Rachel Evans
Communion and baptism are two sacraments of the church, with communion being the meal of the church and baptism being the formal and visible entrance into the church. While there is no explicit mention in the Scriptures, the majority of churches believe that baptism is a prerequisite for communion. This is because communion is a renewal of faith, and it would be dishonest for someone to participate in this renewal if they have not professed faith through baptism. However, modern evangelical culture has made baptism optional, allowing individuals to pursue it at their own comfort and convenience.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is baptism a prerequisite for communion? | While it is not stated in Scripture that a person must be baptized before receiving communion, the majority of Christians throughout history have believed that only baptized people should participate in the Eucharistic meal. |
| What is the significance of baptism? | Baptism is an initial profession of faith and identification with Christ that unites someone to the church. |
| What is the significance of communion? | Communion is an ongoing, continual, and repeated renewal of faith, a pledge of renewed trust in Christ, and a celebration of the redemption our Savior accomplished on our behalf in His death. |
| Who can participate in communion? | Only Christians can participate in communion as they are the only ones who can celebrate and remember the Savior's salvation. |
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What You'll Learn
Baptism is not required before communion according to Scripture
While many Christian denominations consider baptism to be a prerequisite for communion, Scripture does not explicitly state that baptism is a requirement before receiving communion.
The Scriptures lack explicit prescriptions regarding the logistical questions surrounding the two ordinances of communion and baptism. However, they are not entirely silent on the matter, as evidenced by passages such as 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. The requirement of faith in Jesus Christ is widely assumed, but there is no specific mention of baptism being necessary before partaking in communion.
The Bible does not explicitly mention that one must be a believer to take communion, but it is implied by other texts. For example, communion is one of the two ordinances and visible signs of the New Covenant that Jesus gave to His church, with baptism being the other (Matthew 26:26-29). Communion is observed by taking bread and wine to remember the body and blood of Christ and His sacrifice (Mark 14:22-25). It is a celebration of the redemption accomplished by Christ's death and is intended for Christians who can remember and celebrate this salvation.
While it is not explicitly stated in Scripture that baptism is required before communion, some churches and pastors argue that it is implied. They believe that baptism is the initial step of obedience and the entry point into the Christian life and community. As such, they argue that it would be illogical to offer the ongoing sign of communion to someone who hasn't received the initial sign of baptism. This view holds that only baptized followers of Jesus should take communion, and it is supported by various biblical, theological, and historical proofs.
However, the absence of explicit text requiring baptism before communion is notable. This may be because the concept of non-baptized believers was alien to the early church, so the question of non-baptized believers taking communion would not have arisen. Baptism in the first century was immediate, so there would have been little opportunity for someone to take communion before being baptized. Thus, the lack of explicit text does not argue against requiring baptism but instead reflects the historical context.
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Communion is for Christians only
Communion is a Christian sacrament, and as such, it is only for Christians. It is one of two ordinances and visible signs of the New Covenant that Jesus gave to his church, the other being baptism. Communion is observed by taking bread and wine to remember the body and blood of Christ and his sacrifice of atonement for his people.
Baptism is an initial profession of faith, and communion is a repeated renewal of that faith. It would be dishonest for someone to participate in a renewal of faith if they have not first professed faith through baptism. This is why the majority of Christians throughout history have believed that only baptised people should participate in communion.
The Bible does not explicitly state that baptism is a prerequisite for communion. However, the majority of churches have either taught or assumed that this is the case. For example, in Acts 2, only those baptised and added to the church in verse 41 participate in the breaking of bread in verse 42.
Baptism is what identifies someone with Christ and unites them with the church. It is the formal and visible entrance into the church, and so it makes sense that communion, as the meal of the church, would be guarded by requiring baptism as a prerequisite.
In conclusion, communion is for Christians only, and Christians are, by definition, those who have been baptised.
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Baptism is an initial profession of faith
While the Bible does not explicitly state that baptism is required before receiving communion, many Christian denominations agree that baptism is a prerequisite for communion. This is because communion is for Christians, and baptism is the formal and visible entrance into the church.
