Untitled Sermon (14)

The New International Version Chapter 11

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come I will give further directions.

INTRODUCTION

An act of worship in which we engage each Sunday is The Lord's Supper...

Known also as The Communion (1 Cor. 10:16 ) and The Breaking Of Bread 

Its origin, which Christ did at the time of its institution we are told to do it as often as we can. - Mt. 26:26-27

It is a simple act, in which those who are Christians...

Partake of unleavened bread

Drink of the fruit of the vine

It is an important act, one that we should understand why we do it, lest our participation be...

Meaningless to us

Displeasing to God

Detrimental to us - cf. (1 Cor. 11:27)

IT IS A MEMORIAL...

a. Note Paul's account as given by the Lord Himself - (1 Cor. 11:23-25)

b. We therefore commemorate the death of Jesus on the cross - Mt. 26:28

IT IS A PROCLAMATION...

a. We proclaim our faith in the efficacy of the Lord's death - 1 Cor. 11:26a

b. We also proclaim our faith in the Lord's return - 1 Cor. 11:26b

IT IS A COMMUNION...

a. A fellowship or sharing in the blood of Christ - 1 Cor. 10:16a

b. A fellowship or sharing in the body of Christ -1 Cor. 10:16b,17

TO BE DONE WITH REVERENCE...

a. That is, "in a worthy manner" (NKJV) - 1 Cor. 11:17-19

b. With respect for the supreme price Jesus paid for our sins

c. Failure to observe with proper reverence brings condemnation - 1 Cor. 11:27,29

TO BE DONE WITH SELF-EXAMINATION...

a. Such as reflecting upon one's spiritual condition.

b. Are we living in a manner that shows appreciation for His sacrifice?

c. Or are we by willful sinning, guilty of having:

d. Do we, by refusing to repent of our sins, "crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an shame"? - cf. He 6:4-6

TO BE DONE WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS...

a. There is ample indication the Supper is designed to be a communal meal

b. For this reason I personally question such practices as:

TO BE DONE OFTEN...

The Biblical evidence is that it was done weekly

a. The earliest historical evidence outside the Bible confirms the day and frequency

Some believe that a weekly observance diminishes the importance of the Supper

[Therefore it behooves all Christians, especially those new in the faith, to be well acquainted with the meaning and practice of the Lord's Supper. Let me start by carefully reminding us of]

I. THE MEANING OF THE SUPPER

                                                       a.        We eat the bread in memory of His body

                                                       b.        We drink the cup (fruit of the vine) in memory of His blood

                                                       a.        Whose death make the new covenant possible - Heb. 9:16

                                                       b.        Whose blood was shed for the remission of sins - Ep.1:7

-- As the Passover was a memorial commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egypt through the blood of the lambs on the door post, so the Supper is a memorial of our Lord's death who makes our deliverance from the bondage of sin possible

                                                       a.        That His death was indeed for our sins

                                                       b.        If we don't believe He died for our sins, why keep the Supper?

                                                       a.        For it is to be done "till He comes"

                                                       b.        If we don't believe He is coming, then why keep the Supper?

-- Thus the Lord's Supper looks forward as well as backward, and will ever be observed by His disciples who trust in His redemption and anticipate His return!

                                                       a.        As we partake, we commune with the blood of Christ

                                                       b.        Perhaps in the sense of reinforcing blessings we enjoy through the blood of Christ - cf. 1 Jn 1:7,9

                                                       a.        As we partake, we commune with the body of Christ

                                                       b.        Perhaps in the sense of reinforcing fellowship together in the body of Christ (i.e., the church), as we break bread together

-- The extent to which we share in the body and blood of the Lord as we partake may be uncertain, but dare we neglect whatever may be the benefits of that communion?

["The Lord's Supper" certainly has great significance and should not be taken lightly. We do well therefore to consider what the Scriptures reveal about...]

II. THE OBSERVANCE OF THE SUPPER

                                                       a.        The KJV says "worthily", which some have misunderstood

                                                       b.        It is an adverb, describing how we take it, not whether we are worthy (none are truly worthy)

                                                       a.        E.g., the cruel torture and humiliation of His physical body

                                                       b.        E.g., the spiritual anguish suffered as Jesus bore the punishment for our sins ("My God, My God, Why have You forsaken Me?")

                                                       a.        One will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord

                                                       b.        One will eat and drink judgment to himself

-- To make light of this memorial puts one in the same category as those who mocked Him as He hung on the cross!

