Order of the Ordinances

Ordinances

What we are about to do is partake in one of the ordinances that we have been given to observe in the life as a church together. An ordinance, to borrow some of the language from the Westminster Shorter Catechism, is holy and instituted by Christ. It is a sign that points to the blessings of the New Covenant which are applied to people who have been unified to Christ by faith.

Two Ordinances

We recognize two ordinances. Two signs that Christians take upon themselves that show their union with Christ. Those ordinances are baptism and communion or the Lord’s Supper.

Baptism

Initial Public Witness: Baptism is considered the first act of obedience after conversion, where a believer publicly identifies with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6).

Romans 6:3–5 ESV

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

So baptism for the believer is the moment when his or her invisible faith becomes visible.

And back to the New Covenant, baptism is a covenant Sign. It is the initiating oath-sign of the New Covenant, comparable to circumcision in the Old Covenant, which marks off one from the world and into the people of God.

Something else that we should note about baptism is that it is a one-time initial sign of our membership of the New Covenant community. People who repent of their sins and believe that Jesus died and rose again to secure the forgiveness of their sins should be baptized and once baptized, there is no need to be baptized again.

Communion

The Lord's Supper is a repeated ordinance that signifies continuance in the faith, fellowship with Christ, and unity with fellow church members (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).

1 Corinthians 10:16–17 ESV

16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

The Lord’s Supper is a family meal. It is for those who have believed on the name of Jesus Christ for their salvation.

The ordinance of Communion is a sign of continuance. It is a sign that you are part of the family of God and have, by the grace of God, taken your place in His church.

What about the order of the ordinances?

When we put this all together, that baptism is the sign of initiation into the family of God and that partaking in the Lords Supper is the sign of continuance in the family of God, a right order of the ordinances is clear:

A right or proper understanding of taking the ordinances would lead one to be baptized first then take communion. Now, we do not require one to be baptized first before taking communion… I will get to what we believe Scripture does require of us to properly partake. But if you are in Christ, you should be baptized. And those who are in Christ, that is, the church is to regularly partake of the Lord’s Supper together.

Who should partake?

The Puritan Philip Henry would advise people to put three questions to themselves before taking communion:

Who am I? Are you in Christ? Are you a Christian?

What have I done? Have you confessed your sins to God? Are you living in a way that reflects a desire to honor God? Not to earn His grace but to celebrate God’s grace.

What do I want? Do you want peace with God? Do you desire fellowship with God? Do you desire that God be glorified in and through you?

These are penetrating questions. These are questions that call for the deepest reflection upon self. This is be uncomfortable, but there is hope in confession of our sins to God and in repentance of our sins before God.

The Bible is clear about our need for self-reflection and examination before partaking of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11:28).

If Christ alone is your hope of salvation. If you believe that Christ died for your sins and that He rose again, and through that you have forgiveness from God, you are welcome to partake today.

But we want to partake with a clear conscience. We contend with sin, so we may need to repent and seek the Lord’s forgiveness. Let’s take a moment to seek the LORD.

Sober warning in Scripture: 1 Cor 11:27, 29.

Brothers and sisters here this word of pardon:

Ephesians 1:7–10 ESV

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.