Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 6/22/2010

Question
I know every Christian needs to obey God and be baptized(although it is not required for salvation) and obey God by taking part in the Holy Communion. I searched my Bible and could not find in it any passage or verse that teaches that a Christian can ONLY take part in the Holy Communion IF he is FIRST baptized.
Can you clarify this for me?
Usually, what denominations believe one must be baptized before taking part in the Holy Communion?

Answer
Dear Nathan,

Thank you for your questions about baptism and holy communion. I’m not sure of the beliefs of your denomination, but I can tell you what the Bible says.

I agree with you: There is nothing in the Bible that requires a person to be baptized before taking part in the Lord’s Supper—the Bible’s term for communion.

Mat 26:26  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Mat 26:27  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Mat 26:29  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

Jesus used the food items, bread and wine (grape juice), to represent His body which would be broken for them in just a few hours, and the shedding of His blood—His Life—to save the world. And He says that He wouldn’t drink the fruit of the vine until “I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” (vs. 29) This is an obvious promise that He would rise and come again to take His disciples to His kingdom for the great banquet He will prepare for them—and us (compare 1 Thess. 4:16, 17 with Rev. 19:9).

Paul spoke of the Lord’s Supper in these words:

1 Cor 11:23  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
1 Cor 11:24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1 Cor 11:25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
1 Cor 11:26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.

Paul says that the bread and the “cup” should be taken “in remembrance of Me.” These things were not the actual body and blood of Jesus, but monuments to aid us in remembering the infinite sacrifice of the Son of God. (Both monument and remembrance come from the same root word.)

So, since the communion is so important for our salvation, no one should be excluded—baptism or not.

As for baptism, listen to what Jesus said:

Mark 16:15, 16  He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

I believe that, as Jesus points out, it is necessary to be baptized in order to be saved. We are saved by our faith, of course. But our faith will lead us to baptism.

There are exceptions to this in the Bible. The thief on the cross was not required to be baptized in order to be saved. Of course, he had no opportunity. If he'd lived I'm sure he would have wanted to be baptized—as is the case with all true Christians. People who believe and yet do not know about baptism, or who have no opportunity would probably be exceptions as well.

But there is one thing in all this that is clear to me: If we have the opportunity to be baptized, we are required to do so in order to be saved. That's our responsibility in the plan of salvation. If there are exceptions, then God will make them. That's His prerogative.

Reading the Bible is so important to the Christian. It would be very difficult to maintain a saving relationship with God without it. And learning about God and His requirements for us would be nearly impossible without some connection with God’s Holy Word.

If you have difficulty understanding the Bible, there are many aids available to help you do this, on-line, via regular mail, and in most places, through a local person who has training in teaching the Scriptures. But above all, read your Bible for yourself, and pray that God will help you understand it.

Stay close to Jesus.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
PettyPress@gmail.com
www.PettyPress.com (20 Books; 42 Bible Study Guides; more)