CREC C3- Paedo Everything

Sermon NOTES
These really are NOTES, and not too complete, at that! I've got to spend some time polishing and re-writing to make them readable. You would do better to listen to the sermon.

CREC- C3- Paedo Everything

Baptism and The Lord’s Supper

Sermon Notes

Mark 10:13-16

October 29, 2017

Lynchburg, Virginia

EXHORDIUM

This is a series of sermons on the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches acronym, CREC. I am still working on Communion. This sermon is C3.

         CREC 1- Covenant- God’s Promises in Christ Jesus in the Gospel

         CREC 2- Covenant Renewal Worship- Bow before our Holy God. He is our God and we are His people.

         CREC 3- Connected to Him for blessing. The sacraments of baptism and The Lord’s Supper.

         Outline- Our view of God’s Covenant promises includes our children. In the Old Testament this was made plain in the ritual surrounding the Passover Meal. As the family gathered around the Table, there was to be instruction. When the children were old enough to ask what was going on, what it all means, the parents were to explain it to them. They participated in the meal and grew up in their understanding of it.

         It might be easy for us to see this in the Old Testament. We sometimes tend to think that those Old Testament saints were saints because of their adherence to the rules. If they obeyed God regarding circumcision, the Passover Meal and later, the sacrifices, then they were righteous.  But to think this way is to misunderstand God’s Covenant. In fact, it is largely the same sort of misunderstanding that was common in Judaism.

         The New Testament both affirms the inclusion of the children in the Covenant while simultaneously affirming the need for personal faith. These two things are not at all mutually exclusive.

         The inclusion of children in the Covenant is affirmed at the very first Christian sermon on the day of Pentecost. Peter is preaching and he tells the hearers that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was prophesied by Joel. He says, Acts 2:33-39 ³³ Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. ³⁴ For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, ³⁵ Until I make thy foes thy footstool. ³⁶ Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Acts 2:37   Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? ³⁸ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ³⁹ For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

         In this passage, Peter expressly includes the children of believers in God’s plans. I mentioned that they were included in God’s Covenantal plans. That much is clear. However, what is going on in this passage? This is the dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Peter says that the children are included in this. It is more than simply being members of the Covenant or potential believers or potential possessors of the Holy Spirit. He says that this Promise, this outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit also belongs to the children of believers.

Status Quo?

If God had intended there to be a dramatic change in His key covenantal signs, He would have told us so in His Word.

Did He change the need for circumcision? Yes. Circumcision no longer saves you. As if it ever did. But it did connect you to God’s people. But you still needed a circumcised heart. Who was included in this circumcision?

Did He change the Lord’s Supper. Yes. At the Passover, Jesus instituted the Lord’ Supper. He showed us what the types and symbols meant. They meant His body, His blood. But who is included in this meal?

Are the New Covenant symbols less inclusive? But the New Testament is a better covenant based upon better promises. Instead of seeming to be limited to the Hebrews, it has been expanded to the Gentiles, the whole world. Instead of being limited to all males 8 days old and up, it is expanded to Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female.

The New Testament signs and seals are more expansive, not less. The promises are closer, not further away. But we apprehend them in the same way, by grace through faith.

This was true in Abraham’s day and the addition of the law did not alter this. In fact, both rites, circumcision and Passover, both came before the law! How much more those new testament, updated versions of them, baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Q. 92. What is a sacrament?
A. A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.

Q. 93. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament?
A. The sacraments of the New Testament are baptism and the Lord's supper.

Q. 94. What is baptism?
A. Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord's.

Q. 95. To whom is baptism to be administered?
A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.

Q. 96. What is the Lord's supper?
A. The Lord's supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine according to Christ's appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace.

Q. 97. What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord's supper?
A. It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord's body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves.

Mark 10:13   And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. ¹⁵ Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. ¹⁶ And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

When little children were brought to Jesus, He blessed them. Was this a real blessing? Was this a means of grace to them? Of course it was!

Baptism- Circumcision

Lord’s Supper- Passover Meal

         Inclusive view. Children are connected to Jesus. He emphasized this by calling children to Him to bless them. Some of these children were carried to Him. Why? Because they were too small to walk. They were babes in arms, infants.

However, the CREC is not ONLY Paedo-Everthing!

CREC- Includes London Baptist Confession. We do not require paedo baptism or paedo communion as a boundary of fellowship. However, most of our churches embrace the inclusivity of the Covenant for our children. Furthermore, this seems to go beyond the intentions of the writers of the Westminster Confession of Faith in this particular area.

Thus, our main offer an honest exception on this doctrine, particularly because of Q. 177 of the Larger Catechism.

CREC Exception:

Q. 177. Wherein do the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper differ?

A. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper differ, in that baptism is to be administered but once, with water, to be a sign and seal of our regeneration and ingrafting into Christ^a, and that even to infants^b; whereas the Lord's supper is to be administered often, in the elements of bread and wine, to represent and exhibit Christ as spiritual nourishment to the soul^c, and to confirm our continuance and growth in him^d, and that only to such as are of years and ability to examine themselves^e.

         The last line of answer 177 makes a contrast with baptism. Baptism is to be given to infants whereas the Lord’s Supper is only to be given to those such as are of years and ability to examine themselves.

