Reception to God's Assembly

by D. Richards (Canada)

PAPER 1

These papers are designed to help believers who are gathered to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ alone, seeking to follow the pattern of the local assembly as seen in the New Testament, to understand what the Bible teaches about the subject of the reception of believers. There are differences of opinion among assemblies as to whether we should receive to the Lord’s supper believers who have no assembly association. The writer will try, in a sensitive way, to present what he is convinced the Bible teaches on the subject.

Read Rom.15. 5 - 7; 1 Cor.11. 28.

Some believers in assembly fellowship find it difficult to accept that when they bring a relative or friend, who is saved but not in assembly fellowship, to the Lord’s supper, that individual will not be received to break bread. And one of the things that believers from denominations find most offensive about assemblies is not being received to break bread, even though they are living godly lives.

The texts above have been used to justify assemblies receiving denominational Christians at the Lord’s supper, as long as they are not known to be living sinful lives. An expression commonly used in certain circles is "we receive on the ground of the One Body," by which they mean, "we receive to the Lord’s supper all believers, who are in the body of Christ, as long as they are not living in sin." One of the texts they will use to support this is Rom.15.7, "Wherefore, receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God." First of all, this text is not referring to receiving to the Lord’s supper, nor even receiving to the fellowship of the assembly. Those being addressed in this verse were already in assembly fellowship, but, because of coming from different religious backgrounds and different cultures, were tending to sit in judgment upon one another. The whole context, from ch.14.1-15.7 is dealing with this problem of intolerance. Paul was exhorting them to accept their differences and have fellowship with one another. Secondly, even if Rom.15.7 was referring to receiving to the Lord’s supper, it does not say anything about, "as long as they are not living in sin." Christ did not wait until we had cleaned up our lives before He received us; He received us just as we were. A moral change was not a precondition to Him receiving us, but the result of Him receiving us. Hence, if we use this verse for receiving to the Lord’s supper, we cannot insist on only receiving them if they "are not living in sin." Thirdly, if we receive "on the ground of the one body" then we cannot expect the sisters to be silent, for "there is neither male or female" in the body of Christ, Gal.3.28. Also, we cannot exercise discipline upon a sinning Christian, because there is no excommunication in the body of Christ. All believers are in the body of Christ, and since the Bible teaches that we can never lose our salvation, we can never be excommunicated from the body of Christ. Clearly, this verse has nothing to do with receiving to the Lord’s supper.

The other text that people often quote is 1Cor.11.28, "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." This verse very definitely has to do with the Lord’s supper. The appeal is that we are not to examine the man, but he is to examine himself, and decide if he should partake. What they fail to see is that this chapter was addressed to the assembly in Corinth, and that all the saints were exhorted to examine themselves before partaking of the Lord’s supper. If the context be examined, 1Cor.11.17-34, it will be seen that there was a lot of sinful behaviour amongst the saints at Corinth, particularly preceding the Lord’s supper. God had seriously disciplined many as a result, v30. Paul’s point here is that we should all do an inventory on ourselves, before we remember the Lord, rectify any wrongs, and then partake (not abstain). The verse has nothing whatever to do with receiving someone from outside the assembly.

Four questions that must be answered.

1) To what should we receive?

2) Who do we receive?

3) How do we receive?

4) What is the responsibility of those who are received?

1) To what should we receive? Read Acts 9.26-28; Rom.16.1,2.

There are two different views among assemblies of the Lord’s people on this subject. The one view is that we should receive believers to the Lord’s supper. The other is that we should receive believers to the full fellowship of the assembly. Which is correct?

In Acts 9: 26 Paul "assayed to join himself to the disciples." The verse says nothing about the Lord’s supper, although undoubtedly that would be included. Clearly, he was wanting to be part of the assembly in Jerusalem. So that, when he was eventually received, "he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem." Likewise, in Rom.16.2 there is no reference to the Lord’s supper. Phebe was a business lady visiting the imperial city, and the saints were exhorted to "receive her." Are we to understand by this statement that Paul was merely asking them to receive her to the breaking of bread? Not at all! They were expected to receive her into the fellowship of the assembly for the duration of her time in Rome. Reception, in the New Testament, is never to the Lord’s supper, it is always to the full fellowship of the assembly. The Lord’s supper is an assembly function, therefore to partake of the Lord’s supper we must be in the fellowship of the assembly.

It is the practise of some well meaning believers to break bread as a family if they are away from an assembly for whatever reason. Others will "take the emblems" to a sick Christian at home or in hospital. While this is a noble gesture it is totally contrary to the Word of God. The whole context of 1Cor.11.17-34 indicates it is as an assembly that we break bread.

2) Who do we receive? Read Acts 2.41,42; 9.6,18,26.

In Acts 2.41, firstly, "they gladly received His word," secondly, "they were baptized," thirdly, "they were added." Having been added "they continued steadfastly ... in the breaking of bread." In Acts 9.6 Saul was converted, in v18 he was baptized, and in v26 "he assayed to join himself to the disciples." In the Scriptures believing always precedes baptism, baptism always precedes reception to the assembly, and reception always precedes participating in the Lord’s supper.

—to be continued (D.V.)