Two Ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
The Scriptures teach that the Lord prescribed immersion and the Lord’s Supper to be carried on as ordinances by each local New Testament church.
- The Lord’s Supper
The second ordinance given to the church is the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. Just as baptism symbolizes spiritual birth in being raised to walk in newness of life, the Lord’s Supper symbolizes the nourishment and support of that new life by union with Christ in His death. 1 Corinthians 11:24, “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.”
The Participants
The Lord’s Supper is only to be taken by obedient Christians. An obedient Christian is any born-again believer who has been immersed, who is a member of a New Testament church, and who has searched his own heart to make sure all known sin is confessed. 1 Corinthians 11:28 – 31, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”
It is clear to see that the Lord wants all that are saved to be obedient to his Word, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love,” John 15:10. Baptists believe that the first steps toward being obedient after salvation includes being baptized by immersion, being an active member of a New Testament church and observing of the Lord’s Supper.
The Warning
Since Jesus Christ was the initiator of the Supper, then he alone determines the guidelines for observance. The Bible states that there is a right and a wrong way to partake of His Supper. We see this in 1 Corinthians 11, when Paul warned the members at the church in Corinth that some of them were partaking of the Supper in a wrong manner. “28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of [that] bread, and drink of [that] cup. 29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body,” 1 Corinthians 11:28 – 29.
God wants each individual to examine himself so that he does not eat and drink unworthily. Each individual must examine his heart (1) to confess any sin and (2) to make right any disobedience to God’s Word. This examination must be done before he partakes of the Lord’s Supper. Otherwise, if he takes part in the Supper with unconfessed sin or disobedience to God’s Word, he is guilty of unworthy participation and will then be judged by God. “30For this cause [that is, since you are taking part unworthily] many are
weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world,” 1 Corinthians 11:30 – 32.
Yes, it is important how we administer and take part in the Lord’s Supper. Let us take a moment to look briefly at the three ways in which it is administered.
(1) Open Communion. Churches that practice open communion invite all who are saved to take part. This is dangerous, in that it invites God’s judgement on those who partake unworthily.
(2) Close Communion. Churches that practice close communion invite all those who are saved, immersed, and are a member of a New Testament church to take part.
(3) Closed Communion. Churches that practice closed communion invite only members of that particular church to take part.
A closed supper is the Bible way. Remember, this ordinance was given in a church setting. Only Jesus and his apostles were present. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul rebuked the church at Corinth for turning the Lord’s Supper into a meal. He used the phrase “…ye come together” four times in that chapter (vss. 17, 18, 20, 33), obviously referring to the members of that particular church. These ordinances are to help keep the church pure. How can this be done if anyone outside the church is invited to partake?
The Elements
Unleavened Bread
The bread used in the Lord’s Supper must be unleavened. Remember, Christ instituted the Supper on the eve of His crucifixion while celebrating the Passover: “And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?” (Mark 14:12f).
During the observance of Passover, no leaven was to be found in the bread, nor in the house. “14And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever. 15Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.” (Exodus 12:14 – 15).
Grape Juice
Since there was to be no leaven found in the house during Passover, then we can safely say that the cup did not contain alcoholic wine. It would be inconsistent to use unleavened bread and fermented grape juice. In every account of the Lord’s Supper, you will never see the word “wine” used. In fact, in Mark 14:25, Jesus mentions the type of drink that was used, “Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. To make alcoholic wine you
must add a source of fermentation-leaven.”
The Administrator
The Lord’s Supper is a New Testament church ordinance, therefore it should be observed by members of the local church and administered by it’s officers when they meet for worship.
It is to be observed only under the authority of the local church. It is unscriptural to take the Lord’s Supper to an individual. The Lord’s Supper is a church ordinance, not a Christian ordinance. Nowhere in the New Testament is the Lord’s Supper observed being administered outside church capacity.
The Occasion
The Bible does not give any specific period of time as to the frequency of observing the Lord’s Supper. In reference to the Supper, Paul gave these instructions to the local church at Corinth; “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Notice that he speaks of how often it is done and not how seldom. Since the Scriptures are not specific on the frequency, its observance must therefore be left up to each autonomous New Testament church. In the first century, the early Christians partook of the Supper daily, “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart” (Acts 2:46). This eventually lead to weekly observance, which is still held by some today. On the other extreme, there are some that observe the Supper only once a year. They base this on the fact that the Passover was kept only once a year.
The standard should be set by each individual church, keeping in mind that it should not take the Supper so often as to cause a matter-of-fact attitude. Nor observe it so seldom that the members forget its sanctity.
A neglect of the Supper by Church members is a grave evil. It betokens a decline of spirituality, and promotes it. And it is usually without excuse. If there be but one service in the month that a member can attend, that service should be the Communion; … Pastors and deacons will do well to watch with jealous care this index to the churches’ vital piety, and strive to inspire the absentees with a sense of its importance, and their own duty in respect to it. To disregard it is an indignity to Christ’s ordinance, a breach of good order, and a violation of covenant obligations, which the church should endeavor
promptly to correct. Some churches, by a rule of discipline, have each member visited, who is absent twice in succession, to learn the cause of such absence. To a devout Christian it is a sacred privilege, which he would not willingly forego.
Whether your church observes the Lord’s Supper weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly, the fact is, it must be observed “until He comes!” (1 Corinthians 11:26)
The Purpose
The main purpose for the Lord’s Supper is stated in 1 Corinthians 11:26, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” G. W. Orrino gives seven reasons for observing the Lord’s Supper.
One, it is an act of obedience. Christ commanded it be done and fidelity to Christ will respond.
Two, it is an act of remembrance. It draws our hearts and minds back to Calvary and to the price paid for our redemption.
Three, it is an act of testimony. The communicant identifies himself with the death of Christ.
Four, it is an act of confession. We declare salvation to be only through His finished work.
Five, it is an act of unity. The body comes together in a spirit of sacred fellowship.
Six, it is an act of praise. Hearts are lifted in adoration and thanksgiving for His matchless gift.
Seven, it is an act of proclamation. His coming for His saints is testified to.
The New Testament does not teach the Roman Catholic view of “transubstantiation” which claims that the Catholic priests “transform” the bread and cup into the literal body and blood of Christ. Neither does it teach the Lutheran view of “consubstantiation” which claims the “real presence” of the Lord in a “special way.”
The New Testament church position concerning the Lord’s Supper teaches that it is a memorial table that pictures the body and blood of Jesus and serves only as a reminder of his death, burial, and resurrection for us. 1 Corinthians 11:25 – 26, “25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”
Conclusion
It is important to note that the ordinances of Believer’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, are not “options” that can be ignored. If we want to be obedient to the Lord then we must be baptized by immersion, become a member of a New Testament church, and examine ourselves by partaking of the Lord’s Supper.