         This requirement of an older age than infancy is required based upon the prooftext from 1 Cor. 11 about rightfully discerning the Lord’s body.   

         Immediately following the Words of Institution, the apostle says this, 1 Cor. 11:27-29 ²⁷ Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. ²⁹ For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

         This passage is not aimed at children and has been misused in this way.

Many of our CREC men take exception to this. We believe that children are full members of Christ’s Church. Baptism is the entrance to that membership and Communion is the membership meal. If children can eat, they should eat the member’s meal.

         Furthermore, 1 Cor.11 as a proof text to bar children is not an adequate text. That part of the Bible was not written aimed at the children and therefore, should not be indiscriminately applied to them.

Paedo Everything- Practical Ramifications of Covenantal Theology/Sacraments- Raising Godly Children, Covenant Succession, Marriage.

Qualifications

1.   We don’t believe every covenant child is necessarily saved. There are real children that drift away from Christ.

2.   We don’t expect you to agree with us exactly on this topic in order to worship with us, or even join membership with us. We know it can be uncomfortable, that is the strength of culture, but WE are not uncomfortable.

3.   The CREC is not technically only Paedo Everything, but it is our culture. Anyone willing to fellowship with us without being offended, is already at peace with key features of God’s Covenant promises. We are glad to have such folks in our midst.

EXHORTATION

Isn’t this presumption? If baptism and the Lord’s Supper are to be given to infants, does this mean that we presume upon God to save them? Or, that we assume they are already saved and are thus tempted to neglect the means of grace to them?

         There is a difference between assuming that God’s grace is extended to our covenant children and presuming upon God’s kindness to take advantage of Him. When we assume that God’s grace to us means God’s grace to them, this ought to cause us to act as if we are His children and raising our children in a way that honors our Heavenly Father. That is a godly response.

         If we presume upon God that our children are elect and therefore nothing we do or they do can change that, then we have the exact same problem as the Baptist who says, “Well, he may not be worth much of anything, but at least he got saved.” Well, did he now?

         When I assume that God’s promises are to your children, what I mean to say is have faith, believe God, and teach your children to do the same. See Christ in, and receive Christ in the signs of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

         Wedding Ring- With this ring, I thee wed. The ring is the sign. The thing signified is marriage, a covenantal bond with blessings and curses. A married man is not any less married if he is an adulterer. But he is not a good husband. He may need a change of heart to be the right kind of husband but he is a husband. He is a husband, even if someone who knows about his adultery says, “He’s no husband!” What do they mean? They mean that he is not transformed by the ring into a one-woman man. He needs to be consistent with his wedding vows. One day, he might look at his ring and be completely and utterly transformed. He might say, “That ring saved me!” What does he mean? He means he looked to the ring and recognized in it all the blessings and curses and was true to his vows.

         Or, a man or woman who is faithful from the days of their wedding vows, might also be saved by their ring. Whenever they look at the ring, they think of their beloved and are exhorted and encouraged to be faithful, to renew their love, to remember their first love and be filled with the spirit of love. The ring, in this sense, accomplishes something. It does something more than simply mark out a married person.

         We are called to this in baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These outward signs signify your relationship to Christ and His Church. Our confession teaches that they also seal this relationship. Those who look to them in faith are saved by them. What does that mean? It means that you see and receive Christ Jesus in your baptism and in the Lord’s Supper. You receive Him.

         These signs and seals are not the bounds of fellowship in our church or in the CREC. We have room for a baptistic understanding that does not break our bonds of fellowship in Jesus Christ. While we to think that parents who fail to baptize their infants or commune their small children, are withholding a blessing to them, we are not willing to break the bonds of  Christian fellowship over this. In the CREC, we allow for a baptistic understanding of the sacraments. This creates some confusion and tension but we think this is good.

         This means that in our own local church, you can worship God here and have full fellowship with us without agreeing with us on this topic. It may be uncomfortable for you but is not for us. Come and welcome.

Presumption-Like giving birth?

Is it presumptive to give birth to a child? But the child might not turn out? He may despise his birthright. He might not follow Jesus. He might disgrace the family name. Or, rather, should you expect that your children, will learn the things you teach them, and follow in both the letter and spirit of your family name? Of course, the latter. We call this faith. Does it always work out? No, but the Lord still tells us to be fruitful and fill all the earth. Having children is not only a good thing, the Lord calls us to do so, trusting Him for the outcome. This means that you ought to utilize all the means of grace to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

This includes the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s prayer. But it also includes prayer, bible reading, church attendance, and parenting in word and deed. The one thing that you cannot do is put the Spirit of God in them. This is true whether they come to the baptismal font and table as infants or as professed believers. God must do this work. Your job is to be faithful to what He has called you to.

Presumption-Like Thanksgiving Dinner?

Is it presumptive to bring your children to Thanksgiving dinner? Is this a potential threat to them? Do they partake as they should? Do they partake according to their age and understanding? Even very small children can be taught table manners and when they eat at the Table, they are just as much a member of the family as anyone else there. It is not presumptive to bring your children to the Table. It is part of the means through which they learn the very thing there expressed. Gratitude.