Partaking of the Lord's Supper

We are reminded that Monday is Memorial Day. Introduction We are reminded that Monday is Memorial Day. On that day, we remember those who have fought and died for freedom for this country. Unfortunately to most it has become just a holiday that kicks off the summer, a time to enjoy sports (Indy 500), go to the pool or family picnics. Of much greater importance to the Christian, we have been given a memorial to remember the death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Before His Death, Jesus Instituted the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 26:26-30) “While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins…

Before His Death, Jesus Instituted the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 26:26-30) “…But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth (1 Cor. 11:23-25) “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth (1 Cor. 11:26-29) …For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly…

The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth (1 Cor. 11:30-34) “…For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world. So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. The remaining matters I will arrange when I come.”

Warnings about Partaking the Lord’s Supper We must properly observe the Lord’s Supper or we will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. (1 Cor. 11:27ff) In order to observe the Lord’s Supper properly, let us examine what the Bible reveals about the purpose and observance of the Lord’s Supper.

The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper (A Memorial) We eat the bread in memory of His body and the fruit of the vine to remember His blood. (1 Corinthians 11:23-25) He shed His blood to ratify the new covenant. “For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” (Matt. 26:28)

Hebrews 9:15-17 “For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.”

The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper (A Memorial) Without the shedding of His blood, there would not be the forgiveness of our sins. (Hebrews 9:22; Ephesians 1:7) Without the shedding of His blood, we would have no chance of going to heaven one day. (Hebrews 9:15)

The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper (A Memorial) As the Passover was a memorial of the Israelites deliverance from Egyptian bondage the Lord’s Supper is a memorial of the deliverance from bondage to sin through the blood of Christ so that we might have that hope of eternal life.

The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper (A Proclamation) “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.“ (1 Cor. 11:26) We proclaim that the Lord died for our sins. We also proclaim that He is coming back again.

Acts 1:9-11 “And after He (Jesus) had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 …For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. “

The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper (A Proclamation) Therefore the Lord’s Supper looks forward as well as backward as Christians will remember His death which provides redemption from our sins and joyfully anticipate His return!

The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper (A Communion) It is a fellowship or sharing in the body & blood of Christ. “Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?” (1 Cor. 10:16)

The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper (A Communion) As we partake, we share in the spiritual benefits that His blood provides. “if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin…. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:7,9)

The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper (A Communion) As we break bread together, it reinforces the fellowship and unity that we have as members of the body of Christ- His church. “Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:17)

The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper (A Communion) “When we meet in sweet communion, where the feast divine is spread; Hearts are brought in closer union while partaking of the bread” (The Lord’s Supper)

The Observance of the Lord’s Supper (With Reverence) We should partake in a worthy or reverent manner. (not because we are worthy) (1 Corinthians 11:27) We should remember the humiliation and torture of His body. “By His wounds you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24)

The Observance of the Lord’s Supper (With Reverence) Think of the agony He suffered as punishment for our sins. “Jesus cried out with a loud voice…"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?“ (Mt. 27:46)

The Observance of the Lord’s Supper (With Reverence) “In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.” (Heb. 5:7) If we fail to partake in a reverent manner, we will be condemned along with the reset of the world.

1 Corinthians 11:29-32 “For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.”

The Observance of the Lord’s Supper (With Reverence) “How my heart humbly bows in His presence today when I think of His agony, by His stripes I am freed from the bondage of sin in His suffering on Calvary” (Oh the Depths & the Riches)

The Observance of the Lord’s Supper (With Self Examination) You should reflect upon your spiritual condition. “But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” (1 Cor. 11:28) “Examine yourselves whether you are in the faith” (2 Cor. 13:5)

The Observance of the Lord’s Supper (With Self Examination) Are you living for Jesus or for yourself? “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

The Observance of the Lord’s Supper (With Self Examination) Hebrews 10:26, “If you sin willfully after becoming a Christian... “....You trample under foot the Son of God” “....You regard as unclean the blood of the covenant by which you were sanctified” “....You insult the Spirit of grace” (Hebrews 10:29)

The Observance of the Lord’s Supper (With Self Examination) If you refuse to repent of your sins, you crucify to yourself the Son of God and put Him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6)

The Observance of the Lord’s Supper (Weekly with Other Christians) “The disciples came together to break bread on the first day of the week” (Acts 20:7) Concerning the Lord’s supper, the Corinthian church had “come together in one place” or “come together as a church” (1 Corinthians 11:18, 20)

The Observance of the Lord’s Supper (Weekly with Other Christians) Therefore we do not partake together as a church on Saturday or monthly, quarterly, or yearly. When we partake of the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine, we not only commune with the Lord but also with one another in the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:16)

The Lord’s Supper is a Communion with the body and blood of our Lord. Conclusion The Lord’s Supper is a Memorial of our deliverance from the bondage of sin through Christ’s shed blood. The Lord’s Supper is a Proclamation of His death and His promised return. The Lord’s Supper is a Communion with the body and blood of our Lord.

Conclusion The Lord’s Supper is to be done with reverence or we will be condemned with the rest of the world. You should examine yourself while partaking of the bread and fruit of the vine. You should do it weekly with other Christians on the 1st day of the week.