SACRAMENT vs ORDINANCE

SACRAMENT vs ORDINANCE
WAY2GOD

Sacrament & Ordinance are the two terms confusingly used for decades by Christians. Some denominations [especially Roman Catholicism (RC), Eastern Orthodoxy, and some] use the term sacrament as a conduit or means of grace of God to all who perform these ceremonial practices. But many others [especially the evangelical churches] prefer using the term ordinance because they believe that these religious ceremonies are practice as obedience to the commandment of God. But, the complication is that some churches are interchanging the meaning of the terms and considering it is true. 

The Roman Catholic Church teaches on their beliefs of the seven sacraments as efficacious signs of grace. Also, according to The Catechism of the Catholic Church on page 293, the church affirms that believing in the seven sacraments of the New Covenant is necessary for salvation. This teaching reveals that Roman Catholic Church believes salvation is offered by the practices of the sacraments through a works-based system which contrasts the teaching of the Scripture [that salvation is by faith alone -  Apostle Paul].  

In contrast, the Bible tells us that ritual is not necessary as grace is not received by those who practice such outward symbolical practices. The grace of God is a blessing from above for the undeserved ones received not by what we had done but . Salvation is totally by the work of God & Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ for His grace justified us and placed us to become co-heirs with Christ according to the hope of eternal life - Titus 3:4-7. 

To Earn Salvation?

Salvation cannot be earned because all what good deeds we had done do not please the Lord for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23.

Salvation is gift

Salvation is completely a free gift of God, that not a single work we contribute to get saved because For by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast - Ephesians 2:8-9.

Most protestants and evangelical churches deny the idea that sacraments can offer salvation because sacraments are just outward practices of what was received already in the past. So, practicing sacraments are not a channel through where one can earn salvation. Therefore, most evangelicals prefer these practices to be called ordinances. It means that ordinances are symbolic reenactments of the gospel message and not requirements for salvation which is outwardly a visual aid of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ in the past. 

The three factors that determine ordinances are: 

1. Instituted by Christ
2. Taught by the apostles
3. practiced by the early church

Most evangelicals considered the two rites of ordinances are Baptism and Communion (the Lord's table). They are not a requirement for salvation but the outward expression of what we received in Christ Jesus that what He had done in the past by His grace. For further study, visit Mt.28:18-20 for the Baptism and Lk. 22:19 cf. 1 Cor. 11:17-34; John 5:22-59 for communion.