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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | What makes me unworthy of Lords Sup.? | 1 Cor 11:27 | Reformer Joe | 63041 | ||
Searcher: You wrote: "First, no where does it say baptism is a requirement to partake of the Lord's Supper ... one needs to be a Christian." Not that baptism makes one a Christian, but I would say that it is the visible sign and seal of being united to the visible church. Why would one partake in a holy ordinance testifying to one's union with Christ without first being a participant in water baptism? I do not believe in baptismal regeneration by any means, but the "take-it-or-leave-it" attitude toward water baptism for the Christian has absolutely no basis in Scripture. New Testament Christians were baptized Christians. The issue wasn't mentioned because there was no issue to mention. --Joe! |
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2 | What makes me unworthy of Lords Sup.? | 1 Cor 11:27 | Hank | 63046 | ||
Not long ago I heard a fine sermon in which the minister spoke at some length about the casual attitude some of today's Christians have toward water baptism. The minister was Southern Baptist and was addressing a Southern Baptist congregation, so he was of course not teaching baptismal regeneration. He recounted some of the lame excuses that he had heard from professing Christians for not being baptized: Didn't want to get their hair wet and spoil their hair-do. Were afraid they would slip and fall getting into or out of the baptistery. Were afraid of water. .... One wonders whether these people who seem to be so averse to water ever drink any of it or take a bath. My faith holds that there are two church ordinances, water baptism and the Lord's Supper, neither of which is salvific but neither of which is to be taken lightly or viewed as optional. --Hank | ||||||
3 | What makes me unworthy of Lords Sup.? | 1 Cor 11:27 | Reformer Joe | 63076 | ||
It is both ordinances which receive such short shrift in much of 21st-century evangelicalism. Try asking twenty professing evangelical Protestants what is the importance of holy communion. I would venture to guess that many wouldn't have the slightest problem with not partaking of it again for the rest of their lives. People just don't get how and why Christ linked water, wine, and bread to spiritual realities. The attitude seems to be, "It doesn't justify me, so what is the big deal?" --Joe! |
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4 | What makes me unworthy of Lords Sup.? | 1 Cor 11:27 | Hank | 63078 | ||
Your observations of the attitude which many 21st-Century professing Christians take toward the ordinance of water baptism and holy communion are, I would say, accurate and bona fide, and might be expanded to include certain other things as well -- things which, like baptism and communion, while not effecting salvation, clearly do attest to it. Things such as responsible stewardship, Bible study and prayer, engaging in regular worship of God and fellowship with the saints, being a good and helpful neighbor; in short, "living the Christian life" for want of a better phrase. My observations of the mind-set that far too many 'church members' seem to have (I put 'church members' in quotes and use it in lieu of 'regenerate believers' because they are not necessarily synonymous) can be described somewhat like this: "O.K., I'm saved, I have 'eternal security,' so why should I knock myself out with all this good works stuff? Why, that's not even scriptural. It's probably legalism, just like being a Pharisee. I'm saved. That's all that counts. It doesn't really matter one way or another what I do or don't do." Perhaps that's close to what Dietrich Bonhoeffer had in mind in "The Cost of Discipleship" when he used the term 'cheap grace.' And Jesus laid it down plainly and for all time when he said, "By their fruits you will know them." I don't believe He left us much wiggle room or intended to. --Hank | ||||||