ORDINANCES VS SACRAMENTS

By Dr. M. R. Dowler

Steps away from the Muslim Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is an ornate circular fountain with benches carved into the stone platform. The fountain, named al-Kas was built in 709 BC and enlarged in 1327 to accommodate more Muslim pilgrim worshipers. The purpose of the fountain is to cleanse Muslims before they entered into their holy places. Not far from the al-Kas fountain and outside the southern wall of the Temple Mount is the ruins of the ancient Jewish mikvah pools. These pools served the same purpose as their Muslim counterparts; to ceremonially cleanse the Jewish pilgrim worshipers before the entered into the holy confines of the temple.

Acts 2 gives us a small glimpse of everyday life of the Jews in Bible times. According to the Old Testament Law there are seven holy days (festivals) the Jews have celebrated since days of Moses. Jewish men were commanded to travel to Jerusalem three times a year to observe the holy festivals (Leviticus 23). The Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1) was one of the three holidays in which pilgrims had to pass through the water of the mikvah (baptismal) pools on the southern steps of the temple.

The theological terms ordinances and sacraments are sometimes used interchangeably, however, there is a vast difference between the two. A sacrament is defined as a symbolic, outward act done in an effort to achieve salvation. An ordinance is a symbolic representative memorial of the act of salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). There are two ordinances of the evangelical church; baptism and partaking of the Lord’s Supper, while interestingly, there are seven sacraments in the Catholic and Episcopal Church (baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, penance, ordination, matrimony and the last rites).

The ordinance of water baptism is a public expression of one’s faith; simply stated, it is a picture of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), the Trinity (Matthew 28:19), and salvation itself (Galatians 3:26-27). Evangelical doctrine teaches that only born-again believers can and should be baptized. Baptism does not save and always follows conversion. 3,000 Jews were converted and immediately baptized on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41). In conclusion, you will never grow in the faith until you follow the Lord in believer’s baptism. Think about it.