Discussion :Sacrament v. Ordinance
I believe baptism and the Lord's Supper are sacraments not just ordinances.
R.C. Sproul states that "Though Protestants recognize other rites such as marriage as special ordinances, they are not recognized as attaining the level of sacraments. Sacraments are limited to:
(1) those ordinances directly instituted by Christ,
(2) ordinances that are by their very nature significant,
(3) ordinances designed to be perpetual, and
(4) ordinances designed to signify, instruct, and seal the believers who receive them in faith."
1.) How else can I justify, prove, or back what Dr. Sproul notes above that baptism and communion are weightier than just ordinances?
2.) I also believe that when believers are baptized they do nothing. In other words it is not a public profession of faith. In my Presbyterian upbringing a believer's profession of faith is typically done before they are baptized.Baptism is a marking (a seal) of God's people into the Covenant Family. How can I defend that baptism is a seal or the marking of God's people vs. it is a public profession of faith?