Do the Ordinances Play a Role in Salvation?

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

The Bible clearly declares that salvation is by grace through faith alone (Rom 3:22-30; 4:5; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9; Phil 3:9). In other words, no act (ritualistic or otherwise) is necessary for salvation. In addition, no act aids salvation in any manner. In Peter’s sermon in Acts 3:12-26, never once does he mention the necessity of water baptism or the Lord’s Supper for salvation. In Paul’s concise summary of gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, he likewise fails to mention any role for water baptism and the Lord’s Supper in salvation. Apart from this evidence that no role in salvation exists for water baptism and the Lord’s Supper, we can also note those who were saved apart from having partaking in either. These include the penitent woman (Luke 7:37-50), the paralytic man (Matt 9:2), the publican (Luke 18:13-14), and the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43).

Baptism (additional comments)

Many appeal to 1 Peter 3:21 to affirm baptismal regeneration (the idea that baptism saves). This interpretation fails to appreciate Peter’s immediate qualification of his meaning by his remark that he was not referring to water baptism (“not the removal of dirt from the flesh”) and his additional note in the following verse which demonstrates Peter’s employment of a typology was to declare that salvation is through the resurrection of Christ. Whereas Noah, a man of faith, was immersed in the flood of God’s wrath upon humanity but spared through residing in the ark, believers are preserved from God’s wrath by being immersed in Christ.

Some view baptism as a necessary element to salvation. Those who subscribe to this error often reference Acts 2:38: “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The Greek word translated as “for” could also be understood to mean ‘because of’. If translated this way, Acts 2:38 would read, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” In addition, proper understanding of this verse requires an appreciation of the historical context. In Peter’s day, public baptism was declaration of one’s breaking with the Jewish community with its rich cultural and religious history. Baptism, therefore, was a clear declaration of one’s sincere commitment to Christ.

The Lord’s Supper (additional comments)

Communion does not re-offer Christ as a sacrifice as His sacrifice was a once-for-all provision for our sin. Maintaining a view that the Lord’s Supper is an additional offering of Christ is a rejection of Christ’s actual sacrifice for our sin. Similarly, some maintain that Christ inhabits the elements of bread and wine, i.e. the elements are his physical body. This view does not sync with Christ’s human nature which lacks the ability to be omnipresent. Beyond this, transubstantiation also denies the finished work of Christ on the cross by involving our Lord in an ongoing salvific work (i.e. making Him a perpetual sacrifice for sin).