                                                       a.        By accepting the grace of God in our lives? - cf. 2Co 5:18-6:1

                                                       b.        By living for Jesus who died for us? - cf. 2Co 5:14-15; Ga 2:20

                                                       a.        "trampled the Son of God underfoot"?

                                                       b.        "counted the blood by which [we were] sanctified a common thing"?

                                                        c.        "insulted the Spirit of grace"? - cf. He 10:26-29

-- In one sense, the Supper is a very private matter between a Christian and his or her God; a time to reflect on the past and to resolve for the future

                                                       a.        The disciples "came together" to break bread - Ac 20:7

                                                       b.        When they came together, they were to "wait for one another" - 1Co 11:33

                                                        c.        Partaking together of "one bread", they demonstrate they are "one bread and one body" - 1Co 10:17

-- We commune not just with the Lord, but with one another

                                                       a.        Observing the Supper by one's self when camping or traveling

                                                       b.        Observing the Supper on Sunday night when just one or a couple of people in the congregation are partaking

                                                        c.        Taking the elements to the sick or shut-in who were unable to assemble

-- While such issues may fall in the realm of opinion, let's not forget that the Supper builds fellowship with one another as well as with the Lord!

                                                       a.        Christians came together on the first day of the week to "break bread" - Ac 20:7

                                                       b.        Other indications of a weekly observance:

                                                                            1.        The church at Corinth was coming together to eat the Lord's Supper, though they were abusing it - cf. 1Co 11:17-22

                                                                            2.        Instructions concerning the collection suggest their coming together was on the first day of the week - cf. 1Co 16:1-2

                                                        c.        Following the divinely approved example of Christians in the Bible, we know God approves of a weekly observance on the first day of the week

                                                       a.        The early church writers from Barnabas, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, to Clement of Alexandria, Origen and Cyprian, all with one consent, declare that the church observed the first day of the week. They are equally agreed that the Lord's Supper was observed weekly, on the first day of the week." - B. W. Johnson, People's New Testament

                                                       a.        "As we have already remarked, the celebration of the Lord's Supper was still held to constitute an essential part of divine worship every Sunday, as appears from Justin Martyr (A.D. 150)..." - Augustus Neander (Lutheran), History Of Christian Religion And Church, Vol. I, p. 332

                                                       b.        "This ordinance (the Lord's Supper) seems to have been administered every Lord's day; and probably no professed Christian absented themselves..." - Thomas Scott (Presbyterian), Commentary On Acts 20:7

                                                       a.        Which is why they may do it monthly, quarterly, or annually

                                                       b.        But does the frequent practice of:

                                                                            1.        Assembling diminishing its value and importance?

                                                                            2.        Singing praises and offering prayers devalue their benefits?

                                                                            3.        Preaching and studying God's Word decrease their significance to our lives?

-- Our spiritual lives are dependent upon the value and benefits of our Lord's death on the cross; a weekly observance of the memorial helps us to live appreciatively and accordingly!

CONCLUSION

"The Lord's Supper" is a very special memorial of His death for our sins...

Instituted by Jesus Himself, He asked His disciples to do it in His memory

Jesus told His disciples that He would not eat of the elements again until:

"...that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." -Mt. 26:29

"...that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." Mk. 14:25

"...it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God." -LK 22:16

"...the kingdom of God shall come." Lk.22:18

There are two plausible explanations for what Jesus means:

Some think it refers to Jesus having fellowship with us as we observe the Lord's Supper in the church, which is His kingdom - cf.1 Cor. 10:16-17

Others propose that it refers to the special communion we will have with Jesus in His Father's kingdom, spoken often in terms of a heavenly feast - cf.Isa. 25:6-8  

The first Christians "continued steadfastly" in its observance...

Just as they did in the apostles' doctrine, fellowship and prayer -Acts 2:42

Coming together on the first day of the week for that very purpose -Acts 20:7

Christians today should never lose sight of its significance for us...

A constant reminder of the great sacrifice Jesus paid for our sins

A communion or sharing of the body and blood of the Lord

A time for self-examination and rededication of our service to the Lord

A means for building fellowship with one another in the body of Christ

May such thoughts encourage us to never neglect opportunities we have to observe the Lord's Supper, but to continue steadfastly and in so doing "proclaim the Lord's death till He comes."