Introduction: What Is The Lord’s Supper?
Other names: Lord’s Communion (1 Cor 10:16); Lord’s Table (1 Cor 10:21); Eucharist (the word means Thanksgiving, 1 Cor 11:24); Holy Communion; Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11:20); Break Bread (Acts 20:7)
Discussion:
A. False Views on the Lord’s Supper
Transubstantiation -The bread and wine become the literal body and blood of Jesus.
The Lord’s Supper is the most important element in worship.
One must be “worthy” in order to partake the Lord’s Supper.
B. A Divine Ordinance
Divine Origin: “I have received of the Lord.” 1 Cor 11:23 a. Who? - Instituted by the Lord Jesus: “The Lord Jesus” b. When? – “the same night in which he was betrayed” c. What? – “took bread.”
Divine Symbolism: “This is my body, which is for you.” 1 Cor 11:24 a. “This is my body, which is broken for you.” b. “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt 26:28). c. “For the remission of sins” - The Lord’s Supper reminds us how full, perfect, and complete is our salvation.
Divine Memorial: “Do this in remembrance of Me.” 1 Cor 11:24. a. Remember His Sacrifice: “This is my body, which is for you.” b. Remember His Love: John 3:16
Divine Proclamation: “Ye proclaim the Lord’s death.” 1 Cor 11:26 a. We proclaim our faith in His Great Sacrifice. 1Cor 11:26a b. We proclaim His great sacrifice to the unbelievers in our midst. 1 Cor 15:1-4 c. The Lord’s Supper is a great sermon to the world that Christ died for them.
Divine Expectation: “Till He comes.” 1 Cor 11:26 a. Refutes the false doctrine that Jesus is not coming again. b. The Lord’s Supper looks forward in anticipation of our Lord will come again to receive us to Himself. John 14:3 c. Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Divine Reverence: “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.” 1 Cor 11:27 a. Partake it with Respect and Reverence. b. With Solemn: “For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.” Eccl 5:2
Divine Reflection: “Let a man examine himself.” 1 Cor 11:28 a. Reflect on our character. b. Reflect on our relationship with God. Mk 12:30 c. Reflect on our relationship with one another. John 13:34-35 d. Reflect on our relationship with the world. 1 Jn 2:15-17
Divine Judgment: “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.” 1 Cor 11:29 a. It is an activity that can be easily abused. 1Co 11:17-22 b. The weekly frequency can easily lead to it becoming a meaningless exercise. c. But when properly observed, it can be a truly spiritual manifestation of worship, fellowship and great blessings.
Divine Caution: “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” 1 Cor 11:30 a. The abuse becomes a stumbling block to the weak when they see how lightly you treat the Lord’s Supper.
Divine Justification: “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” 1 Cor 11:31 a. The person who partake the Lord’s Supper with the right mind and attitude is counted worthy partaker by God.
Divine Reconnection: “Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.” 1 Cor 11:33 a. “the disciples came together” Acts 20:7 b. The Lord’s Supper connects us with God and with one another. Heb 10:24-25 c. It reminds us that we are partakers of that one body: “For we being many are one bread, and one body.” 1 Cor 10:17
Divine Regulation: “Upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7) a. There is a specific day to observe the Lord’s Supper. b. "...the early church writers from Barnabas, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, to Clement of Alexandria, Origen and Cyprian, all with one consent, declare that the church observed the first day of the week. They are equally agreed that the Lord's Supper was observed weekly, on the first day of the week." - B. W. Johnson, People's New Testament.
Divine Fellowship: “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” 1 Cor 10:16 a. It shows it is meant only for the redeemed people. b. Jesus said: “until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom” (Matt 26:29).
Divine Separation: “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.” 1 Cor 10:21 a. The Lord’s Supper reminds us that we have been separated from the world and its false religions. Col 1:13 b. The Lord’s Supper reminds us that we have been purchased by the blood of Christ and we belong to Him. Acts 20:28
Divine Gratitude: “And when he had given thanks” 1 Cor 11:24 a. “Jesus took bread, and blessed it” Matt 26:26 b. Show Thankfulness and Gratitude that Christ died for us when we partake the Lord’s Supper.
Conclusion: In partaking the Lord’s Supper, Christians:
A. Look Backward to the cross: “Do this in remembrance of me.”
B. Look Inward on themselves: “Let a man examine himself.”
C. Look Outward for one another: “Tarry one for another.”
D. Look Upward for Christ Second Coming: “Till he comes.”
E. Look Forward to the Eternal Home: “that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”
The Lord’s Supper is a reminder that our Lord took our place and died for our sins. It is a time to be spent on remembering His great sacrifice and engage in self examination of our own lives. It is NOT a time to be doing other things.