“Essential Theology in troubling times”

The ordinances of Baptism, Communion, Feet Washing

“For grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Eph.2:8).   We should be clear that ordinances do not save us!  However, if we are being obedient to God and His word, we will observe these ordinances because our Lord Jesus Christ instituted them.

Ordinances are often explained as an “outward expression of the inward experience of grace.”

Baptism.  “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water” (Matt.3:16).  As an adult, Jesus was baptized by immersion.  The believer (mature enough to make his/her own decision, not an infant and after repentance) is to follow in Jesus’ example.  Baptism is part of the great commission (Matt. 28: 19-20) and is symbolic in nature; the believer is identifying with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection - the old man buried and the new risen to a new life in Christ.  One needs only to be baptized once (in my opinion, preferably as closely to repentance as possible), but some have felt the need to do their first work over (Rev. 2:5).

Communion.  Our Lord and Savior, the spotless sacrificial Lamb of God instituted the Lord’s supper.  We (the believer, the church) should never forget the price paid for our salvation!  Jesus said, “take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor.11).

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, this do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Unlike baptism, we should take communion with regularity, but how often is not as important as why we take the elements of communion.  As often as we partake, we are to remember Christ’s broken body and His shed blood for us - ‘till He comes’ - come Lord Jesus come!

Feet washing.  “If I then, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13).  Jesus, even though He knew His hour had come, took the form of a servant that demonstrated love, humility and servanthood.

Believers are to follow this ordinance instituted by our Lord and remember that we too are to have the spirit of servanthood.  Like communion, feet washing should be done with regularity; but sadly, out of the three ordinances, most believers and congregations do not observe it.  Those that do normally observe right before Easter on Maundy Thursday - with low attendance at that.

Believers are missing out on a blessing.  Jesus Himself said, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:17.

Just Rodney
2-09-2021