How do we encourage people to become “worthy receivers”?

The sacraments are said to contain “a promise of benefit to worthy receivers.”

Question: How do we encourage people to become “worthy receivers” of baptism?

Answer: By encouraging, exhorting and admonishing them to improve upon it. By teaching about such improvement.

Question: How is baptism to be improved by us?

Answer: The needful but much neglected duty of improving our baptism, is to be performed by us all our life long, especially in the time of temptation, and when we are present at the administration of it to others; by serious and thankful consideration of the nature of it, and of the ends for which Christ instituted it, the privileges and benefits conferred and sealed thereby, and our solemn vow made therein; by being humbled for our sinful defilement, our falling short of, and walking contrary to, the grace of baptism, and our engagements; by growing up to assurance of pardon of sin, and of all other blessings sealed to us in that sacrament; by drawing strength from the death and resurrection of Christ, into whom we are baptized, for the mortifying of sin, and quickening of grace; and by endeavoring to live by faith, to have our conversation in holiness and righteousness, as those that have therein given up their names to Christ; and to walk in brotherly love, as being baptized by the same Spirit into one body.

3 thoughts on “How do we encourage people to become “worthy receivers”?

  1. Larry

    Hi brother,

    We can never be “worthy receivers,” save through the righteousness of Christ imputed to us. But God does summon us to “receive worthily” or to “communicate worthily,” (i.e., not “in an unworthy manner”) which is a very different thing from being “worthy to receive” or “worthy to communicate.” “Worthy” or “unworthy” does not modify the RECEIVERS; it modifies the RECEIVING.

    Cordially,
    Larry

    Reply
  2. mark Post author

    Well, in anti-FV polemics, “worthy receivers” means “regenerate elect.”

    Larry, if you’re implying that I have denied something about the imputed righteousness of Christ then I’m disappointed. Sorry if current situation is clouding my perceptions.

    Reply
  3. Larry

    I don’t frequent the blogosphere, so I must have missed something. I didn’t mean to imply any sort of negative critique of you. At the same time, I doubt the truth of your first statement (about “anti-FV polemics”). I fear that all of us (maybe especially me) need a strong dose of Proverbs 18:13.

    Reply

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