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THE LORD'S SUPPER

1 Corinthians 11.17

INTRODUCTION

                            1.  Baptism symbolizes union with Christ. It is a single act because “once saved, always saved.”

                            2.  The Lord's Supper symbolizes communion with Christ. It is repeated regularly.

                            3.  Texts: Mat 26.26-29, Mar 14.22-25, Luk 22.17-20, 1Co 11.23-31

                            4.  Terms:

§ The Lord's Supper - 1Co 11:20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

§ Communion - 1Co 10:16  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?

 

             I.  WHERE DID IT BEGIN?

                            1.  The Old Testament Passover reminded Jews of their deliverance from Egypt.

§ Exo 12.3 every man a lamb

§ Exo 12.6-7 kill it, apply the blood, eat it

§ Exo 12.11 the Lord's Passover

§ Exo 12.12 judgment

§ Exo 12.13 salvation, When I see the blood, I will pass over you

§ Exo 12.14 memorial, ordinance forever

                            2.  Jesus died at Passover time as the new Passover lamb. 1Co 5.7-8 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

                            3.  The night before His death, Jesus ate the final Passover and instituted the Lord's Supper as a memorial of His death. Mat 26.17-20,26-28

                            4.  The Lord's Supper looks forward to the Lamb's Supper. Rev 19.7-9 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

 

          II.  WHAT DOES IT MEAN?  ("THIS IS MY BODY/BLOOD")

                            1.  Two false views

§ Transubstantiation: (Roman Catholic)  This view interprets the words literally.  It teaches that the bread and wine are changed into the very body and blood of Christ by the priestly consecration.  This implies that Christ's body is broken repeatedly; as often as mass is conducted.  Roman Catholic doctrine teaches that the mass is a sacrifice for sins.  Scripture says: Heb 10.12,14 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God...For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

§ Consubstantiation: (Lutheran)  This view teaches that the body and blood were present in the elements, though the elements were not actually changed.

                            2.  The Biblical view is symbolic

§ The bread remains bread but represents His body.

§ The juice remains juice but represents His blood.

§ The disciples understood the symbolism because they could see His body present with them. 

§ Jesus often used such illustrations:

· I am the bread of life.  Joh 6:35

· I am the light of the world.  Joh 8:12

· I am the door.  Joh 10:9

· I am the good shepherd.  Joh 10:11

· I am the way.  Joh 14:6

· I am the true vine.  Joh 15:1

 

        III.  WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

                            1.  The Lord's Supper is not for everyone.

                            2.  Biblical requirements:  saved, baptized, obedient

MAT 28.19-20 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.

                            3.  No church in division should observe the Lord's Supper

1Co11.17-20  Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.  For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you...When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

                            4.  The Lord's Supper should be administered by a church (not schools, camps, conferences, individuals).  The pastor should not carry communion to individuals and administer it personally; the Lord's Supper is a church ordinance.

 

         IV.  HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE DO IT?

                            1.  At Troas it was weekly. Act 20.7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread...

                            2.  At Corinth there was no set frequency. 1Co 11.26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

 

           V.  WHY NOT USE WINE?

                            1.  J. Irving Reese: "The elements which are unfermented wine and unleavened bread, preach mighty sermons. The wine speaks of the uncorrupted blood of the Lord Jesus; the unleavened bread, His sinless body. Leaven is a type of sin. It is most improper, if not blasphemous, to use ordinary raised bread for the supper."

                            2.  The word "wine" is never used in describing the Lord's Supper. (Mat 26.26-30; Mar 14.22-26; Luk 22.19-20; 1Co 11.23-26)

 

CONCLUSION

                            1.  Mat 26.30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

                            2.  May God use the Lord's Supper to increase our devotion to Christ!

                            3.  In the 1100s an unknown Christian pilgrim wrote a hymn to the Lord Jesus in Latin.  Here is an English translation: