What’s An Ordinance?

There are various definitions given for the term ordinance.[1] The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia states.

“In the NT, ‘ordinance’ renders different Gr. Words, viz. (1) dikaiwma, dikaioma, in Lk 1:6 and He 9:1, 10. The word means lit. ‘ Anything declared right’; but these passages ceremonial and religious regulation; (2) dogma dogma, in Eph 2:15; Col 2:14. In the NT this word always means a decree or edict (Acts 17:7); (3) paradosis paradosis, in 1 Cor 11:2 AV, RV substitutes ‘traditions’; (4) ktisis ktisis, ‘setting up,’ ‘institution,’ in 1 Pet 2:13. The term is used exclusively of the action of God.”

In the Jewish worship system of the Old Testament there were many religious practices that were symbolic of gospel truths. Ordinances such as; circumcision, the tabernacle and its furnishings were all ordinances that pointed toward God’s divine plan. One may clearly recognize the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on Calvary through the many different sacrifices performed by the priests of the Old Testament era.

In the New Testament there are only a few ordinances. The Old Testament ordinances were instituted by God to point forward to Calvary. In the New Testament an ordinance must not be the product of man. Therefore, any ordinance of the New Testament must be commanded and instituted by Jesus Christ, Himself, for His church.

These New Testament ordinances must point back to the gospel truths of Calvary. With this in mind, the complete definition of an ordinance as given by Dr. Robert Picirilli[2] is valuable. He writes, “An ordinance is an external practice which was established by the Lord Jesus to be perpetually observed by the church as teaching basic spiritual truths of the gospel.”

It must be noted the neither the Old Testament nor the New Testament ordinances have saving or cleansing qualities. They are ordinances (not sacraments) that symbolize salvation and the cleansing of the blood of Christ. They are not intended by God to be part of salvation. Rather, they are outward pictures of salvation to the world.

The term ordinance has been defined and illustrated. So, what are the ordinances of the New Testament church? There are three ordinances given by the chronological order as given by Jesus. The first one is BAPTISM (Matt. 3:13-17). The second ordinance is WASHING THE SAINT’S FEET (John 13:1-17). The third ordinance is called the LORD’S SUPPER (John 13:18-38; 1 Cor. 11:23-30; Matt. 26:26-29). It would be frivolous to debate that one ordinance is more important or ranks higher than another. All three ordinances are commanded, greatly needed, and are to be observed. If the ordinances were rated by the amount of gospel truths symbolized then WASHING THE SAINT’S FEET would rate first. The purpose of this work is to highlight the second ordinance given by our Lord and to teach its many deep spiritual truths. And to reveal the beautiful testimony the observance of the ordinance demonstrates to the world.

[1] T. Lewis, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, (Grand Rapids, 1980), Vol. III., P. 2201.

[2] R. Picirilli, Church Ordinances and Government, (Nashville, 1973)p. 7.

What’s An Ordinance?

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