I’m Rev Jay Stuart Glover . On the first Sunday of the month many Baptist Congregations are having a Communion Service. Today I would like to share a bit about the communion service through the lens of the Baptist tradition.
There are two biblical ordinances observed in the Baptist Tradition:
Baptism and The Lord’s Supper.
To add some context right here let me say this:
Jesus gathered his disciples together to partake of the Passover Meal. This historical event prior to the arrest of Jesus, has come to be known to us as the “Last Supper.” The theological parallels between the celebration of the Passover and the modern day Communion service are profound. Together they both speak to themes of liberation and redemption throughout the biblical narrative.
At the heart of the Passover observance is the remembrance and celebration of the liberation of God’s people from slavery in Egypt. (The Exodus Event)
During the Last Supper, Jesus introduces the bread and wine as symbols of His body and blood, framing His upcoming crucifixion as the ultimate sacrificial act for humanity's liberation and redemption. Whereas the Passover celebrates rescue and freedom from the bondage of slavery and oppression, the Last Supper points to the rescue, justification, reconciliation and salvation from the power of sin and death through the atoning ministry of Jesus the Christ. At the Last Supper, Jesus speaks of the "new covenant" established in His blood. This signifies a shift from the old covenant attempts at adherence to the law, to a new covenant anchored in the gift of grace, mercy and salvation through faith in Christ.
The Role of Remembrance
Passover is inherently a celebration of remembrance, where each element of the Seder meal serves to retell the story of the Exodus and God’s deliverance of His people . Participants are instructed to remember their ancestors' suffering and God's subsequent intervention.
Jesus emphasizes remembrance at the Last Supper, commanding His disciples, to do this in remembrance of Him. This act of remembrance connects modern day believers to the core belief at the center of our faith.
Unity and Community
Both Passover and the Communion service embody themes of community and unity. Passover is traditionally celebrated with family and friends, symbolizing collective remembrance and participation in God's covenant . Similarly, our communion service gathers likeminded believers, declaring our unity in Christ. This communal aspect highlights the importance of relationships among believers, both with God and each other. We are not meant to fly solo, we are a faith community.
Articles of Faith:
Article Fourteen: Baptism And The Lord’s Supper
We believe the scriptures teach that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost; to show forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life ; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a Church relation; and to the Lord’s Supper , in which the members of the Church, by the sacred use of bread and wine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination.
Scripture references:
Matt 26:26-30
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Luke 22:19-20
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.[
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
The verse "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes" is rich in theological significance.
The act of eating the bread and drinking from the cup during the communion serves as an individual and communal proclamation of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. This proclamation has served a a memorialized witness for over 2000 years. Christians are called to reflect on the nature of Christ's sacrifice, which involves acknowledgment of their sinfulness and the grace extended through the atoning ministry of Jesus. (His birth, life, death, burial, resurrection and His coming again)
The latter part of the verse, "until he comes," introduces an eschatological dimension, indicating that the practice of communion as an ongoing, continual ordinance until the coming of Christ. This anticipation of Christ's return encourages believers to live in faith and hope knowing that we not only memorialize the past but also look forward to the future fulfillment of God's promises.
Eligibility to receive communion.
- In the Baptist tradition baptized believers are eligible (qualified) to partake of (or receive) the Lord’s Supper.
- We do not serve communion to children until they are baptized.
I’m Rev Jay Stuart Glover. Thank you for joining our global listening audience. Today I’d like to send a special shout out to listeners in Germany and India. Visit the website at www.revjaystuartglover.com where you can leave your comments. These episodes are available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube and other podcast platforms. Please share with family and friends and May God continue to bless you Amen.
