The Lord's Supper - May 19, 2024

The Lord's Supper May 19, 2024 This morning, we are taking a break in our sermon series in Ephesians by participating in the observance of the Lord's Supper. Personally, I love observing the Lord's Supper. It is a very special observance that we get to participate in as Christians. One of the primary reasons we participate is because it was a command directly from Jesus shortly before He was betrayed by Judas. We read in the account of Luke that Jesus and His disciples were observing the Passover meal when He instituted what we now call the Lord's Supper. Here's how Luke records it in Luke 22:17-20: 17 AND HE TOOK A CUP, AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS HE SAID, "TAKE THIS, AND DIVIDE IT AMONG YOURSELVES. 18 FOR I TELL YOU THAT FROM NOW ON I WILL NOT DRINK OF THE FRUIT OF THE VINE UNTIL THE KINGDOM OF GOD COMES." 19 AND HE TOOK BREAD, AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS, HE BROKE IT AND GAVE IT TO THEM, SAYING, "THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH IS GIVEN FOR YOU. DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME. 20 AND LIKEWISE THE CUP AFTER THEY HAD EATEN, SAYING, "THIS CUP THAT IS POURED OUT FOR YOU IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD. Later, the Apostle Paul references the Lord's Supper and its observance. He says this in 1 Corinthians 11:26, FOR AS OFTEN AS YOU EAT THIS BREAD AND DRINK THE CUP, YOU PROCLAIM THE LORD'S DEATH UNTIL HE COMES. So, really, these are the two primary reasons we observe the Lord's Supper. If you have been a part of any church, you know that everyone seems to observe it differently. Some like to observe it every week, as part of their normal worship gathering. Others monthly, and so forth. We tend to do observe it every quarter, and we dedicate the entire service to its observance. In part, we do this to ensure that we approach the observance, not in a ritualistic or religious manner, but as a time of reflection and worship. When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, he warned them against approaching or participating in the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner. We see that in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29, when he says: 27 WHOEVER, THEREFORE, EATS THE BREAD OR DRINKS THE CUP OF THE LORD IN AN UNWORTHY MANNER WILL BE GUILTY CONCERNING THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD. 28 LET A PERSON EXAMINE HIMSELF, THEN, AND SO EAT OF THE BREAD AND DRINK OF THE CUP. 29 FOR ANYONE WHO EATS AND DRINKS WITHOUT DISCERNING THE BODY EATS AND DRINKS JUDGMENT ON HIMSELF. What makes participation unworthy? And what is the warning to us today? Typically, we teach that you participate in the Lord's Supper in an unworthy way if you fit the following criteria: * You are not a Christian. In other words, you have not accepted the offer of salvation by confessing faith in Christ as Lord. * Next, you are unrepentant. The text here, particularly verse 28, speaks to self-examination. Unrepentant speaks to a sin or lifestyle of sin that has been unaddressed and unconfessed. For those who are Christians, we have been forgiven of sin, but we know that we still participate in sin. One of my favorite verses on confession comes from 1 John 1:9, where the Apostle John says: IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. o You may be familiar with Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. When Peter told the Lord that He should wash him head to toe, Jesus told Peter that he was already clean, but only his feet must be cleaned. This was - in part - to illustrate the need for us to confess our sins daily. * So, really, these are the two excluding criteria for participation in the Lord's Supper. The picture and warning from Paul does go a little deeper than this, however, and that's where I want to spend a little bit of time. In the context of this letter right before his instructions about the Lord's Supper, Paul is addressing some disunity within the community of believers. In part, there was some poor teaching, some poor practices, and the practice of idolatry - which modernly can be applied to anything we tend to put in place of our faith, or object of worship. In chapter 10, he addresses this idolatry, and uses the Lord's Supper as an example of what participation in a practice actually means. I want to look at one more text this morning. Let's quickly read 1 Corinthians 10:16-17: 16 THE CUP OF BLESSING THAT WE BLESS, IS IT NOT A PARTICIPATION IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST? THE BREAD THAT WE BREAK, IS IT NOT A PARTICIPATION IN THE BODY OF CHRIST? 