337 – The Ordinances of the Church – Symbolisms

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: ECCLESIOLOGY III LESSON # 37

THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH (SYMBOLISMS)

INTRODUCTION:

These are but a few of the Scriptures pertinent to the symbolism of the ordinances. The violence of Satan against God’s kingdom is nowhere greater than in the frustration surrounding the church ordinances and their purpose. This is no wonder since they, when rightly administered, so effectively testify and teach.

I. THE PRINCIPLES OF SYMBOLISM

1. That these are symbolic in their purpose, and not literal, is obvious from Scriptures as Luke 22:19

, Acts 22:16

, I Pet. 3:21

.
2. Consider the things that are done by and for us in baptism:

i. We are saved. (I Pet. 3:21

)
ii. We have our sins washed away. (Acts 22:16

)
iii. We are buried with Christ. (Rom. 6:4

)
iv. We put on Christ. (Gal. 3:27

)

i. We eat His flesh and drink His blood. (Jn. 6:53-56

)
ii. We eat His body. (Mat. 26:26

)
iii. We drink the blood shed for the remission of sins. (Mat. 26:27

, 28

)

4. A combination of any sincerity, the ability to think even simply and just a surface knowledge of Scripture will assure you that these things are not done literally.
5. The principle of symbolism is this: Seen as a symbol it teaches and glorifies that of which it is a symbol.
6. With the principle of symbolism lost or ignored the purpose of the teaching is perverted.

II. EXAMPLES OF IMPROPER LITERALISM

1. Sacerdotal baptism and christening by Catholics and Protestants.
2. Baptism (immersion for regeneration) by Campbellites, Mormons, etc.
3. Catholic transubstantiation (the transformation of the elements to Christ’s flesh and blood).
4. Protestant consubstantiation (the mixing of the elements with the mystical body and blood of Christ).
5. This is done in other non-ordinance or non-“sacramental” symbols which are to teach ecclesiastical truth such as the body, building, husbandry and bride.

III. THE DANGER OF IMPROPER LITERALISM

1. Seen as literal, it becomes a sacrament and claims value and merit within itself.
2. This takes away from the merit of the anti-type and attributes merit to the administrator and/or the participant.
3. It makes the ordinance work instead of worship and thus it becomes anti-biblical and hurtful.

i. In that it neglects or denies the teaching for which it is designed.
ii. In that it points man to himself and away from Christ.

1. We should hold carefully and deliberately to the principle of identifying the literal as opposed to symbolic in all things.
2. Error in either direction utterly destroys the value of that Scripture to us.
3. It, in fact, becomes an instrument for Satan in giving false hope.
4. Remember that the ordinances of the church (baptism and the Lord’s Table) do what they do in figure not literally.
5. To make any of it literal denies that Christ gave anyone life on the cross, and implies that He only made life available, and that we make it real by appropriation.

Berean Baptist Church