Two Ordinances
Pastor Don Carpenter
Baptist Basics
Two ordinances—baptism and the Lord’s Table (also called communion). These ordinances have no part in salvation and only serve as pictures of what Christ did for us. (See Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Acts 2:38–43, 8:36–38; Romans 6:1–6)
Today, we’re going to talk about another confusing church word – GRACE. If you ask a child what grace is, you might hear him say, “Grace is what we say before we eat.” And that’s true. We do call that prayer before we eat “grace.” But for many, that’s about as far as the definition of grace goes.
Most of us have heard that acrostic for grace “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” That’s a nice way to remember the basics of what God’s grace actually is. But grace is much more than that.
Some have called it “God’s unmerited favor.”
One man said that “Grace is what God does within you, without you.”
Dr. J. H. Jowett defined it like this: “Grace is holy love, but it is holy love in spontaneous movement, going out in eager quest toward the unholy and the unlovely, that by the ministry of its own sacrifice it might redeem the unholy and the unlovely into its own strength and beauty.”
This is really a concise definition of grace, but even Dr. Jowett realized how far short he had come in trying to define grace.
To simplify the meaning of grace, we could say that grace is God’s undeserved blessing to an undeserving people.
(From a sermon by Carl Kolb, Isn’t Grace What We Say Before We Eat? 1/3/2010)
Grace is the focal point of the Gospel. It an integral element around which the entire story of the Bible revolves. Let us review a few essential points of the Gospel:
Everyone is a Sinner
Romans 3:10 KJV
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 3:23 KJV
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Proverbs 16:25 KJV
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.
There is a price on that sin.
Romans 6:23 KJV
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Revelation 21:8 KJV
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
You Can’t Pay the Price for Sin through works.
Galatians 2:21 KJV
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Romans 3:19–20 KJV
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Jesus Paid that Price
Romans 5:8 KJV
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Salvation then is accessed through Grace, not works.
Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
So here is the million dollar question… since salvation is accessed through Grace not works, how do we access Grace? This is the subject of our message this morning.
B -Biblical Authority
A- Autonomy of the Local Church
P -Priesthood of all Believers
T – Two Ordinances
I
S
T
Welcome to the fourth message in Baptist Basics. We have been following the acrostic outlining a combined set of doctrines known as the Baptist Distinctives. Today we come upon one called “Two Ordinances”. As we have learned already, labels mean something. We are going to dig deeper and find that this is not just about Baptism and Communion, it is about answering the question, “How Does One Access Grace?”
Sacrament VS Ordinance
Sacrament
The following is taken from beginningCatholic.com , an official Catholic doctrine website.
The sacraments are chosen instruments of divine power.
The exact definition of a sacrament is that it is “an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.” We readily can see that there are three distinct ideas contained in that short definition:
Outward sign Instituted by Christ To give grace
Coming now to the third element in the definition of a sacrament, we have its essential purpose: “to give grace.”
What kind of grace do the sacraments give?
First and most important of all, they give sanctifying grace. Sanctifying grace is that marvelous supernatural life, that sharing-in-God’s-own-life that is the result of God’s Love, the Holy Spirit, indwelling in the soul.
To the soul cut off from God by original sin, Baptism brings sanctifying grace for the first time. Baptism opens the soul to the flow of God’s love, and establishes union between the soul and God.To the soul cut off from God by its own sin, by mortal sin, the sacrament of Reconciliation restores the sanctifying grace that has been lost. Reconciliation removes the barrier that has kept the Holy Spirit outside and once again gives entrance to God’s life-giving love.
So to summarize, Sacraments are thought to allow us to access Grace. Since Grace is essential to salvation, in the sacramental system, sacraments are essential to salvation. Now let us understand a different term.
Ordinance
Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and a few Protestant denominations use the term sacrament to refer to a rite through which God’s grace is conveyed to an individual. Many evangelical churches prefer the word ordinance, which can be defined as a “God-ordained ceremony.”
A sacrament is often thought of as being a means of God’s grace—as a worshiper performs a certain religious rite, he or she receives divine blessing, either for salvation or for sanctification. An ordinance is usually not considered a conduit of grace but simply a practice commanded to be performed by the Lord. In other words, a sacrament, at some level, involves a supernatural work of God. An ordinance is simply an act of man in obedience to God. – www.Gotquestions.org
So the terms are NOT interchangeable, even though some carelessly use them that way. A Sacrament is a means of accessing Grace, an Ordinance is a symbolic gesture pointing to a Grace event that has already taken place.
Sacrament = Access to Grace
Ordinance = Remembering the Grace event that already took place.
How To Access Grace According to Scriptures
Romans 5:1–2 KJV
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Grace is accessed by faith not by works.
Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Galatians 2:21 KJV
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
• Everyone is a Sinner
• There is a price for that Sin
• You Cannot Pay that Price
• Jesus Paid that Price
• What are you going to do about it. One must transfer trust from dead works onto Jesus’ finished work on the Cross.
