Dictionary Home / O

Ordinances/Sacraments

theological_term theological_term standard

Christ-instituted church rites that visibly proclaim the gospel, especially baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Christians differ on whether to call them ordinances or sacraments and on how they convey grace.

At a Glance

Christ-commanded church rites that visibly express the gospel; commonly baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Key Points

Description

Ordinances or sacraments are the church’s appointed rites that visibly express the gospel and mark the life of God’s people. In mainstream evangelical usage, the two practices most clearly instituted by Christ are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The term ordinance is often used to emphasize Christ’s command and the believer’s obedient response, while sacrament is often used to emphasize that God acts through these signs in the life of the church; Christians do not all use the terms in the same way. Scripture clearly teaches that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are to be practiced by the church, but Christians differ over questions such as their relation to grace, the proper subjects of baptism, and the nature of Christ’s presence in the Supper. The safest conclusion is that these rites are Christ-given, church-governing practices that should be received reverently and understood in light of the gospel.

Biblical Context

Jesus instituted baptism in the Great Commission and gave the Lord’s Supper on the night before his death. The early church continued both practices as marks of discipleship, fellowship, remembrance, and proclamation of Christ’s saving work.

Historical Context

The early Christian church universally practiced baptism and the Lord’s Supper, though later traditions differed over how to describe them and what spiritual effect they have. Evangelical churches often prefer ordinance; Catholic, Orthodox, and some Protestant traditions prefer sacrament; Reformed theology often speaks of signs and seals.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Baptism fits the wider Jewish world of washing and purification rites, while the Lord’s Supper is rooted in Passover and covenant meal language. These backgrounds help explain the symbolic and covenantal character of the Christian rites without collapsing them into older Jewish practices.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

The New Testament does not supply one technical term that neatly covers both rites. ‘Ordinance’ reflects Christ’s command; ‘sacrament’ is later church vocabulary and is used differently across Christian traditions.

Theological Significance

These rites are visible, communal expressions of the gospel. They unite word, sign, memory, obedience, and public confession in the life of the church.

Philosophical Explanation

Biblical signs can communicate spiritual realities without becoming magical or merely symbolic. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are embodied acts through which the church publicly confesses Christ and receives his appointed means of remembrance and instruction.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not read automatic saving power into the rites, and do not reduce them to bare ceremony. Their meaning should be interpreted by Scripture as a whole, especially by Christ’s institution and apostolic teaching.

Major Views

Evangelical and Baptist traditions usually speak of two ordinances, stressing obedience and remembrance. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions call them sacraments and speak more strongly of grace conveyed through them. Reformed traditions commonly call them sacraments as signs and seals. While the traditions differ, they agree that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are Christ-instituted practices for the church.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are commanded by Christ and are to be observed by the church in reverence and faith. They must never replace repentance and faith, nor be treated as human inventions or optional extras of little importance.

Practical Significance

These rites mark entry into the visible church, strengthen corporate memory, and proclaim the saving death and resurrection of Christ. They call believers to obedience, unity, and grateful worship.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Ordinances/Sacraments

↑ Top