Ordinances of the Church in the Bible

The ordinances of the church are the practices instituted by Christ that the community of believers observes as acts of obedience and proclamation of the gospel. Colossians 2:14 reminds us that Christ blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, nailing it to the cross; thus the ordinances of the church are not meritorious works but visible signs of grace already accomplished. Ezekiel 43:11 speaks of the statutes and ordinances of the temple, showing that God attaches great importance to the way his people approach him. First Corinthians 11:2 praises the believers because they keep the traditions the apostle Paul delivered to them. Most Protestant traditions recognize two principal ordinances: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism is the initiatory rite that symbolizes union with Christ in his death and resurrection, according to Romans 6:3-4. The Lord's Supper is the regular observance that proclaims the Lord's death until he comes, as 1 Corinthians 11:26 teaches. These two practices, given by the Lord himself, proclaim the gospel through concrete acts, strengthen the faith of the community, and preserve the memory of the redemptive work accomplished at Calvary. They unite the people of God in a common and joyful obedience, binding the church together across every generation.