Sermon
Outlines by Milburn Cockrell
Why Baptists Practice Closed Communion
Acts 2:41,
42; 1 Corinthians 11:2, 28
INTRODUCTION
Baptists
have been misunderstood, criticized and
misrepresented more for this practice than for any other.It is,really, restricted
observance of the Lord's Supper.
THE BAPTIST POSITION:
"We
do not invite unbaptized persons to the Lord's table,and as we do not extend
invitations to such persons,we do not accept invitations of unbaptized persons
to partake with them"(George W.McDaniel).
I.AND YET, ALL THE MAJOR DENOMINATIONS TEACH IT!
1.Church
of England:"No church ever gave the communion to any person before he was
baptized;among all the absurdities ever held,none ever held this,that any
person should take of the communion before he was baptized" (Dr.William
Wall).
2.Presbyterian:"It
is certain that so far as our knowledge of primitive antiquity goes,no
unbaptized person received the Lord's Supper"(Dr.Doddridge).
3.Congregational:"I
agree with the advoates of close communion...that we ought not to commune with
those who have not been baptized,and of course are not members,even if we
regard them as Christians"(Dr.Griffin).
4.Methodist:"It
is but just to remark that in one principle the Baptist and Pedo-Baptist
churches agree.They both agree in rejecting from the table of the Lord and in
denying the rights of church fellowship to all who have not been
baptized"(Dr.Hibbard).
5.Episcopalian:"None
could be admitted to holy communion but baptized persons lying under no
censure"(Prof. Chettham).
6.Campbellites:"Your
third opinion is:Do any of your churches admit unbaptized persons to
communion,a practice that is becoming very prevalent in this country?Not so far
as is known to me ...But I object to making
it a rule,in any case,to receive unimmersed persons to church
ordinances"(Alexander Campbell).
II.MISREPRESENTATIONS OF OUR POSITION:
1."Baptist
believe that they are the only people who are saved."Contra.Acts
10:34,35;John
2."Baptists
are bigoted."Contra Romans 14:5b.
3."Baptists
are narrow and divisive."Contra 1 Corinthians 11:2b;2 Corinthians
"It
is submitted that Baptists are not responsible for existing divisions.Baptists
have adhered to a uniform Scriptural practice.The people who deviate from the
course of the New Testament are responsible for the divisions"(George W.
McDaniel
Why
Baptists Pratice Closed Communion
III.BECAUSE,ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE.IT IS RESTRICTED TO
:
1.The
saved --believers --Matthew 26:20;Acts
2.The
baptized (no New Testament record to the contrary).
A.A
Scriptural subject --a born-again person --Matthew 28:19;Acts
B.A
Scriptural administrator --a New Testament church --Matthew 28:19 ;no man-made
society originating later has any authority.
C.A
Scriptural mode --immersion --Matthew 3:16;Mark 1:5;John 3:23;Acts
8:38,39;Romans 6:4;
Colossians
2:12;sprinkling and pouring are equivalent to no baptism at all!
D.A
Scriptural design --to show that the person baptized has already been saved
--Matthew 3:15;1 Peter 3:21.
3.Those in
church capacity --Acts 2:41;1 Corinthians 11:18,20;it is a church ordinance;
man-made substitutes for a church not even counted.
4.The
sound in doctrine --Acts 2:42;1 Corinthians 11:18-20;(Makes inter-denominational
communion impossible!);2 Thessalonians
5.The
fellowship of pure life and orderly walk --Acts 2:42;1 Corinthians 5:11.
CONCLUSION
"Close
communion"is the only consistent,Scriptural position.
When we
get to the Lord's table, what blessed communion with Him! 1 Corinthians 10:16.
Have you heeded the Gospel testimony dramatized by the Lord's
supper? 1 Corinthians 11:26.