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.