Baptist Catechism 103

Q. 103 Who are the proper subjects of this ordinance [that is to say, of the Lord’s Supper]?

A. They who have been baptized upon a personal profession of their faith in Jesus Christ, and repentance from dead works. (Acts 2:41,42)

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:36–42

“‘Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.’ Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.’ And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation.’ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:36–42, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

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We have, for some time now, been considering the outward and ordinary means that Christ uses to distribute the benefits of the redemption he earned a long time ago to his elect, living in all times and places. These means, conduits, or delivery mechanisms are sometimes referred to as the means of grace. Baptist catechism 93 rightly identifies the Word of God, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and prayer as the outward and ordinary means of grace. These are the things, external to us, that God ordinarily uses to save and to sanctify his people. 

Baptist Catechism 94 and 95 focus on the Word of God, read and preached.

Baptist Catechism 96 is about the efficacy of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Questions 97 through 100 focus on baptism, what it is, to whom it is to be administered, and how it is to be administered. 

Interestingly, Baptist Catechism 101 is about church membership. Q. 101. What is the duty of such who are rightly baptized? A. It is the duty of those who are rightly baptized to give up themselves to some particular and orderly church of Jesus Christ, that they may walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. So then, those who turn from their sins and place their faith in Christ are to be baptized, and these are to join themselves to an orderly church, typically, the one they were baptized in. 

I say it is interesting that Baptist Catechisms 101 is about church membership, because it is situated right in the middle of a series of questions and answers about the means of grace. The meaning is clear: God distributes these means of grace that we are here considering in and through his churches. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is to be preached to the world by the church, that is to say, by her minsters and members sent out 

Those who are brought to repentance and faith (through the converting ordinance of the word of God) are to be baptized into the church (by those called and ordained to do so).

And it is within the church (as members of it) that Christ followers are to “walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” This means that Christians are to strive to obey God’s commands as church members, and they are to partake of these ordinances or means of grace as church members. It is in the church that the word of God is read and preached, that baptisms are administered and observed, that the Lord’s Supper is served, and that prayers are offered up to God.    

I think it was Cyprian who famously said, “No one can have God as Father who does not have the church as Mother”, and there is truth to that statement. The Holy Spirit uses the church to give birth to new believers through the preaching of the word of God. And it is within the contect of the church that new believers are nursed, nurtured, and disciplined, so that they might grow up to maturity. It is not the church that saves and sanctifies—God and Christ do. But the church used by God to bring salvation to sinners and to sanctify them further, for these means of grace that we are now considering are administered by her.  

When our catechism says in question 101, It is the duty of those who are rightly baptized to give up themselves to some particular and orderly church of Jesus Christ, that they may walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless, this includes the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s supper is an ordinance (something Christ has ordered or ordained) to be observed in the church to the end of the world. 

That is what Baptist Catechism 102 teaches. Q: What is the Lord’s Supper? A: The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of the New Testament, instituted by Jesus Christ; wherein by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to His appointment, His death is shown forth, and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporeal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of His body and blood, with all His benefits, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace.

Finally, Q 103 asks, Who are the proper subjects of this ordinance? In other words, who should partake of this ordinance? A. They who have been baptized upon a personal profession of their faith in Jesus Christ, and repentance from dead works. 

Notice, our catechism does not say, it is they who have been baptized who are the proper subjects of this ordinance. If the answer were worded like this, I suppose it could be taken to mean that those baptized as infants may properly partake of the Supper, but that is not our view.   

I also find it interesting that our catechism does not directly ask who may partake of this ordinance, but rather who are the proper subjects of this ordinance. I’m not sure about this, but I wonder if the wording is meant to leave room for the opinion that some Particulat Baptists of the 17th century held (and some still hold today) that those who were baptized as infants in protestant churches and who hold to paedobaptsit conviction can be permitted to come to the Lord’s Table, especially when visiting from other churches. May they be served the Supper? Some would say, yes. Is it proper? Not in our view. Why? Because their baptism is invalid, given that it was not administered upon a personal profession of their faith in Jesus Christ, and repentance from dead works. 

Acts 2:41-42 is listed as a proof text in our catechism, and it is a good one: “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:41–42, ESV).

Baptism is to be given to those who turn from their sins and profess faith in Jesus, which is something infants can’t do. 

Baptism marks the beginning of the Christian life and membership in the covenant community. The Lord’s Supper signifies continuing in Christ and in the covenant community.

Baptism may be compared to a wedding. The Lord’s Supper may be compared to an anniversary celebration.

In baptism, we say, “I believe”, and “Jesus is Lord”. In the Lord’s Supper, we say “I still believe”, and “Jesus is still Lord”.  

In baptism, God says, “This one is mine”. In the Lord’s Supper, God says, “I am ever faithful and with you still.” 

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Conclusion

Appendix

Compare the Baptist Catechism with the Westminster Shorter Catechism at this point.

Q. 92. What is a sacrament? 

A. A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.

Q. 93. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament? 

A. The sacraments of the New Testament are, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. 

Q. 94. What is baptism? 

A. Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s. 

Q. 95. To whom is Baptism to be administered? 

A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized. 

Q. 96. What is the Lord’s Supper? 

A. The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’s appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace. 

Q. 97. What is required for the worthy receiving of the Lord’s Supper? 

A. It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord’s Supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves.

