The Lord’s Supper

• What does the Bible say?• Prescription vs. Description• Systematic Theology & Biblical

Theology• Proofs vs. Principles

The Lord’s Supper• Ordinance vs. Sacrament–Sacrament (sacramentum; sign of the

sacred) – The Roman Catholic Church teaches baptism is a sacrament that “conveys grace” because of the “act itself” and apart from faith in the person participating.–Ordinance – obedience to something

that Christ has “ordained”

Understanding Names

• The Lord’s Supper – instituted by the Lord Jesus with his disciples• *Communion – 1 Corinthians 10:16• Lord’s Table – 1 Corinthians 10:21• Breaking of Bread – Acts 2:42; 20:7• Eucharist – eucharistia (thanksgiving)

The Interconnectedness of Doctrine

• Baptism• The Lord’s Supper• The Church• Church Discipline

What Baptism Represents

• Initiation–Acts 2:41-47, Acts 2:42

• Purification–Acts 22:16, Acts 15:9, 2 Cor. 5:21,

Galatians 3:13• Union with Christ–Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:11-12

What Communion Represents• Ongoing Growth, Sanctification–Systematic vs. Textual; Actual Elements

• Unity of the Church–1 Corinthians 10:16-17

• Union with Christ–Ongoing rather than initiatory

• Accountability/Self Examination/Repentance–1 Corinthians 11:28

• Evangelism/Gospel Centrality–1 Corinthians 11:26

Further Understandings

• Baptists have historically held to a MEMORIAL/SYMBOLIC view of communion• Some have held to a SPIRITUAL

PRESENCE view, as opposed to the real presence adopted by Catholicism

More Terms

• Closed Communion – only baptized members of a local church• Open Communion – any professing,

baptized believer• Close/Consistent Communion – any

professing, immersed believer, in good fellowship with a local church

What’s the Problem?

• The vast majority of Baptist churches for the last 400 years has followed the biblical precedent of requiring believer’s baptism by immersion before one can come to the Lord’s table.• Really?

John Smyth’s Confession (1610)

“The Holy Supper, according to the institution of Christ, is to be administered to the baptized; as the Lord Jesus hath commanded that whatsoever he hath appointed should be taught to be observed (Article 31).”

Thomas Helwys’s Confession (1612)

• That in the outward supper which only baptized persons must partake, there is presented and figured before the eyes of the penitent and faithful, that spiritual supper, which Christ maketh of his flesh and blood (Article 72).

First London Confession (1644)

• That Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, given by Christ, to be dispensed only upon persons professing faith, or that are Disciples, or taught, who upon a profession of faith, ought to be baptized and after to partake of the Lord’s Supper (Article 39).

New Hampshire Confession (1833)• We believe that Christian Baptism is the

immersion in water of a believer, into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost; to show forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that is prerequisite to the privileges of a Church relation; and to the Lord’s Supper.

Jesse Mercer (1833)

“Therefore, no unbaptized person should be permitted to partake of the

Lord’s Supper.”

Baptist Faith and Message (2000)• Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer

in water …. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper.

• The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming

Notable Exceptions

• John Bunyan (1628-1688)

• Robert Hall, Jr. (1761-1834)

Why the Shift?

• Theological Ignorance/Laziness• Shouldn’t we be more ecumenical?• Shouldn’t we be more

welcoming/loving?• Isn’t this just the height of Baptist

arrogance and sectarianism?

Some Theological Observations• Not about defining true vs false Christians• Not about defining true vs false churches–What is biblical, regular, consistent?

• Actually a humble attempt to be most faithful to the witness of Scripture

• To accept open communion is to reject the biblical witness and the majority of Baptist history

Some Theological Observations

• We are not the only ones excluding• Is other denominational doctrine not

equally offensive?• “Unity” is only one

characteristic/expression of the Lord’s Supper–What about growth in grace, ongoing

union with Christ?

Questions

• What should we be eating?• What should we be drinking?• Who should serve?• How often should we partake?• Can we take as small groups?• What about the homebound?