Romans 10:13–14 KJV
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
So then since Sacraments are thought to access Grace, which can only be accessed by faith, Ordinance is the Biblical Term.
The Ordinance of Baptism
Not Required For Salvation
1 Corinthians 1:17 KJV
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Luke 23:39–43 KJV
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Commanded By Jesus
Matthew 28:18–20 KJV
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Practiced By Believers
Acts 2:41–42 KJV
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Symbolizes Gospel Story
Romans 6:3–4 KJV
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Ordinance of Communion.
Commanded By Christ
Matthew 26:26–30 KJV
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
This is Picturing Belief, not the Consumption of Christ’s Flesh.
John 6:35 KJV
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
This is a Means of Remembrance, not Redemption.
1 Corinthians 11:24–25 KJV
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
Labels mean something. When you say you are a Baptist it means something. When we say we celebrate the two Ordinances it means that we draw a distinction between Sacrament and Ordinance. It means we agree with the Bible that we cannot merit or earn Grace. The only way to access Grace required for salvation is by Faith Alone in Christ Alone. Grace is unmerited favor and thus is not merited through Communion or Baptism.
The boy stood defiantly. “Go ahead, give it to me.”
The principal looked at the young rebel and asked, “How many times have you been here?”
The child sneered rebelliously, “Apparently not enough.”
“And you have been punished each time?” the principal responded.
“Yeah, I been punished, if that’s what you want to call it. Go ahead. I can take whatever you dish out. I always have.”
“And no thought of your punishment enters your head the next time you decide to break the rules does it?”
“Nope, I do whatever I want to do. Ain’t nothin’ you people gonna do to stop me either.”
The principal looked at the teacher who stood nearby. “What did he do this time?”
“Fighting. He shoved Tommy’s face into the sandbox.”
The principal looked at the boy, “What did Tommy do to you?”
“Nothin’, I didn’t like the way he was lookin’ at me.”
The teacher stiffened, but a quick look from the principal stopped him as he quietly said, “Today, is the day you learn about grace.”
“Grace? Isn’t that what you old people do before you sit down to eat? I don’t need none of your stinkin’ grace.”
“Oh but you do,” said the principal. The principal studied the young man’s face and whispered, “Oh yes, you truly do…” The boy continued to glare as the principal continued, “Grace, in its short definition is unmerited favor. You cannot earn it. It is a gift, and is always freely given. It means that you will not be getting what you so richly deserve.”
The boy looked puzzled. “You’re not gonna whup me? You just gonna let me walk?” The boy studied the face of the principal, “No punishment at all? Even though I socked Tommy and shoved his face into the sandbox?”
“Oh, there has to be punishment. What you did was wrong, and there are always consequences to our actions. There will be punishment. Grace is not an excuse for doing wrong.”
“I knew it,” sneered the boy as he held out his hands. “Let’s get on with it.”
The principal nodded toward the teacher. “Bring me the belt.” The teacher presented the belt to the principal. He carefully folded it in two, and then handed it back to the teacher. He looked at the child and said, “I want you to count the blows.” The principal walked over to stand directly in front of the young man. He gently reached out and folded the child’s outstretched, expectant hands together and then turned to face the teacher with his own hands outstretched. One quiet word came forth from his mouth. “Begin.” The belt whipped down on the outstretched hands of the principal. Crack!
The young man jumped. Shock registered across his face, “One,” he whispered. Crack! “Two.” His voice raised an octave. Crack! “Three.” He couldn’t believe this. Crack! “Four.” Big tears welled up in the eyes of the rebel. “OK stop! That’s enough. Stop!” Crack! came the belt down on the hands of the principal. Crack! The child flinched with each blow, tears beginning to stream down his face. Crack! Crack!
“No, please,” the former rebel begged. “Stop, I did it, I’m the one who deserves it. Stop! Please. Stop…” Still the blows came. Crack! Crack! One after another.
Finally it was over. The principal stood with sweat glistening across his forehead and beads trickling down his face. Slowly he knelt down. He studied the young man for a second and then his swollen hands reached out to cradle the face of the weeping child and said, “Grace…”
Grace came to you through the sacrifice of Jesus of Nazareth who at Calvary received the punishment that you and I deserve for our sin. His back was whipped for the idols that we have bent our backs to. Nails were driven through His sinless hands for the things that we have done with our hands. Nails were driven through His feet for the paths that we have chosen to walk. He wore a crown of thorns for the things we have given our minds to. A lance was driven into his heart for the things we have held in our hearts. Truly we have received God’s grace. G-R-A-C-E= God’s Righteousness At Christ’s Expense! (Author Unknown, Adapted)
Have you come to the point in your life where you transferred your trust FROM Sacraments, works, rites, rituals or anything you can do, TO Jesus’ Death, Burial, and Resurrection? This is how you access Grace. This is why we have two Ordinances.
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:56 PM February 24, 2022.