The Lord's Supper (081323)

Thus far in this series (which has now totaled over 30 messages) we have looked at the doctrinal statement of South Charlotte Baptist Church and considered what we believe about:

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

THE GODHEAD

THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

MAN

SALVATION

One of the heresies that has creeped into many independent Baptist churches is the heresy of Calvinism. (I’ve touched on Calvinism in the past.)

Right after Neighborhood Bible Time I was questioned, by a previous school parent, about Calvinism.

The Scripture that they used was Ephesians 2:1

Ephesians 2:1 KJV 1900

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

The argument went something like this: If we are dead - lifeless - in trespasses and sins then we can’t do anything - even call upon the name of Jesus Christ for salvation (Romans 10:13) until God has quickened us - given us spiritual life.

Over the past month, I have been pondering Ephesians 2:1 and have come to realize that part of the difficulty is the fact that many have an incorrect understanding of death - spiritual death - which is what Ephesians 2:1 is referencing.

I’m looking forward to preaching a message about this some time in the future.

Then we looked at what we believe about...

SANCTIFICATION

THE CHURCH

Then, last week, we looked at what we believe about...

BAPTISM

Before continuing, I would remind all of us that this series of messages is not a waste of time but an important opportunity.

Why? Because what we believe - our doctrine - affects every aspect of our lives!

Tonight, we want to consider what we believe about...

THE LORD'S SUPPER

Turn to and read Luke 22:14-20.

We believe that the Lord's Supper is an ordinance given to the church by the Lord Jesus Christ to remember and show forth the Lord's death till He comes.

The instituting of the Lord’s Supper by Christ is recorded in the Gospels:

Matthew 26:20-30.

Mark 14:22-26.

Luke 22:14-20.

The Apostle Paul gives further instruction of the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11:20-34.

Of the two ordinances given - baptism and the Lord’s Supper - the Lord’s Supper has direct connection with the Old Testament.

The Passover, while it was a remembrance of the Israelite’s deliverance from Egypt, looked toward the true Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ!

John 1:29 KJV 1900

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Passover.

Luke 22:19 (KJV 1900)

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Luke 22:20 (KJV 1900)

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

The Lord’s Supper allows to look back and to remember what Christ has done for us.

Luke 22:19 (KJV 1900)

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

1 Corinthians 11:24–25 (KJV 1900)

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.

After 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.

Golgotha

It can be easy to forget - or to downplay the significance of - what Christ has done for us. If we’re not careful, the death of Christ can just blend into the background of our Christian lives.

To remember the importance of Christ’s death, maybe we should be reminded of why He died?!?!

Turn to and read Isaiah 53:1-11.

The Lord’s Supper also allows us to proclaim the Gospel message.

1 Corinthians 11:26 (KJV 1900)

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

The word shew, in other places in the New Testament, is translated as preach.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 KJV 1900

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The Lord's Table should be open to all regenerated persons living in fellowship with and obedience to the Lord Jesus.

Yes, the Lord’s Table - or Supper - is only for those who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior. (That should be obvious.)

Yes, those who are not in fellowship with and living - to the best of their knowledge - in obedience to the Lord Jesus should refrain from taking part in the Lord’s Supper. (We base that upon 1 Corinthians 11:27-30.)

However, the one aspect of our doctrinal statement that some may question is the statement that the Lord’s Table should be open to all regenerated persons…

Some believe that the Lord’s Table, as observed within the local church, should be reserved for those who are actual members of that local church.

There are three ways in which I have seen the Lord’s Supper practiced:

Open

Close

Closed

Throughout my life, I have simply followed the practice which the pastor - of whichever church I have been a part of - has practiced. I’ve not questioned it nor felt the need to question it.

However, now as the pastor of South Charlotte Baptist Church, especially as I have been preaching this series of messages, have found myself questioning which practice I should observe.

Until such time as I determine - definitively - that I/we should practice the Lord’s Supper in a closed manner, we will continue to practice it in this fashion.

The elements used in the Lord's Table are symbolical and render in themselves no means of grace.

The elements (as we call them) of the Lord’s Supper do not become the actual flesh and blood of Christ when an individual partakes of them! They are simply unleavened bread and grape juice that picture the body and blood of Christ.

In the book, Why Baptist?, the writers state:

The Lord's Supper is not sacerdotal in nature, that is, it does not convey grace, as Protestants teach.

It is not a means to salvation or grace.

It is a memorial of the sacrificial death of our Saviour on the cross.

Alter, James; Robertson II, Dolton. Why Baptist?: The Significance Of Baptist Principles In An Ecumenical Age . Ancient Baptist Press. Kindle Edition.

Thomas Armitage, a 19th century Methodist who eventually became a Baptist pastor in part due to his disagreement with Methodists regarding their understanding and beliefs about the ordinances, wrote:

Neither baptism nor the Lord's Supper were ordained by Him for the purposes of human salvation.

The religious use of all the waters on the globe has never removed one stain of sin from man's conscience or heart, neither can bread and wine, taken at the supper, impart the grace of God or prove its existence in the soul of the communicant.

The only design of the supper is to “proclaim His death till He come."

So far from exerting a saving influence, in part or whole, upon the souls of those who receive these ordinances, He enjoined them simply as acts of personal obedience to Himself.

They are monuments of the great work which He wrought for us, but neither of them can be moral renovators of the soul.