THE LORD'S SUPPER
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. When Jesus instituted His Supper, He said, "This do in
remembrance of Me." Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:24
B. Man's inclination to forget is freely admitted by everyone.
1. Man can be so wrapped up in the affairs of this life that he
can completely forget God. Jer. 2:32
2. It is easy for the young, as well as the old, to forget God;
thus, the admonition - Eccl. 12:1
3. Peter said he was writing to remind them of things they
already knew. 2 Pet. 1:13-15; 3:1-2
C. God gave us the Lord's Supper lest we forget.
1. Let us once again be reminded of some things regarding it.
I. THE LORD'S SUPPER IS A COMMUNION OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST.
1 Cor. 10:16
A. The word "communion" is the Greek word "koinonia" which is
often translated "fellowship" in the New Testament.
1. Here, Paul is showing that in the Lord's Supper we have
fellowship, or a sharing, with Christ.
B. Paul goes on to show that eating idolatrous meat in the idol's
temple unites the eater with the idol. 1 Cor. 10:19-22
1. Thus, when one eats the Lord's Supper, he has fellowship
with Christ.
2. When one eats things offered to idols, he has fellowship
with demons.
a. If one does not have fellowship with God in his worship,
he has fellowship with the devil.
C. The Lord's Supper is a twofold communion or fellowship.
1. Not only do we have fellowship with Christ, but we have
fellowship with one another. 1 Cor. 10:17
2. Paul is saying that we all, as one body, have fellowship (or
share) in that one bread (which represents the body of
Christ).
3. Actually, Paul is continuing his thought on the communion of
the body of Christ from verse 16.
a. When we partake of the Lord's Supper, we all, as one
body, at one time, are having fellowship with the one
body.
b. We all are in harmony with our fellowship with the
Lord.
c. At one time, all our minds are focused on one thing - the
Lord giving Himself for us.
II. THE LORD'S SUPPER REMINDS US OF THE DEDICATION OF THE COVENANT.
A. Jesus said, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood." 1 Cor.
11:25
1. The same words are found in Luke 22:20; Matt. 26:28; Mark
14:24.
a. The words "covenant" and "testament" come from the
same word in the original.
2. The blood of Christ seals and ratifies the new covenant or
testament.
3. His blood puts His covenant into effect.
B. Both the old and new covenants were dedicated with blood. Heb.
9:16-22
1. God made a covenant with the children of Israel. Ex. 19:4-8
2. Ex. 24:5-8 records the sealing of the covenant with Israel.
a. The animals were slain and their blood was sprinkled on
the people.
b. The blood sprinkled on the people bound them to their
agreement.
C. Thus, the fruit of the vine in the Lord's Supper reminds us of
the blood-ratified covenant given by Christ.
1. Under the new covenant, God puts His laws in our minds
and writes them on our hearts. Heb. 8:6-13
a. Thus, our part in the new covenant is keeping the laws
of God.
b. God's part is providing forgiveness of sins, and making
us His people.
2. When we partake of the Lord's Supper, let us remember the
covenant.
a. God will keep His part of the covenant. Let us keep
ours.
III. THE LORD'S SUPPER IS A PROCLAMATION OF CHRIST'S DEATH, WHICH
WILL CONTINUE TO THE END OF TIME.
A. The Lord's Supper is an announcement, publication, declaration
of Christ's death. 1 Cor. 11:26
1. The Lord's Supper is one way every Christian can proclaim
the death of Christ to the world.
a. When we partake of the Lord's Supper on the Lord's
day, we are saying to all visitors that we firmly believe
that Christ died to redeem us.
b. Every week we preach a sermon of God's love, grace,
redemption, and salvation.
B. The Lord's Supper has been given for observance "until He
comes."
1. The Lord's Supper spans the gulf between the first and
seconds advents.
a. "And thus that dark betrayal night, With the last advent
we unite, By one bright chain of loving rite, Until he
come!" (Song: "By Christ Redeemed")
2. The word "memorial" means "commemorative, preservative
of, or continuance in, the memory; something that keeps
remembrance alive" (Webster).
a. The Lord's Supper is truly a memorial of the Lord's
death; it keeps alive the remembrance of His death, and
it will do so until the Lord returns.
IV. THE LORD'S SUPPER IS A PHYSICAL AND A SPIRITUAL ACT.
A. The Lord's Supper is a physical act - eating the bread and
drinking the cup - but a spiritual act when partaken of
properly.
1. If one only eats and drinks the emblems, that alone, has he
actually partaken of the Lord's Supper?
B. 1 Cor. 11:27-30- In these verses, Paul gives the penalty for
misuse of the Lord's Supper.
1. The "unworthy manner" refers to "not examining himself"
(vs. 28), and "not discerning the Lord's body" (vs. 29).
a. The word "discern" means "to discriminate or to
perceive the distinguishing features, or to recognize
mentally." (Webster).
2. When we partake of the Lord's Supper, we need self-
examination, self-contemplation regarding what we are
doing.
a. We must focus our minds on what the emblems
represent.
b. We must not let our minds wander off on other things.
c. We must carefully consider what the Lord has done for
us.
d. This "reverently contemplating on what we are doing,"
"mentally considering what the emblems represent" is
absolutely necessary if we are to partake of it in a
worthy manner.
3. When a person partakes of the Lord's Supper in an unworthy
manner:
a. He becomes guilty of the body and blood of the Lord
(vs. 27).
b. He is eating and drinking judgment to himself (vs. 29).
He receives judgment from the Lord (vs. 31-32).
c. He is weak, sick and spiritually asleep (vs. 30).
d. The Corinthians were treating the Lord's Supper as a
common meal. Hence, they were strongly rebuked for
partaking of it in such an unworthy and careless manner.
4. Some have misunderstood the above verses and claim that
Paul meant that if one is guilty of sin, or that if he has a
feeling of unworthiness, he should not partake of the Lord's
Supper.
a. This idea comes out of Catholicism which teaches that if
one is guilty of sin (has sin on his soul), he cannot
partake of the Lord's Supper.
b. Hence, not all Catholics partake of the Lord's Supper in
their worship.
c. Actually, if one is guilty of sin, he should not be
engaging in any of the acts of worship.
d. Christians have the privilege of confessing their sins at
all times (1 John 1:9), and should do so before entering
into any type of worship.
Concl.
A. There is far more involved in eating the Lord's Supper than
meets the eye.
B. When properly observed, the Lord's Supper results in greater
love and appreciation for our Savior.
1. We are reminded of His atoning sacrifice for us.
2. We show forth or proclaim His death to the world.
3. The cup represents His shed blood which seals, ratifies, and
binds the new covenant.
C. May we more fully appreciate the Lord's Supper and always
partake of it in a worthy manner so that we might be blessed
both now and in eternally.