Two ordinances: believer's baptism by immersion, and the Lord's Supper
The BFM2000 affirms two church ordinances: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Crucially, Baptists use the term 'ordinance' rather than 'sacrament' to emphasize that these are symbolic acts of obedience that testify to a prior inward work of grace — they do not convey grace or effect salvation. Baptism is described as an act of obedience that symbolizes the believer's death to sin and resurrection to new life in Christ.
Baptist baptism is exclusively by full immersion of confessing believers — not infants. Paedo-baptism (infant baptism) is rejected as incompatible with the Baptist understanding of the church as a gathered community of regenerate disciples. Baptism follows conversion and is a prerequisite for church membership in most SBC congregations.
The Lord's Supper (Communion) is observed as a memorial and proclamation of Christ's death. Most SBC churches practice 'closed' or 'close' communion — restricting participation to baptized believers who are in good standing — though practices vary among individual congregations. The elements of bread and juice (not wine in most SBC churches) are purely symbolic: the Real Presence of Christ's body and blood is denied.
Key Distinctions
- Term used:
- ordinances
- Sacrament count:
- two (Baptism and Lord's Supper)
- Baptism mode:
- immersion only — death and resurrection symbolism
- Baptism recipients:
- believers only (credobaptism); no infant baptism
- Eucharist presence:
- symbolic memorial — Lord's Supper is a remembrance, not a means of grace
Scripture References
Sources
- Baptist Faith and Message 2000, Article VII: Baptism and the Lord's Supper