Leaves of Gold

Calling For A Return To Biblical Teaching

A ministry of Evangelist James A. Nelson

February 2011

The People Called Baptists

Why They Are Different

Lee R. Tillman, Bogard Press

Lesson Six: Why do Baptists Practice “Close Communion”?

Text: Matthew 26:20, 26-30

Aim: To show that the Lord´s Supper is a church communion, and so cannot be extended to outsiders.

Intro: Most Missionary Baptist assemblies practice restricted or close communion. This is, they confine the observance of the Lord´s Supper to the immediate membership of the local assembly. Many maintain the Lord´s assemblies actually practice a close baptism, but the Lord´s Supper has many restrictions of its own.

The opposite of restricted communion is open communion. This is, anyone can observe it. Between the two views is the inter-church communion idea....that is, any person of the same type of assembly may observe the Supper together. However, the true position is based on the Scriptures, while false positions are based on tradition, human logic, and sentiment. The true position is “close” or “closed” communion. Why?

Because it is an ordinance of the assembly.

The Lord´s Supper is a church ordinance; therefore it should be not be treated as though it were a community function. Paul referred to the ordinances to the assembly at Corinth; see 1 Corinthians 11:2. Then he devoted much of that chapter to instruction regarding the Supper, 1 Corintios 11:23. Moreover, one of the church ordinances is the Lord´s Supper. Paul understood it that way, and he instructed the Corinthian Church that way.

The Great Commission teaches the Lord´s Supper is a church ordinance, Matthew 28:20. The observance of the Lord´s Supper is one of those “things” Christ commanded His assembly to observe, Luke 22:19. Since the Lord Jesus said: “Do this”, it a a command: therefore the commission commands the church to teach the observance of the Lord´s Supper. There is no Scripture for it being observed by a non-member of a New Testament assembly.

The Lord´s Supper has a perpetual aspect, because the Lord´s assemblies have a perpetual aspect, Ephesians 3:21. Hence, it is an ordinance of the assembly, 1 Corinthians 11:26. To whom could the Bible refer as showing “...the Lord´s death till He come...” in the Lord´s Supper observance? It could not be individual saved people, for some of them lived until the second coming. However, the Lord´s assemblies will be here when He returns. Moreover, the perpetual aspect of the Lord´s Supper teaches it is an ordinance of the assembly.

Because it recognizes scriptural baptism.

For Baptists to shout loud and long about scriptural baptism, then practice “open” communion, would be an inconsistency. It would be a matter of strict doctrinal stand on baptism, but a loose position on the Lord´s Supper. Such a posture is an unexplainable and inexcusable inconsistency.

There is no Bible example of anyone´s observing the Lord´s Supper without a proper baptism. The Lord delivered His Supper to those who has scriptural baptism, Matthew 26:26-30. The assembly at Corinth, to whom Paul delivered the most thorough instructions on the Supper in all the Bible, involved people with scriptural baptism. The assembly at Troas was comprised of people with a proper baptism, Acts 2:5-7. There is no scriptural justification for a “city-wide” communion service, inviting unbaptized people to partake.

Open communion recognizes “sprinkling” and “pouring” as baptism. Close communion rejects them. It requires the participants at the Lord´s table to be sound in the faith, see 1 Corinthians 11:18-20. Open communion admits heresy. Only close communion satisfies Pauls instructions to deny heretics a place at the Lord´s tale by recognizing scriptural baptism.

Because it supports the Bible order.

The Bible order is ....salvation...baptism...doctrinal soundness...fellowship and then, the Lord´s Table. Acts. 2:41, 42. Only a local New Testament assembly can qualify for the Bible order set forth in the above passages. Open communion throws the scriptural order into chaos. It admits the unsaved, the unchurched, the unbaptized, the heretical, the backslider and even the winebibber to the Lord´s Table.

Those who refuse to fellowship actively with the assembly have no right to partake of the Lord´s Table. Some think communion establishes a fellowship, but the Bible order emphasizes fellowship needs to be there before the observance of the Table. In fact, those who walk disorderly should not even be in the membership, 2 Thess. 3:6.

Since baptism and doctrinal soundness have already received consideration, it needs only to be said they precede, rather than follow, the observance of the Lord´s Table in the Bible order.

1. That salvation is the first prerequisite for observing the Table. Some believe it is the only requirement, thus they emphasize the importance of salvation. However, no matter how sincere such people are, they fail to see the Bible order, which pus salvation as the first qualification for the Lord´s Table.

Because open communion is anti-scriptural.

Open Communion is absurd in allowing tradition, human logic, and sentiment to confuse the Bible order. It places the Lord´s cup on the same level as the Devil´s and the Lord´s table on the same level as the Devil´s, see 1 Corinthians 10:21. Open communion adds so many srange and weird superstitions to communion; it can only be the cup and the table of demons. True Baptists should practice restricted communion, otherwise they are fellowship with demons, 1 Corinthians 10:20.

Open communion leads to all sorts of errors. When people accept this heresy, it is just a matter of time until they accept others. This practice tends to do away with the distinctions and the identity of the local New Testament assembly. It puts the Lord´s assemblies on the same level with those of Satan. It says “salvation by works” is just as good as “salvation by grace”. It leads to the acceptance of alien baptism, non-baptist and sprinking. Sprinkling and pouring lead to the acceptance of “baptismal regeneration” heresy. Consequently, open communion degrades scriptural baptism and leads to all kinds of heresy.

Missionary Baptist have nothing to gain and much to lose by subscribing to the “open communion” practice. On the other hand, they have much to gain and nothing important to lose by confining themselves to the Lord´s Table. The restricted communion practice must be preserved. No one else will. (These studies will continue each month)

Web Master: Pastor Martin R. Gutzmer, mrgutmer@gmail.com

Sponser: David R. Pickett, dr_pickett@hotmail.com