The AG Ordinance/Communion View-
What happens?:
Believers obey Christ through symbols
The Elements:
Remain entirely bread/juice; strictly symbolic.
Primary Goal:
To remember Christ's sacrifice and look forward to His return.
AG Statement of Fundamental Truths - The the bread and juice are purely symbols used to:
.Express sharing in the divine nature of Christ
.Act as a memorial of His suffering and death
.Serve as a prophecy of His second
coming.

Shifting Focus to Fellowship (Communion) -
By using the word "Communion" or "The Lord's
Supper," the church intentionally emphasizes
fellowship-communion with God and corporate
unity with other believers.

"Communion" directly highlights the intimacy of sharing a meal in remembrance of Christ.

Adherence to Memorialism (Strict Symbolism) -
Unlike groups that believe the bread and wine
literally or spiritually transform into Jesus's
physical flesh and blood, the AG practices
memorialism.

Protection of Salvation by Faith Alone - The AG holds tightly to the belief that human
beings are justified solely by grace through faith. If taking communion is viewed as a necessary channel to receive God's saving grace, it risks turning a gift into a religious "work" that must be performed. Rejections of the term sacrament prevent the misconception that the ritual itself has saving power.

Ordinance (An Act of Obedience) - For the
Assemblies of God, an ordinance is a
symbolic practice commanded by Jesus
(ordained) for believers to practice. The act
itself does not possess supernatural power,
nor does it save a person or wash away sins.
Instead, it is an outward, physical expression
of a spiritual reality that has already occurred
through faith.

While this word refers to Christian practices like baptism and communion, the choice of terminology reflects a profound difference in what churches believe happens during the practice.

The Assemblies of God, along with many other Evangelical and Pentecostal churches, observe the Lord's Supper as an *ordinance.*