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An ordinance is a term used by certain Christian denominations for a religious ritual that was instituted by Jesus for Christians to observe. [1]Examples of ordinances include baptism and the Lord's Supper, both of which are practiced in denominations including the Anabaptist, Baptist, Churches of Christ, and Pentecostal denominations.
Baptists practice believer's baptism and the Lord's Supper (communion) as the ordinances instituted in Scripture (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). [5] [additional citation(s) needed] Most Baptists call them "ordinances" (meaning "obedience to a command that Christ has given us") [6] [7] instead of "sacraments" (activities God uses to impart salvation or a means of grace to the participant).
The Mennonite Brethren Church holds two ordinances - baptism and the Lord's Supper. Water baptism by immersion is the mode administered by local congregations, but they may receive on confession of faith persons who have been baptized by other modes.
While the sacraments in the Catholic Church are regarded as means of Divine Grace, The Catholic definition of a sacrament is an event in Christian life that is both spiritual and physical. [27] The seven Catholic sacraments have been separated into three groups. The first three Sacraments of Initiation are Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation.
In the Catholic Church by baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins. [233] Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte "a new creature", an adopted son of God, who has become a "partaker of the divine nature", member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit.
The number of the sacraments in the early church was variable and undefined; Peter Damian for example had listed eleven, including the ordination of kings. [4] Hugh of Saint Victor enumerated nearly thirty, although he put Baptism and Holy Communion first with special relevance. [5]
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The church holds water baptism and communion (open communion observed quarterly) to be divine ordinances. Though not considered an ordinance, some of the churches also engage in the practice of feet washing. [38]