Lord's Supper: Our Confessional Tradition, Part 2

In the London Baptist Confession of 1689, chapter 30, paragraphs 3 & 4, we consider participation in the Supper. The Confession intentionally refutes the practice of the Roman Catholic Church, advocating full participation by the entire congregation, ministers & people alike. The blasphemous heresy of transubstantiation is denied in some detail. The significance of the elements as symbols of the body & blood of Christ is confessed. A "worthy reception" of the Table is confessed as being a faith attachment to Christ & a living attachment to His body the church. The chapter ends with a warning against an unworthy partaking of the Table, guarding against a sacramental, magical view of the Table that somehow thinks that participating in the Table is itself saving. Participation necessitates the exercise of genuine faith in Jesus as He is revealed in the gospel & experienced in the Supper. After these Sunday School classes, we changed from a monthly observance to a weekly observance of the Table. We practice a "Restricted" Table in that we admit to the Table, not only our own membership, but any visitors who are members in good standing in Bible-believing churches. We view the Table as a church ordinance to be observed by the church: disciples who have been Biblically baptized & are living under the rule of King Jesus expressed in His church. It is our hope & expectation that our Lord will own this means of grace for our good & His glory in His church.