Theology & Philosophy of the Ordinances

The ordinances of the church are to be viewed with a very high standard of expectation. Therefore, these are to be done when the individual observing them understands their importance. These ordinances exist in order for the believer to mature in their relationship with Christ. Statement seventy-two discusses immersion in water as the true form of baptism. In order to support this, consider the story of Philip baptizing the Ethiopian Eunuch at the roadside in Acts 8:36-39. To clearly represent this, verses 38-39 state: “…they went down both into the water…and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” This symbols the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ in a beautiful fashion. Furthermore, Romans 6:3-4 supports statement seventy-four by stating that “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.” Believer’s baptism best represents the gospel of Christ.

Believer’s baptism is the total immersion of a believer in water, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19-20).[1] This is the initial first act of obedience after salvation. This act symbolizes the believer’s faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Essentially, this symbolizes the believer’s death to sin, burial of the old sinful nature, and the resurrection to walk in the newness of life (Rom. 6:3-5). Furthermore, Romans 6 emphasizes that Paul did not regard baptism as necessary for salvation. The burial of Christ, represented in baptism, is not part of the saving work of Christ, as it is simply included to prove His death (1 Cor. 15:3-4). The resurrection proved that the last enemy, death could not prevail over the Son’s power. In Romans 6:5, Paul writes of the believer’s bodily resurrection at a later time to a new life with Christ. When Christ died for sin, He died to sin. Matthew 28:19 discusses the significant need to be obedient to the Lord’s command to baptized, as we are to follow and observe the commandment set forth by the Lord, as it states: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Christ sat the bar high earlier in the Gospel of Matthew by stating in Matthew 3:16 that “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.” In this act, Jesus served as the model that each believer is to follow and be obedient to the command through new life in Christ. As some argue that baptism is a requirement for salvation, the Bible clearly teaches that the one of the thieves on the cross believed in Him and was saved (Luke 23:39-43). Furthermore, the Roman Catholic Church uses baptism as a form of identification to bring the individual under the oppositional authority of the church.

The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience in which members of the church, through the partaking of the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, remember the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and anticipate His second coming (1 Cor. 11:17-34). The significance of this time traces back to the time of the Exodus. It was a tradition that the Passover meal was used in order to celebrate Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. after the ten plagues.[2] With the tenth plague came the angel of death to take the household’s first born if the people had not painted their door frame with the lamb’s blood. This is significant because of the “great cry” over Egypt in which the Pharaoh’s child died, resulting in the freeing of the Israelites from bondage.

In 1 Corinthians 11:23-34, the Apostle Paul outlines the correct understanding of the Lord’s Table, reflecting on what Jesus taught before His death. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, a time to reflect, through communion, of His death, resurrection, and anticipated return. Paul writes to instruct the believers at Corinth of the dignity of which this ordinance represents, not the mockery they had turned it in to.[3] In accordance with the timing of the New Testament writings, 1 Corinthians is understood to be the first written instructions regarding the Lord’s Table.

On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus instructed His disciples that He would be the ultimate Passover sacrifice (John 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7). The Passover meal centered on four essential cups. The first cup, the cup of sanctification, is filled with red wine and represents the blood of the Passover lamb in Egypt.[4] Followed by bitter herbs to represent the bitterness of the Israelites’ bondage, Psalms 113 and 114 were sang. The second cup, the cup of deliverance, is where the meal host breaks the unleavened bread, dips it in haroseth and bitter herbs, and shares it with other participants.[5]This bread represents the haste in which the Israelites fled Egypt. the third cup, the cup of redemption, is where “Jesus blessed and transformed Himself into part of the Lord’s Supper.”[6] Instead of remembering the deliverance from Egypt, Jesus instructs His followers to remember Christ’s physical death and the deliverance it brings from spiritual darkness. The body is represented in that it “was broken for you” (1 Cor. 11:26). Finally, the fourth cup, the cup of hope, represents the coming kingdom. Following this, the group is to “sing a hymn” and dismiss (Mark 14:26.”

The Lord’s Table presents bread and wine as a representative symbol for the body and blood that would be broken and shed for the forgiveness of sins. This practice is a comprehensive ordinance in which the believer commits, communes, proclaims, and anticipates Christ’s return. We are to take this observation worthily, as Paul lists five manners (1 Cor. 11:27). By failing to observe it and observe it meaningfully, the aspect of communion is not properly observed. A lost person should not take it because they have not received the gift of salvation. One must confess and repent of sin before taking it. Finally, the person must show respect and love toward God and His people. Breaking any of these manners means that you are taking it unworthily (1 Cor. 11:27). Examine yourself before taking of the wine or bread (1 Cor. 11:28). Paul exercised this discipline because it is necessary and proper for the spiritual health of the believer.

[1] McArthur, Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically, 290.

[2] McArthur, Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically, 290.

[3] McArthur, Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically, 287.

[4] Charles Whipple, Professor. “Doctrine of the Blood Class Room Lecture.” (2014).

[5] McArthur, Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically, 288.

[6] Ibid.