Baptist Distinctives: Two Symbolic Ordinances

"And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem." - Acts 16:4

SACRAMENTS VERSUS ORDINANCES

"Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers," - 1 Timothy 1:9

"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." - Titus 3:4-7

Some denominations consider the Lord’s Supper and baptism, along with a few other rituals, to be sacramental.

A sacrament is “an act that conveys the grace of God to an individual”. Those who hold this view believe that God supernaturally blesses a worshiper as they conduct the act. According to this doctrine, baptism invokes God’s grace for regeneration and the Lord’s Supper (which they refer to as the Eucharist) conveys God’s grace for ongoing sanctification. Stated simply, baptism is necessary to initially attain salvation and the regular practice of the Lord’s Supper is necessary to maintain salvation. Following this doctrine, those who neglect partaking of the Eucharist are in danger of committing a mortal sin.
An ordinance, on the other hand, can be defined as “a God-ordained ceremony”. It is a practice that was commanded and prescribed by the Lord to be observed by the church. Ordinances do not invoke God’s grace or convey His blessings. They are simply acts of human obedience to the teachings of scripture. They are ceremonial reenactments meant to memorialize Christ, proclaim His salvation, and edify His church. Baptists believe that God’s saving grace is poured out fully and sufficiently on the new Christian at the moment that they trust in Jesus for salvation. Therefore, no additional or continued outpouring of grace is required.

BAPTISM

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." - Acts 2:41

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:3-4

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." - 1 Corinthians 12:13

The first ordinance of the Baptist church is baptism. As discussed at length earlier in this series, Baptists practice Believer’s Baptism. After a person has placed their faith in Jesus resulting in salvation, they are then baptized by immersion in water. This ceremony serves as a visible and public declaration of one’s new life in Christ. It symbolizes Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection and that of the new Christian, who has died to their old sinful self and been raised up as a new creation. Baptism identifies the new believer with Christ and with His church. It is one of the first acts of Christian obedience and is required for local church membership.

THE LORD’S SUPPER

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:42

"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." - Matthew 26:26-29

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come." - 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

The second ordinance practiced in Baptist churches is the Lord’s Supper. This is sometimes referred to as communion. Unlike baptism, which is for individual believers, the Lord’s Supper is for the entire congregation or the community of believers. Most Baptist churches observe an open communion in which all Christians (including those of other like-minded denominations) are welcome to participate and partake. There are others, albeit a minority, that practice closed communion by restricting those outside of the local congregation from participating in the service. Non-Christians should not partake of the Lord’s Supper, and those who do put themselves at physical risk. Parents should not allow their children to take communion either until after they have been saved and baptized.
The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus Himself. Just a few hours before His arrest, Jesus and His apostles gathered together in the upper room in Jerusalem to celebrate the annual Jewish Passover. During their meal, Jesus took the bread and compared it to His body which would be broken for them. Then He blessed it, broke it, distributed it, and they all ate. Afterwards, He took the cup and compared it to His blood which would be spilled for them.  Again He blessed it, passed it around, and they all drank. Jesus instructed His disciples to continue this ordinance even after He had gone.
Like baptism, the imagery of the Lord’s Supper is symbolic. It graphically illustrates the amazing sacrifice that Jesus made at Calvary in order to pay for the sins of mankind. It is a memorial to Christ’s death on the cross. As often as it is observed, the Lord’s Supper is to be conducted “in remembrance” of Him. When those who participate in communion eat the bread and drink the cup, they depict their own personal responsibility for His death. Jesus died for the sins of all people, and therefore everyone mutually is accountable. The church should observe the Lord’s supper as a proclamation of Christ’s death until He comes again.
Churches often differ slightly in the manner in which they conduct the Lord’s Supper, even among Baptists. This is due to the fact that no specific, detailed instructions are given in the Bible for it’s administration. Some churches observe the Lord’s supper weekly, others monthly, and still others once or twice annually. Most use grape juice to represent Christ’s blood, while others use actual wine. Most prefer to use unleavened bread, but the Bible doesn’t explicitly require it. Some distribute the bread and juice individually while others eat from a single loaf and drink from a single cup. These and other such details are not overly significant, so long as they don’t deter from the meaning of the ceremony.

CONCLUSION

Some denominations consider footwashing to be a third church ordinance. Those that do typically conduct footwashing services in conjunction with the Lord’s Supper. While footwashing is certainly an admirable act, there is no indication that it was commanded by Christ and practiced as an ordinance by the early church. When Jesus told His disciples that they should wash one another’s feet (John 13:14), the context of the passage reveals that He was talking broadly about humility and Christian service.
In conclusion, Baptists observe just 2 church ordinances - baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Both are symbolic acts conducted in obedience to the Lord’s command. Both are conducted as closely as possible to the model practiced by the New Testament church. Neither is believed to convey the supernatural grace of God upon the person or people who are observing the ordinance. Instead, the ordinances are carried out in response to and as a declaration of the Lord’s previously bestowed grace. They are depictions of and memorials to the saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ.