Baptists, Presbyterians, and Catholics (RCC) all have a different understanding of the Lord’s Supper. Since we are celebrating the Lord’s Supper this morning, today’s bulletin note will discuss the Baptistic distinctions concerning the Lord’s Supper. First, Baptists do not have a universal document that governs our understanding of the Lord’s Supper. While Southern Baptists have the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, others have different reformed confessions. New Covenant Theology (NCT) Baptists do not have a universal confession of faith. Both the RCC and the Presbyterians have doctrinal statements that guide their beliefs, understanding, and practices. Presbyterians subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF), where, according to Chapter 29, Section 1, the Lord’s Supper was instituted for several purposes, including “…their [believers’] spiritual nourishment and growth in Him [Christ]” (WCF 29.1). It further explains that worthy participants “…by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally in, with, or under the bread and wine; but spiritually, receive, and feed upon, Christ crucified, and all benefits of his death” (WCF 29.7). NCT Baptists would say Scripture does not substantiate the language, “…receive and feed upon Christ crucified” and is therefore, most problematic. The 1689 Reformed Baptists would align more with the Presbyterians. “Receive and feed upon” sounds much like John 6:35, 51-58 (*please review these verses in your Bible).
Second, both Catholics and Presbyterians are wrestling with John 6 as it relates to the Lord’s Supper. Reformed and NCT Baptists generally do not attempt to connect the dots between John 6 and the New Covenant celebration that Christ instituted on the night of His final Passover meal (Luke 22:19–20). What are believers receiving that we did not have before partaking of the bread or the cup? NCT Baptists would argue the benefit is not from the presence of the elements per se, but from what each symbolizes as the believer is strengthened through remembering Christ and Him crucified (1Co 11). Is John 6 about believing or eating and drinking? Is the Lord’s Supper about remembering or eating and drinking? Consider John 6:54, “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” But just a few verses earlier, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life” (6:47). Are “feeding” and “drinking” being used as substitutes for “believing”? Or is feeding and drinking pointing to the Lord’s Supper? NCT Baptists argue that feeding and drinking are not connected to the Lord’s Supper but are connected to Christ’s death on the cross, believing in the person and work of Christ.
Third, the primary difference between Presbyterians and NCT Baptists concerns how the spiritual nourishment of the Supper is received. What role do the elements play? NCT Baptists emphasize the role the elements serve as symbols, reminding the believer of Christ and His crucifixion. Presbyterians seem to give more weight to the elements as more than memorials. Furthermore, Catholics confess transubstantiation—that by consecration, the bread and wine actually become, in substance, the Body and Blood of Christ while they still look like bread and wine. Today, you will hear the words “Take, eat.” At that moment, the emphasis is neither on what we are eating nor on the act of eating. If we are remembering all we know about Christ’s saving work in our lives through remembrance of our salvation and God’s glorious Gospel, is there any more to be gained by swallowing the bread? No. The spiritual benefit is found through the Holy Spirit in focused faith in Christ and Him crucified for our own sins and salvation. The corporate action of eating is not appropriating; it is the unified testimony that every participant is presently trusting in Christ’s death for their salvation. Eating and drinking are symbols of what has already taken place; the elements themselves are not a means toward more grace or spiritual nourishment. Therein lies the difference between NCT Baptists and Reformed Baptists/Presbyterians’ view of the Lord’s Supper (1Co 11:23–26). Paul said, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1Co 11:26). The corporate gathering to eat the bread and drink the cup of the Lord’s Supper proclaims Christ and Him crucified until He returns for His church.
