Answer to Question: "What are the Scriptural grounds for forbidding Communion to un-Baptized believers?"

Someone asked the question, "Is there any Scripture to back up the claim that un-baptized believers should not take communion?"

I want to address this question in three parts, concluding with the Scriptures asked for.

 

I. The Historical evidence.

A. Early Baptist Churches believed that the Bible taught Baptism before Communion:

1. From an Article: "A Baptist Distinctive of the Early Church"

> The Lord's Supper Is For Scripturally Baptized Disciples Within The Local Church

Our Lord gave the Supper to His baptized disciples, not to the world. If this is true, then the first pre-requisite in coming to the Lord's Table is that one must be a baptized Christian, born of the Spirit and baptized in the manner set forth in the Scriptures.

D. B. Ray (Baptist Succession, p. 220) says, "And the commission itself fixes baptism as the first duty after believing; therefore, under the Great Commission no one can commune before baptism. The communion is one of those things which is commanded to be observed after baptism."

Robert C. Walton (The Gathered Community, p. 165) says, "Baptism is the normal means of entrance into the Christian Church and of access to the Lord's Table. BOTH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT TIMES AND THROUGHOUT CHURCH HISTORY AN UN-BAPTIZED CHRISTIAN HAS BEEN, IN GENERAL, A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS.

It is ironical to the last degree that Baptists, of all people, should have come increasingly to despise baptism, and to admit to membership un-baptized persons.

WHILST WE REJECT INFANT BAPTISM AND CLING TENACIOUSLY TO THE FORM OF IMMERSION, WE ARE APPARENTLY COMPLAISANT THAT CHURCH MEMBERS SHOULD NOT BE BAPTIZED AT ALL."

 

2. Notice this statement:

> IN THE NEW TESTAMENT TIMES AND THROUGHOUT CHURCH HISTORY AN UN-BAPTIZED CHRISTIAN HAS BEEN, IN GENERAL, A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS.

> In other words, why is there even an argument as to whether an un-baptized church member can take part in the Lord’s Table...

> Since there is no such thing as an un-baptized church member!

3. Then notice another amazing statement:

> "WE ARE APPARENTLY COMPLAISANT THAT CHURCH MEMBERS SHOULD NOT BE BAPTIZED AT ALL!"

> In other words, if Baptism is not cause for exclusion of other church ordinances, then why baptize at all?

4. But, my favorite statement:

> It is ironical to the last degree THAT BAPTISTS, OF ALL PEOPLE, should have come increasingly to despise baptism, and to admit into membership un-baptized persons.

> He believed that a TRUE BAPTIST DISTINCTIVE was that no un-baptized person could become a church member.

 

 

B. A Second article from "The Statement of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland" (The Lord's Supper, p. 33) says,

> We believe that, although there is no statement on the point in the New Testament, our brethren who belong to 'Closed Communion' Churches are undoubtedly right in maintaining that membership of the Christian Church and therefore presumably participation in the Lord's Supper, seems in the earliest days to have been confined to persons who were baptized upon profession of faith.

> We honor the sincerity and earnestness of those who have contended for this aspect of the truth, sometimes under very great difficulties. We believe the Church of Christ today would be infinitely had it not been for their witness."

> The historic denominations for hundreds of years, and Anabaptists before them, have always held to this order: baptism, church membership and then communion. They have always reserved the right to refuse communion to anyone considered heretical or unworthy. Or, even that some should not be baptized at all."

C. A Third Article that dates back to 1880.

1. A Case For Closed Communion; Taken from "The Baptist Pamphlet", 1880

> All they ask of the whole Pedobaptist world, is for them to follow their example in this particular: "Be willing to take God's Holy Word as it may be literally interpreted," and as the best authorities do construe its sacred words, and they are certain that it would not be long before the whole evangelical church would say, we have "one Lord, one faith, one Baptism."

> One other thing which is worthy of praise must be allowed us, and that is CONSISTENCY. We neither believe in, nor will we give countenance to, infant sprinkling; nor allow sprinkling or pouring to be Christian baptism; NOR WILL WE ADMIT THAT ANY UN-BAPTIZED PERSON HAS A RIGHT TO COMMUNE. Here we stand unflinchingly, and are determined not to move or swerve a hair's breadth. If we should, we would be inconsistent. I might say, IF WE SHOULD DEPART FROM ANY OF THESE LANDMARKS WE WOULD CEASE TO BE BAPTISTS.

 

2. Historically Baptist’s believed that no un-baptized believer should take the Lord’s Table.

> I have shown three articles from Baptist History to this effect.

 

II. Logical Evidence.

A. ASCRIBED JULY 25, 2004 - FBC Constitution.

ARTICLE III. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Any person professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, giving evidence of regeneration, and accepting the Doctrinal Statement and Constitution held by this church may be received into its membership. EACH CANDIDATE MUST BE SCRIPTURALLY BAPTIZED, AND PUBLICLY RELATE HIS/HER SALVATION EXPERIENCE TO THE CHURCH.

 

2. In other words OUR OWN CONSTITUTION forbids us to allow into membership an un-baptized believer.

> Those members who are saved after having professed salvation and baptism, must follow the Lord in Baptism as soon as it is convenient.

B. Since the Ordinance of The Lord’s Table was given to the Church...

1. That is Baptism and Communion are ordinances of the church.

> It is logical to expect that those that take communion are members of a Church.

2. To be willingly opposed to church membership and church attendance would constitute direct disobedience to the Bible...

> Such disobedience would prevent you from Communion anyway!

3. Therefore, logically this is a mute point, since Communion is for the church...

> And, it is unscriptural to admit an un-baptized believer into the membership.

 

III. Scriptural Evidence.

A. (Matt. 28:19-20) The Chronological Order of The Great Commission.

1. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations."

> Mark says, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

> Luke tells us, "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

> We understand this to mean that we are to go and win people to Jesus Christ by means of teaching them the Gospel!

2. "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

> All through the N.T. Baptism follows Salvation:

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Acts 10:45-48 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

 

3. It is not until they have been Saved and Baptized that we are to teach them the other facets of the church; "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..."

> [1 Cor 11:23-24] "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 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."

> It should be understood by this that Paul is teaching them that which he was taught.

> "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you..."

> The Lord’s supper was taught to believers. There is a strong condemnation pronounced toward unbelievers taking Communion.

4. The Chronological Order of the Great Commission is:

> Salvation; Baptism; and then others things that the Lord has commanded us!

 

B. (Acts 2:41-42) The order of the ordinances is given clearly.

1. "For they that gladly received his word..."

> Salvation.

2. " were baptized..."

> Baptism.

3. "and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls"

> Church membership.

4. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers."

> Teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you.