Obedience to the Ordinances of the Gospel PART 2

AUTHORITY FROM GOD IS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ORDINANCES:

Ordinances cannot be performed without the proper authority. That authority is the Priesthood of God.

Within the priesthood of God, there are two branches. The lesser of these is the Aaronic Priesthood which is concerned with the gospel of repentance and baptism and the temporal affairs of the kingdom of God. The Aaronic priesthood is the priesthood that was used to perform the ordinances associated with the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses was to be a school master to bring us to Jesus Christ. (Gal 3:24-25)

John the baptist held this priesthood. By it, he had the authority to baptize. But he didnt have the authority to give the gift of the Holy Ghost. This required a higher priesthood.

The higher priesthood is called the Melchizedek priesthood, which is concerned with higher ordinances and the sanctification, or cleansing of the inner man, including the giving of the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

In ancient times, this priesthood was called the priesthood after the order of the Son of God. Later it was called the Melchizedek priesthood in order to not repeat the name of deity often.

Obviously, Jesus Christ not only held this priesthood, but it originates with Him. It is His priesthood. He ordained His apostles to this priesthood and that is why they not only had the authority to baptize, but also to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost on whomever they laid hands. (Acts 8:18)

When a worthy priesthood holder baptizes someone, they are acting as a representative of Jesus Christ. In order to do this, they must be given the authority to do so. Baptism, performed by the proper authority (the Aaronic Priesthood) brings us to the gate of heaven or the kingdom of God. The Aaronic Priest(Christ) escorts us to the gate through baptism, and then the Melchizedek Priest (Christ) pulls us through the gate and gives us the gift of the Holy Ghost to be our guide on the inside of the Kingdom.

Once inside the Kingdom of God, we find there is more to do. Now begins the work of sanctification, and the saving of our families. Sanctification can only come through the Holy Ghost. All ordinances required for our progression from this point on require the Melchizedek priesthood, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

The ordinances associated with the Law of Moses and performed under the direction of the Aaronic priesthood, were no longer needed after Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses.

But that didn't mean the end of ordinances. The Lord introduced the ordinances associated with the new covenant and the Melchizedek priesthood.

I explained in my last post that an ordinance is the outward expression of a covenant. Since there was a new covenant, the ordinances associated with that covenant were introduced so we could enter into that new covenant.

The name "New Testament" actually means, "new covenant."

There are many who consider ordinances a "work" and therefore no longer needed, since the great sacrifice of our Savior. But why would God give us a new covenant, without providing a way to make or enter into that covenant?

The ordinances of the gospel are not a dead work, but they are a good work. The reason they are not a dead work is because they require the Lord's grace and His power to be performed.

They require an actual representative of Jesus Christ who is worthy and holds his priesthood to perform them.

This priesthood exists on the earth today. The Prophet Joseph Smith was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood along with Oliver Cowdrey, under the hands of John the Baptist.

John the Baptist actually appeared to the prophet and Oliver Cowdry and ordained them to this priesthood. Later, Peter, James, and John appeared and ordained them to the Melchizedek priesthood.

Joseph and Oliver ordained others to the priesthood. And later, Joseph was given specific keys and the authority to direct the work of the priesthood.

The priesthood, and the keys exist today in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can have access to the new covenant. You can be baptized by the proper authority and receive the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please talk with the missionaries today:

Click here for Missionaries

There is more to say about ordinances. I will continue this in my next post.