Ordinance

At a Glance

A commanded church practice given by Christ, commonly baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Key Points

• Evangelical usage often prefers “ordinance” to “sacrament.”
• The two ordinary ordinances are baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
• The practices visibly proclaim Christ’s death, resurrection, and covenant promises.
• They should not be treated as empty rituals or as automatic saving acts.

Description

An ordinance is a practice Christ gave to his church to be observed in faith and obedience. In ordinary evangelical usage, the term refers chiefly to baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism marks public identification with Christ and his people; the Lord’s Supper proclaims Christ’s death until he comes. Christians differ over terminology and theology, with some traditions using “sacrament” and emphasizing means of grace more strongly. A conservative evangelical definition should affirm that the ordinances are commanded, meaningful, public, and gospel-shaped, while rejecting any notion that outward performance saves apart from faith in Christ.

Biblical Context

The Great Commission commands baptism, and the apostolic church practices baptism and the breaking of bread. Paul treats the Lord’s Supper as a solemn proclamation of Christ’s death and warns against careless participation.

Historical Context

Protestants have differed over the number, meaning, and efficacy of church rites. Many evangelical and Baptist churches use “ordinance” to stress Christ’s command and the believer’s obedient response.

Jewish and Ancient Context

The New Testament church’s practices arose in a Jewish setting shaped by covenant signs, meals, washings, and Passover background, yet baptism and the Lord’s Supper are specifically Christ-centered practices of the new covenant community.

Primary Key Texts

• Matthew 28:19
• Luke 22:19-20
• Acts 2:41-42
• 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Secondary Key Texts

• Romans 6:3-4
• Colossians 2:12
• 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

Original Language Note

“Ordinance” is an English theological term. It points to practices ordered or commanded by Christ rather than to one specific Greek word.

Theological Significance

Ordinances show that the gospel is not merely private belief but publicly confessed and embodied in the worshiping church. They visibly point to Christ and must be received in faith.

Philosophical Explanation

An ordinance is a meaningful sign-act. It communicates through commanded practice rather than mere explanation, joining word, body, community, and memory.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not treat ordinances as saving works or as empty symbols. They are Christ-commanded practices that must be received with faith, reverence, and obedience.

Major Views

Baptists and many evangelicals prefer ordinance language, while other Protestants may use sacrament. The disagreement often concerns efficacy, administration, and the relation of sign to grace.

Doctrinal Boundaries

The ordinances are not additions to the finished work of Christ. They point to and proclaim the gospel rather than replacing faith in Christ.

Practical Significance

This entry helps readers understand why baptism and the Lord’s Supper matter and why they should be practiced reverently in the gathered church.

Related Entries

• Baptism
• Lord’s Supper
• Ordinances/Sacraments
• Church
• Sacrament

See Also

• Baptism
• Lord’s Supper
• Sacrament
• Church Worship