PROGRAM OF THE CHURCH
NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH ORDINANCES
ROMANS 6:1-11
Christ came, was crucified, raised from the dead, and ascended back into heaven. Before He went back to heaven, He established two ordinances. These ordinances are to be kept, commemorating his death, burial, and resurrection, and anticipating His coming again. Through the years man has changed God’s ordinances or created some of his own. These are not New Testament ordinances, but traditions of men.
There is a difference between ordinances and sacraments. The word sacrament is not found in the New Testament. It implies the impartation of divine grace through church rituals. God’s grace is NEVER imparted to anyone by church rituals. Baptism nor the Lord’s Supper imparts grace to the individual. Therefore, the ordinances are not sacraments. This is all the more reason we should understand and defend the ordinances Christ established for His church.
I. AUTHORITY FOR THE ORDINANCES
Ordinances must meet three tests:
1. Commanded by Christ in the Gospels (Mt. 28:19; Lk. 22:19-20)
2. Practiced by believers in Acts (Acts 2:42; Acts 2:41-42)
3. Explained in the epistles (Rom. 6:1-6; I Cor 11:26)
Only baptism and the Lord’s Supper meet these conditions. The Roman church claims there are seven sacraments: baptism, mass, marriage, ordination, confession, confirmation, and extreme unction. They teach that through these sacraments divine grace is conveyed by the church. This is not so!! Grace is conveyed by FAITH.
II. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ORDINANCES
1. Baptism - the outward symbol of a divine work which has been done within the heart of the individual. Rom. 6:1-6)
A. Sprinkling does not symbolize this.
B. Infant baptism does not symbolize this.
Who should be baptized? “They that gladly received His word were baptized.” (Acts 2:41) “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Phillip saith, If thou believeth with all thine heart, thou mayest.” (Acts 8:36-37)
2. Lord’s Supper - Refers to fellowship. It is a memorial feast to Christ, remembering His death, burial and resurrection. The bread represents the body and the cup represents the blood.
The Bible does not teach transubstantiation - that the bread and juice becomes the body and blood of Christ. Neither does it teach consubstantiation - that in these elements are the blood and body.
The Lord’s Supper is a memorial to Christ. “This do in remembrance of me.” (I Cor. 11:26). Jesus, in observing the last supper said, “This is my body....” He also said, “I am the bread of life, I am the door, I am the water of life.....”
Who is to observe this ordinance?
1. Saved
2. Obedient “examine himself...”
III. OBSERVANCE OF THE ORDINANCES
Local church authority.
1. Neither is to be observed without local church authority.
2. Neither is to be observed without Scriptural pre-requisties.
Baptism - Profession of faith
Lord’s Supper - Close communion
Ernest M. Lundy, Evangelist (#5 in series of 7)
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