Introduction
God has always had memorials for His people.
Partaking of the unleavened bread would be a
reminder of God bringing them out of Egyptian
bondage and sparing their firstborn son.
(Exodus 12:17; 24-28)
The 12 stones from the Jordan River reminded Israel
that God dried up the waters before they went into
Canaan so that they would fear Him & all the earth
would know His power (Joshua 4:1-8, 19-24).
In the NT, God’s people only have one memorial and it
is not to remember the birth of Christ as many
churches are doing today through Tuesday.
Before His Death, Jesus Instituted the
Lord’s Supper (Mt. 26:26-29)
“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. 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.”
Jesus wanted His disciples to remember His death, not
His birth. What was the church told to do?
The Inspired Apostle Paul Wrote to the
Church at Corinth (1 Cor. 11:23-29)
“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.” 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.”
Warnings about the Partaking of the
Lord’s Supper
Did you read what was underlined and do you
realize what the Scripture says will happen if we
don’t properly observe the Lord’s Supper?
The apostle Paul said that we will be guilty of the
body and the blood of the Lord (1 Cor. 11:27).
In order to observe the Lord’s Supper properly and
not be condemned like the rest of the world, 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 His blood (1 Cor. 11:23-25).
He shed His blood to ratify the new covenant.
(Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:15-17)
W/o the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness
or eternal inheritance (Heb. 9:22; Eph. 1:7).
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.
The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper
(A Proclamation)
We proclaim that the Lord died for our sins.
(1 Corinthians 11:26)
We proclaim our faith that He is coming again.
(Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)
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 and blood
of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16).
As we break bread together, it reinforces the
fellowship and unity that we have as members
of His body (1 Corinthians 10:17).
As we partake, we share in the spiritual benefits
that His blood provides (1 John 1:7-9).
“When we meet in sweet communion, where the
feast divine is spread; Hearts are brought in
closer union while partaking of the bread”
The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper
(with Reverence)
We should partake in a reverent manner. (not
because we are worthy) (1 Cor. 11:27)
We should remember the torture of His body.
“By His wounds you were healed” (1 Pet. 2:24).
Think of the agony He suffered as punishment for
our sins (Matt. 27:46; Heb. 5:7).
“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” (The Depth of God’s Love)
The Observance of the Lord’s Supper
(With Self Examination)
You should reflect upon your spiritual condition.
(1 Cor. 11:28; 2 Cor. 13:5)
Are you living for Jesus or living 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 Cor. 5:14-15).
The Observance of the Lord’s Supper
(Warnings if you sin willfully- Heb. 10:26-31)
“....no longer remains a sacrifice for sins” (v. 26)
“A terrifying expectation of judgment” (v. 27)
You have “trampled under foot the Son of God”
You have “regarded as unclean the blood of the
covenant by which you were sanctified”
You have “insulted the Spirit of grace” (v. 29)
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the
living God” (v. 31).
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 Cor. 11:18, 20)
Therefore we do not partake yearly, monthly,
quarterly, or on another day of the week.
When we partake, we not only are communing with
the Lord but also with one another in the body
of Christ (1 Cor. 10:16).
Conclusion
The Lord told us to remember His death, not birth.
The Lord’s Supper is a Memorial of our deliverance from the
bondage of sin through Christ’s 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.
The Lord’s Supper is to be done with Reverence or we will be
condemned with the world.
You must examine yourself while partaking.
You partake weekly with other Christians 1st day of each week.