RBC Church Family,

God’s grace to you in Jesus! 

Many of you who were with us last Lord’s Day know that we introduced a small but important change to the end of our worship service. Typically, when we’ve observed communion, I’ve welcomed to the Lord’s table everyone who has trusted Jesus alone for the forgiveness of their sins, and who is committed to walking in repentance. Last Sunday, I added the provision, “and who has been baptized”.

You may remember that I alluded to this specification during a previous sermon on 1 Corinthians 11. RBC’s other elders and I are convinced that while this is not a clear-cut matter of sin-versus-obedience, still a church’s most Christ-honoring policy is to extend its communion invitation to those who’ve followed through with the Bible’s call to “repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38; see also Matt. 28:18-20).

Change is always difficult—difficult to lead, and difficult to follow. Your shepherds want to pursue change with our church not to be trendy or to add more rules, but only to be as consistent as possible with the truths God has revealed in His word. As the reformers put it, we want RBC to be “always reforming”. I confess that, in hindsight, it would have been more helpful if we had given the church family several weeks’ notice of this change, to allow you to express any concerns or questions you might have had.

Nevertheless, we still believe that this policy is among the best ways for our church to apply 1 Cor. 11:28: “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” And we as your shepherds remain eager to hear and address those concerns and questions, and to help you understand the whole counsel of God on this issue. If you would like to visit with an elder further about our church’s practices of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, or if you or your children are interested in being baptized, please don’t hesitate to contact us at elders@redemptionbible.church, or (785) 553-7272.

Finally, below are links to several further resources on this question which we have found helpful.

 

May you be blessed in the Lord Jesus!

 

Pastor Jeremy

 

Resources:

  • David DeBruyn, “Why Baptism Before the Lord’s Supper?” (July 20, 2023). Found here.
  • Todd Friel, “Should a person be allowed to take communion who has not been baptized?” Found here.



Further Scriptures for reflection:

  • Matthew 28:18-20
  • Luke 22:19-20
  • Acts 2:41; 8:12, 35-38; 9:18; 10:47-48
  • Romans 6:1-4
  • 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, 14-21
  • 1 Corinthians 11:23-28
  • 1 Corinthians 12:13
  • Galatians 3:27
  • Ephesians 4:4-6
  • Colossians 2:12
  • 1 Peter 3:21