Westminster Larger Catechism (Q 171-173)

Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday, in our weekly Sunday school lessons in the Westminster Larger Catechism (WLC), we studied and discussed question 171-173. Here is a brief review.

WLC 171  How are they that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s supper to prepare themselves before they come unto it?
A. They that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s supper are, before they come, to prepare themselves thereunto, by examining themselves of their being in Christ, of their sins and wants; of the truth and measure of their knowledge, faith, repentance; love to God and the brethren, charity to all men, forgiving those that have done them wrong; of their desires after Christ, and of their new obedience, and by renewing the exercise of these graces, by serious meditation, and fervent prayer.

We might summarize the teaching of this catechism question this way: those receiving the Lord’s supper are to prepare themselves to partake by examining themselves regarding four things. First, they are to examine themselves to see that they have faith – of their being in Christ (2 Corinthians 13:5) and of their sins and wants (1 Corinthians 5:7). Second, they are to examine themselves to see that they are repenting of their sins (1 John 1:9). Third, they are to examine themselves to see that they have a love for God, for their brethren, and for all men (Acts 2:46-47). Fourth, and finally, they are to examine themselves to see that they have a proper desire for Christ and new obedience (Isaiah 55:1; John 7:37).

The principle Scriptural passage, outside of the Gospels, which gives us instructions for how God’s people ought to partake of the Lords supper is found in 1 Corinthians 11:27-34:

“²⁷ Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.  ²⁸ But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  ²⁹ For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.  ³⁰ For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.  ³¹ But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.  ³² But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.  ³³ So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.  ³⁴ If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. The remaining matters I will arrange when I come.”

Here, we find several key points of instruction concerning what it means to partake of the Lord’s supper. First, to examine ourselves  (1 Corinthians 11:28) is to see if we have faith and love (Ephesians 3:14-19). Second, the reference to “the body” in verse 29 could refer to one of two things: (1) Jesus’ body, thus not recognizing the spiritual significance of the Lord’s supper (1 Corinthians 11:27); (2) the body of the church, thus not recognizing the unity of believers to which Christ calls us (1 Corinthians 11:17-21). So, to judge or discern the body (1 Corinthians 11:27) means to examine ourselves to see if we have a relationship with Jesus and the Church (1 John 4:20). Third, partaking of the Lord’s supper is a form of discipline, a means by which the Lord grows us in obedience and holiness (1 Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 12:7-10).

WLC 172  May one who doubteth of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation, come to the Lord’s supper?
A. One who doubteth of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation to the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, may have true interest in Christ, though he be not yet assured thereof; and in God’s account hath it, if he be duly affected with the apprehension of the want of it, and unfeignedly desires to be found in Christ, and to depart from iniquity: in which case (because promises are made, and this sacrament is appointed, for the relief even of weak and doubting Christians) he is to bewail his unbelief, and labour to have his doubts resolved; and, so doing, he may and ought to come to the Lord’s supper, that he may be further strengthened.

The last point that we discerned in the previous question – that partaking of the Lord’s supper is a means by which the Lord disciplines us and grows us in obedience and holiness – is key to understanding the logic of this question. Elsewhere, the Westminster Standards remind us that assurance of grace and salvation is not “of the essence of faith” (WCF 18.3; WLC 81). Therefore, the lack of assurance of salvation ought not to keep a person from partaking of the Lord’s supper – especially since the Lord’s supper is a form of discipline and growth in grace of God’s people (1 Corinthians 11:32). So, as WLC 172 says, “(because promises are made, and this sacrament is appointed for the relief even of weak and doubting Christians), he is to bewail his unbelieve, and labor to have his doubts resolved” and therefore come to the Lord’s supper to be strengthened. Believers who lack assurance ought to partake of the Lord’s supper.

WLC 173  May any who profess his faith, and desire to come to the Lord’s supper, be kept from it?
A. Such as are found to be ignorant or scandalous, notwithstanding their profession of the faith, and desire to come to the Lord’s supper, may and ought to be kept from that sacrament, by the power which Christ hath left in his church, until they receive instruction and manifest their reformation.

One of the forms of church discipline for those refusing to repent of their sins is barring from the sacraments. We find an exhortation, and clear instruction, of this imposition of discipline by the church upon a particular member of the church in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. It would seem that the church in Corinth received Paul’s instruction and obeyed his exhortation, for later, in 2 Corinthians 2:5-11, Paul commends them for having implemented church discipline. And he exhorts them to welcome back into fellowship the man who responded to the church discipline by repenting of his sin.

It’s important to note that it is the church that fences the table or implements church discipline; nowhere is Scripture do we find any evidence or instruction concerning “self-fencing.” Unfortunately, though, this idea of barring oneself from the Lord’s supper due to a lack of assurance or a supposed lack of repentance is taught and practiced in some churches.

In keeping with the instruction and categories of this catechism question, when thinking about who may partake of the Lord’s supper, it’s helpful to think of four categories of people:

(1) Communing members: those who have been baptized and made a profession of faith (all communing members ought to partake of the Lord’s supper as a means of increasing and strengthening their faith;
(2) Non-communing members: those who have been baptized and not yet made a profession of faith (our baptized covenant children are non-communing members of the church and thus should not partake of the Lord’s supper until they profess faith in Christ);
(3) Disciplined members: “the scandalous” – those who have been baptized and made a profession of faith and formally disciplined by the church and barred from the sacraments (these should not partake of the Lord’s supper until their repentance is made known to the church);
(4) Non-members: “the ignorant” – those who do not know Christ and have not made a profession of faith (these should also not partake of the Lord’s supper lest they eat and drink judgment to themselves).

Historically, there are three different practices which churches employ in fencing the table:

(1) Open communion: anyone may partake;
(2) Close communion: only those who profess faith and are communing members of a Bible-believing church;
(3) Closed communion: only those who are members of the local church or approved by the Session.

At Hill Country Presbyterian Church, we practice close communion. The PCA allows for either close or closed communion: “Since, by our Lord’s appointment, this Sacrament sets forth the Communion of Saints, the minister, at the discretion of the Session, before the observance begins, may either invite all those who profess the true religion, and are communicants in good standing in any evangelical church, to participate in the ordinance; or may invite those who have been approved by the Session, after having given indication of their desire to participate. It is proper also to give a special invitation to non-communicants to remain during the service.” (PCA Book of Church Order (BCO), 58-4)

Conclusion

In the next questions and answers of the WLC, we will study how we ought to partake of the Lord’s supper and what we ought to do afterward. I hope you will join us on Sunday mornings at 9:15 am in our continuing study of the Westminster Larger Catechism!

The Lord be with you!
Pastor Peter M. Dietsch