Church ordinances are practices that have been instituted by Jesus Christ and are observed by the Christian church as acts of obedience and expressions of faith. These ordinances are considered outward signs of inward grace and are typically recognized as Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Communion). They serve as vital components of Christian worship and community life, symbolizing key aspects of the faith.

Baptism

Baptism is a foundational ordinance in the Christian faith, symbolizing the believer's identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is an act of public declaration of faith and repentance. The practice of baptism is rooted in the Great Commission, where Jesus instructed His disciples: "Go therefore 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).

The mode of baptism, whether by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling, varies among different Christian traditions. However, the symbolic meaning remains consistent: it represents the washing away of sins and the believer's new life in Christ. The Apostle Paul elaborates on this symbolism in Romans 6:4 : "We therefore were buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life."

The Lord's Supper (Communion)

The Lord's Supper, also known as Communion, is another central ordinance observed by the church. It commemorates the Last Supper that Jesus shared with His disciples before His crucifixion. During this meal, Jesus established the practice by breaking bread and sharing a cup of wine, instructing His followers to do this in remembrance of Him. The Apostle Paul recounts this event in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 : "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'"

The Lord's Supper serves as a profound reminder of Christ's sacrifice and the new covenant established through His blood. It is a time for self-examination, reflection, and unity among believers, as they partake in the elements of bread and wine (or grape juice) as symbols of Christ's body and blood. Paul emphasizes the importance of approaching the Lord's Table with reverence and self-examination in 1 Corinthians 11:28-29 : "Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself."

Significance and Practice

Church ordinances are not merely ritualistic practices but are deeply significant acts of worship and obedience. They are means of grace through which believers experience and proclaim the truths of the Gospel. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are communal activities that strengthen the faith of individuals and the unity of the church body. They serve as visible expressions of the invisible realities of faith, reminding believers of their identity in Christ and their ongoing relationship with Him.

In summary, church ordinances are essential practices instituted by Christ, observed by His followers as acts of faith, obedience, and remembrance. They are integral to the life of the church, providing spiritual nourishment and fostering a deeper connection with God and fellow believers.Acts 2:42
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
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Matthew 28:19
Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
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1 Timothy 3:2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
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1 Peter 5:2
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
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Colossians 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
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Acts 20:28
Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.
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The Church, and Ordinances. --
... Hymns for Christian Devotion JG Adams. RELIGIOUS EXULTATION. THE CHURCH, AND ORDINANCES.
". THE CHURCH, AND ORDINANCES. [ Prev] [Top] [Next ]. ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/the church and ordinances .htm

Modern Revivals.
... Our third objection again arises from the second. Because the regular Church
ordinances are undervalued, they are largely fruitless. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter xxiv modern revivals.htm

Canons of the Church of Alexandria.
... Those are the canons of the Church, ordinances which Hippolytus wrote, by whom the
Church speaketh; and the number of them is thirty-eight canons. ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/canons of the church of.htm

The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ...
... APOSTOLIC CHURCH. CHAPTER I. THE LORD'S DAY"THE WORSHIP OF THE APOSTOLIC
CHURCH"ITS SYMBOLIC ORDINANCES AND ITS DISCIPLINE. To the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the lords daythe.htm

Whether this Sacrament Ought to be Celebrated in a House and with ...
... On the contrary, The Church's ordinances are Christ's own ordinances; since He said
(Mat.18:20): "Wherever two or three are gathered together in My name, there ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether this sacrament ought to 2.htm

Church Union in Scotland.
... under a sense of responsibility as a branch of the Church of God, acknowledge afresh
the obligation resting on the Church to provide the ordinances of religion ...
/.../the creeds of the evangelical protestant churches/church union in scotland.htm

The Ordinances of the New Testament.
... Testament. The Lord Jesus built his church and instituted some ordinances,
which he commands the church to faithfully keep. The ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter viii the ordinances of.htm

The Ancient Church
... CHAPTER I. THE LORD'S DAY--THE WORSHIP OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH--ITS SYMBOLIC
ORDINANCES AND ITS DISCIPLINE. To the primitive disciples ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/

The Last Supper.
... That feet washing belongs to the class of examples, rather than of church ordinances,
is demonstrated by the fact that when we turn to the inspired history of ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the last supper.htm

Whether the Defects Occurring During the Celebration of this ...
... lost in any manner whatsoever; in which cases it does not seem possible for due
reverence to be shown towards this sacrament, as the Church's ordinances require ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the defects occurring during.htm

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