In Baptist, Pentecostal, and nondenominational Christianity, the profession of faith consists of witnessing to one's personal conversion and faith in Jesus before believer's baptism. This is also true of the Southern Baptist Convention, where their statement of faith reads: "Being a church ordinance, [baptism] is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper."
In the Anglican Church, a profession of faith is made by "those elected or nominated for the office of bishop." For Church of England baptisms, the Apostles' Creed is the profession of faith made by the candidate or their sponsors. In the United Methodist Church, a profession of faith is made by one's parents or sponsors when one receives the sacrament of Holy Baptism.
The profession of faith has its origins in the New Testament, where believers declared their faith in Jesus during baptism. In the First Epistle to Timothy in chapter 6, verse 12, Paul of Tarsus reminds Timothy of his profession of faith in front of several people. In the Early Church, the kerygma, or the proclamation of Jesus Christ Messiah and Son of God, summed up the profession of faith.
Thus, baptism is an initial profession of faith, and it is through this profession of faith that one enters the Christian faith and becomes eligible to receive communion.
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Communion is a repeated renewal of faith
Communion is one of two ordinances and visible signs of the New Covenant that Jesus gave to his church, the other being baptism. Communion is observed when the church takes bread and wine to remember the body and blood of the Lord and his sacrifice of atonement. It is a pledge of renewed trust in Christ and obedience to him.
Baptism is an initial profession of faith. It is a requirement of obedience to the Lord, and only those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as their saviour can partake in communion.
While Scripture does not state that a person must be baptized before being able to receive communion, the majority of Christians throughout history have believed that only baptized people should participate in the Eucharistic meal. This is because baptism comes before communion in the biblical pattern. For example, in Acts 2, only those baptized and added to the church in verse 41 participate in the breaking of bread in verse 42.
Baptism is also what identifies someone with Christ and unites them with the church. It is the foundation of communion within the Church and the initiation into Christ's body.
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The Bible implies that communion is for believers
Communion, also known as the Lord's Supper, is a Christian sacrament and one of two ordinances given by Jesus to his church, the other being baptism. It is a symbolic act in which Christians eat bread and drink wine to commemorate Jesus Christ's sacrifice for their sins and to unite themselves with other Christians and Christ.
Communion is a time for reflection and self-examination, in which Christians are reminded of Christ's sacrifice and redemption. It is also a time to look forward to when Christ will partake with them in the kingdom. The Bible states that those who take communion must be humble, born again, free of unconfessed sin, and living in obedience to God. Communion is, therefore, for believers. As the Bible says, "Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:27).
The Bible also states that "as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26). This implies that only those who believe in Christ's death and resurrection should take communion. The act of communion signifies the unity among believers in the body of Christ, illustrating shared faith, fellowship, and a communal bond.
While the Bible does not explicitly state that one must be a believer to take communion, it is logically implied by other texts. For example, the Southern Baptist Convention's statement of faith reads: "Being a church ordinance, [baptism] is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper." This suggests that only those who have been baptized and are members of a church should take communion, implying that they must be believers.
In conclusion, while there may be differing interpretations among Christian denominations, the Bible implies that communion is primarily intended for believers who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ and are walking in fellowship with Him and with other believers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is generally believed that only baptized believers should take communion. Baptism is an initial profession of faith, and communion is an ongoing, continual, and repeated renewal of faith.
There is no single text that explicitly addresses this question. However, considered together, various biblical, theological, and historical proofs make a convincing argument. For example, in Acts 2, those who were baptized in verse 41 participated in the breaking of bread in verse 42, suggesting a sequence of baptism followed by communion.
Baptism is seen as an identification with Christ and a formal entrance into the church. Communion, on the other hand, is a pledge of renewed trust and obedience to Christ. Therefore, it is believed that taking communion before baptism would be dishonest, as one has not yet professed faith and obedience to Jesus.
While the majority of Christians throughout history have held this belief, not all churches agree. Modern evangelical culture, for example, may view baptism as optional or something to be pursued at one's convenience. Ultimately, the decision to allow communion before baptism may vary depending on the specific church and its interpretations.
