”, he added.
He indicated again that Baptism was derived from the Greek word Baptiso, which means to be immersed in water or to dip something in water. While admonishing the members, he re-echoed that the Church of Pentecost practices Baptism by immersion purely by the reason of the word of God itself and does not practice Baptism by sprinkling, pouring water, or waving flags.
He stressed that grace is not a license for sin and reminded members that the spirit of grace is the Holy Spirit, and because He is holy, He empowers us to say no to all forms of ungodliness (Titus 2:12).
Pastor Benedict indicated that as a church we do not baptize infants because we do not see such examples in scripture, and those who need Baptism must be of a responsible age. In other words, the individual must be able to decide whether or not they want to be baptized and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal saviour.
He also revealed that churches that baptize infants take their inspiration from God’s covenant with the people of Israel in the Old Testament, where He (God) instructed that all 8-day-old babies be circumcised to identify with the covenant.
These churches believe that circumcising babies, as instructed by God to be part of the covenant, can be extended to the New Testament, where babies are baptized and identified with the covenant by reason of the faith of their parents.
“The Lord’s Supper was instructed by Jesus Christ, who said we should do that in remembrance of Him. This should be taken by any member in full fellowship. Full fellowship begins with baptism, and after that, the individual is identified with the body of Christ and the local church and hence can take part in dining with the Lord”, he continued.
Pastor Eghan emphasized that after baptism, the Church of Pentecost takes all new converts through the New Converts Classes, which is a series of sessions that teach the new converts the doings of the Lord, after which a right hand of fellowship is extended to them.
He advised the members that apart from baptism and the extending of the right hand of fellowship, nothing should stop them from dining with the Lord. This means that one must live a life that will not prevent them from coming to the Lord’s table.
He cautioned members that anything that prevents them from dining with the Lord today could harm their tomorrow, and under no circumstances should one allow sin to separate them from dining with the Lord because one of the greatest weapons of the enemy is sin and not fear since he carries nothing so far as the word of God is concerned.
Pastor Eghan outlined four significances of dining with the Lord out of the many that existed.
Firstly, he mentioned that it is a symbol of spiritual nourishment, thus, the bread and wine are not just any symbol but a symbol that represents reality. This reality is our Lord Jesus Christ who came to die and in whom all power and authority rest. As we partake of the bread and wine, we partake of Him (John 6:51-58)
He furthermore stated that it has eschatological significance, which means anytime we come before the table, it signifies that one day we shall do the same with our Father. “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him” (John 6:56). Eating of the flesh and drinking of the blood does not necessarily begin with dining from the table, but when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and personal saviour.
Pastor Benedict went on to say that the Lord’s Supper is an appropriate forum at which the act of commitment is renewed. He asked rhetorically why people today couldn’t live for Christ even after the latter offered Himself on the cross. He again asked rhetorically why people today couldn’t preach about Him.
Finally, he mentioned that dining from the Lord’s table brings unity and oneness to the church and its members. “Dining from the same table means that we are born of one father. The local church must see itself as a family (Ephesians 2:19)” he closed.
Speaking on the 9th tenet of the Church of Pentecost, thus, Tithes and Offerings, the Resident Minister of PIWC-Tesano reminded all that the church also believes in tithing and the giving of free will offerings towards the kingdom of God.
“Tithing, which simply means devoting a tenth of one’s earnings to God (Leviticus 27:30, Genesis 14:17-20), is a revelation, and it is from this that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob tithed. Tithing came into effect before the law and was affirmed in the law. We tithe because we are blessed, but we do not tithe to be blessed”, he continued.
Drawing the curtains down on the sermon for the day, Pastor Eghan stated that the Church of Pentecost practices the Levitical tithing (Hebrews 7:13-17) out of the other types of tithing.
He beckoned on all church members to tithe because God commanded it, Jesus endorsed it, and it shows that God has a first place in our lives, then tells us that we really Love God.
Present at the service were Elder Nana Ofori (District Secretary), Elder Joseph Obiri Yeboah (PIWC Tesano Presiding Elder), Mrs. Grace Eghan (Wife of the Resident Minister), and a cross-section of the Ministry Leaders and the congregants.
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