Old Testament Reading: Leviticus 19:9–18

“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God. You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD. You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:9–18, ESV)

New Testament Reading: 1 Peter 1:22–23

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God…” (1 Peter 1:22–23, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church, but without the benefit of proofreading.

Sermon

About a month ago, I preached a topical sermon entitled, Church Discipline: A Variety Of Cases And Measures. In my opinion, that was an important sermon, practically speaking, because it helped the members of this church to prepare for a rather difficult members’ meeting wherein we considered and voted on several diverse church discipline cases. 

After I delivered that sermon, and especially after our members’ meeting on August 19, it has been on my mind and heart to deliver another topical sermon on church discipline, but to focus this time, not on the technical or procedural side of things—the variety of cases the church will face and the variety of measures at our disposal—but on the heart. What must be in the hearts of church members and in the hearts of elders when conducting discipline?  Also, I wish to shift our focus away from formal church discipline to what has been called formative church discipline. And so here is the title of the sermon today: Formative Church Discipline: Love One Another Earnestly From A Pure Heart.

Why do I believe there is a need for a sermon like this? First, I will say, it is not because I am aware of any serious problem within our congregation as it pertains to formative church discipline or love. I’m very pleased with the way the members of this church have carried themselves when conducting discipline. When I look out upon this church, I see members committed to the process of discipline with love in their hearts for one another. I’m delivering this sermon today, not because I think we have a problem presently, but to help protect us from a potential error.

As you know, Christ’s churches must practice church discipline in obedience to his revealed will as found in the pages of Holy Scripture. Formal church discipling can take many forms. Depending on the situation, it may involve public censure (or rebuke), suspension, withdrawal, exclusion, or excommunication. I defined these things and discussed when they are appropriate in a previous sermon. But, according to our constitution, “formative church discipline is the church engaged in edifying and disciplining itself in love.” It goes on to say, “It is the responsibility of each member to endeavor to maintain this Christian duty of mutual edification for one another(Romans 12:3-8; I Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4:7-16; I Thessalonians 5:11-14; I Peter 4:10,11). This is done by the use of and submission to the gifts of those both old and young, office bearer and member, which Christ graciously gives to his church” (Article V, Section 3).

I trust you understand what formative church discipline is. It happens continuously in the life of a church, even if you are not thinking of it in these terms. When a preacher preaches, formative church discipline is taking place. When a pastor offers counsel to a member, that’s formative church discipline. When one member encourages or rebukes another member, again, that is formative church discipline. These are all examples of the “edifying and disciplining itself…”    

But the focus of this sermon is not on what formative discipline is, but on how. How, or in what manner, is formative church discipline to be done? The answer is, in love. That is what our constitution says. Hear it again: ​​“formative church discipline is the church engaged in edifying and disciplining itself in love.” Those two words are immensely important. Formative church discipline is always to be done in love. And please do not misunderstand: formal church discipline is to be done in love, too. 

Consider this: While there are only a handful of passages in the Holy Scriptures that teach us about formal church discipline—Matthew 18; 1 Corinthians 5, 1 Timothy 5:20, Titus 3:10, etc—there are many, many passages that insist that Christains have love for one another. 

1 Peter 1:22–23, which was read just a moment ago, is one such passage. The command found in the middle of that text will shape this sermon. “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another… earnestly… from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God…” So the three points of the sermon are as follows: 1) Love one another; 2) Love one another earnestly; 3) Love one another from a pure heart.

Love One Another

First, Christians must love one another. 

Love, the Scriptures tell us, is to be the defining characteristic of a disciple of Jesus. 

Christ said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34–35, ESV). 

In John 15:17 we hear him say,  “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you… These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” (John 15:12, 17, ESV)

Love must be felt and shown. 

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:1–7, ESV)

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people” (Titus 3:1–2, ESV).

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24–25, ESV)

Love One Another Earnestly

True love is more than an emotion, but it is not less.  

Love one another earnestly. 

The word rendered “earnestly” pertains to an “unceasing activity, normally involving a degree of intensity and/or perseverance—‘without ceasing, continuously, constantly’” (Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 655).

Feel love in your heart for each other.

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection” (Romans 12:9–10, ESV).

“Let brotherly love continue.” (Hebrews 13:1, ESV)

“For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:8, ESV)

Put on the leading heart virtue of love, as well as the other virtues of the heart that flow from it. 

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:12–14, ESV)

Love One Another From A Pure Heart

Our love for one another must issue from a pure heart. 

“Love one another earnestly from a pure heart…”, our text says (1 Peter 1:22, ESV).  

Paul, in 1 Timothy 1:5 says, “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5, ESV).

The heart must be kept pure by our obedience to the truth.  

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart…” 

We are able to keep the heart pure and to love because of the work of regeneration that God has done in us. 

“Love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God…” (1 Peter 1:22–23, ESV).

Those born of God will love, for God is love. 

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7–8, ESV).

Conclusion

Know that love is not contrary to discipline. 

Consider that God is love, and God disciplines those he loves. 

“And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.’ It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:5–11, ESV)

Consider that every parent who loves their child will discipline them. 

“Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.” (Proverbs 13:24, ESV)

Know that discipline cases (especially when they are difficult) can deaden our love for one another. 

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’” (Revelation 2:1–7, ESV)

Know that love is the crucial ingredient to all our endeavors.

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13, ESV)