17 BECAUSE THERE IS ONE BREAD, WE WHO ARE MANY ARE ONE BODY, FOR WE ALL PARTAKE OF THE ONE BREAD. You may have noticed that I used the term "participate" a lot already this morning. That is intentional, with this passage in mind. If you've been with us the last few weeks, you may have seen a connection here and what we've been looking at in Ephesians. The connection is that of the church. The word "participation" as translated in our English bibles is the same word translated fellowship in many other areas of the New Testament. So, simply put, when we observe the Lord's Supper, we are being brought together by His blood and His body. For the rest of our time this morning, let's discuss: HOW THE LORD'S SUPPER BRINGS THE CHURCH TOGETHER * The Lord's Supper joins us together as one body. o In verse 16, Paul uses the term "the body of Christ." o I believe he is using this as a double meaning. Jesus, in the passage we read earlier said that the bread represents His body, but Paul here is also speaking of unity within community. o What Paul is saying is, that, in the Lord's Supper, because we all share in fellowship with Christ together, our unity in Christ creates the unified body of the church. (Jamieson) o Context is also important here, Paul is warning the Corinthians about fellowship with idols, and inviting them to the table, so to speak. In the ancient days, they had banquets in honor of these false gods, and it appears as though their practice of the Lord's Supper was blurring the lines of these pagan practices and the participation of the Lord's Supper. o In effect, Paul was warning them that eating at the table with someone indicated friendship and fellowship with them. o For the Christian, when we gather around the table for the Lord's Supper, we are joined together with Him. o Another reason why self-examination is important. o Next, * The Lord's Supper joins us together to remember. o Here's how Wiersbe described it: When the believer partakes of the cup and loaf at the Lord's table, he is, in a spiritual way, having fellowship with the body and blood of Christ. By remembering Christ's death, the believer enters into a communion with the risen Lord. o Jesus, in the passage we read to open, stated specifically to do this in remembrance of Him. o When we participate, we are given physical elements, representing the cup and the bread, just as Jesus passed around and blessed the elements. o These are - of course - symbolic, to remember the bloodshed, and the death, as the price paid for salvation to be possible. o So, Jesus tells us to do this in remembrance of Him, and Paul tells us that ... * The Lord's Supper joins us together to proclaim Him. o Paul says to proclaim His death until He comes. o This is something - along with baptism - that is required for the believer. As a testimony, a proclamation of the work that Christ did to transform us from dead in our sins to being alive in Christ. o This is why we teach about the Lord's Supper during these services, as we have the privilege of telling the story and the reason why we participate, and why it is important that we do. This morning, we've seen that when we observe the Lord's Supper, we are being brought together by His blood and His body. We've said this before, but it is very important. When we participate in the Lord's Supper, we are all at the same table. This means that Christ paid the same price for the pastors, elders and deacons, as He did for each and every one of you. As we pause for a moment, I want to invite the worship team to return to the stage. As they get ready, I want to offer a couple of reminders. * To this very moment, everyone has been able to participate in the worship service, but as noted before, the Lord's Supper is reserved for Christians. So, if you are not a follower of Jesus, we ask that you do not come up - when invited - to receive the cup or the bread. * Finally, during the short time of reflection before we read and partake of the elements, take that time to remember, and to confess any sin in your lives. Luke 22:19: AND HE TOOK BREAD, AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS, HE BROKE IT AND GAVE IT TO THEM, SAYING, "THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH IS GIVEN FOR YOU. DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME." [EATING OF THE BREAD] Luke 22:20: AND LIKEWISE THE CUP AFTER THEY HAD EATEN, SAYING, "THIS CUP THAT IS POURED OUT FOR YOU IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD [DRINKING OF THE CUP] 2