In his sermon on 'Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, 1689 SLBC Chapter 28, Par. 2,' Roger Harrell explores the qualifications and responsibilities for administering these sacred ordinances. According to the 1689 Baptist Confession, only those who are qualified and called according to Christ's commission should administer baptism and the Lord's Supper. Harrell emphasizes the role of stewards, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 4:1 and other biblical passages, indicating that elders serve as stewards with the authority and responsibility to administer these ordinances. Through references to Matthew 24 and Luke 12, the sermon highlights that not all servants are stewards with the authority to perform these rites. The Great Commission underscores the church's responsibility to baptize, but only those with church authority, specifically elders, should perform this task. While elders may delegate the act to faithful members, they retain ultimate responsibility. The sermon concludes that elders, as stewards of God, possess the authority to teach and administer the visible symbols of baptism and the Lord's Supper within the church.

Okay, well let's go ahead and dive in this afternoon. In paragraph two, it mentions appointments or ordinances. So we're speaking further on baptism and the Lord's Supper. The 1689 Baptist Confession states that only those who are qualified and thereunto called according to the commission of Christ should administer the ordinances of baptism in the Lord's Supper. So the question is, so who is qualified, called and commissioned?

So what does the Bible teach? According to the Bible, who may baptize and administer the Lord's Supper? So let's take a look at what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4.1, where he exhorts that he and his fellow servants of Christ should be regarded as stewards of the mysteries of God. This verse points us to the concept of a steward. The apostles were stewards of the mysteries of God.

The Greek word here for steward is, and let me see if I can say this right, orcanomus, and has the meaning of a manager or overseer. Elders are also described as stewards as well as we see in Titus chapter one verses five through seven. So first Corinthians chapter four verse one, which was already read, and let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mystery of God. So let's also take a look at Matthew chapter 24, verses 45 through 51, which reads, who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat and due season. Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing.

Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But, and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming, and shall begin to smite his fellow servant, and to eat and to drink with the drunken. The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Let's also take a look at Luke chapter 12 verses 41 through 44. Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us or even to all? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season.

Blessed is that servant whom is Lord when he cometh shall find so doing of a truth I say unto you that he will make him ruler over all that he hath." So in these two passages, it makes it clear that not all God's servants are stewards who have the authority and responsibility to administer these ordinances. God's stewards over his church are elders who have the ordained authority and qualifications to administer these ordinances. So again if we take a look at Titus chapter 1 verses 5 through 7, for this cause left I thee in Crete that thou should have set in order the things that are wanting and ordain elders in every city as I had appointed thee. If any be blameless, the husband of one wife having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly, for a bishop must be blameless as the steward of God, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre. So where do we find the basic authority to baptize?

The Great Commission. Each Christian has a responsibility as part of the visible church to help the church fulfill the Great Commission, but only those with the authority of the church ought to baptize. And that's what we're going to do with the elders. So we read in Matthew chapter 28, verses 16 through 20. Then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

And when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

1st Corinthians chapter 11 verses 17 through 34 teaches that only when the church is formally assembled should the Lord's table be celebrated. This ordinance is committed to the administration of the elders who preside over the church. So in conclusion, the elders may delegate the actual performance of the ordinances to a faithful brother, which here we are today. But they cannot delegate the responsibility. They own that responsibility, and they're to oversee it.

Elders remain the stewards of God as such are the ones responsible for their stewardship. It is God stewards, elders, who have the authority to teach the mysteries of God and to minister the visible symbols of baptism and the Lord's Supper. They are to oversee and administer such ordinances. I'll go ahead and conclude there.