Doctrine of Communion

Introduction

Today we’re going to present what will probably be a hybrid message with both teaching and preaching as we present unto you the Doctrine of Communion.

I am admonished by the Word of God to give unto you doctrine: 2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

Doctrine (def) what is taught. In this sense, we’re speaking of the teachings of the Bible.

There is to many much confusion concerning the Doctrine of Communion, as to it’s purpose and function. For instance, the Catholic church teaches that the wafer through what is called ‘Transubstantiation’ literally BECOMES the body of Christ when the priest says his words over it, and that partaking of it is necessary to salvation.

This is of course terrible error, and used as a tool to control the populous. I will say at the onset, that the observance of Communion is only symbolic - when Jesus brake the bread and said ‘This is my Body’, it obviously wasn’t His body then, nor is it His body now. Furthermore, it holds no meaning in regards to whether you’re saved or lost. You can be lost and take it - (though you shouldn’t) and you can be saved and no take it (though you should)

That being said, it has deep meaning(s) for us today, and I believe the better we understand it, the more we appreciate the observance thereof.

The first thing that I want to share is that it Functions as a Sign

I. It Functions as a Sign

While the LORD’s Supper is multifaceted in meaning, none are probably as important as this one.

With a Covenant, God Gives a Token

A Covenant is a Promise. Its’s a Contractual agreement between two parties.

(Ill.) Just as if you were to go down to the car lot and work out an agreement between you and the car lot for a car.

This is what’s known as a conditional agreement / covenant. You agree to purchase the car, the lot agrees to sell it at an agreed upon price, and the object is the car. WITH THAT AGREEMENT, papers would be signed. The papers are the TOKEN OF THE AGREEMENT. IT IS THE OBJECT THAT SIGNIFIES THE DEAL TOOK PLACE.

In the Bible, God has made several Covenants - promises unto a person or people. Some are CONDITIONAL covenants and others are UNCONDITIONAL covenants.

In a CONDITIONAL covenant, both parties have their part to do in order for the agreement to be enforce. (Ill.) Such as in our illustration - If I pay for the car, then the car is mine. If I don’t pay for the car, then the dealership is under no obligation to let me keep the car.

In an UNCONDITIONAL covenant, then ONE PARTY makes the promise, and there is nothing for the other party to do but to enjoy the promise that was made.

Let’s look at the major covenants in the Bible, and their tokens:

God gave Noah the Rainbow - Gen. 9:11-17

As you know, God - once He’d had enough of the wickedness of man, brought a flood down upon the earth, and spared only those that were in the ark.

In Gen. 9:11-17, we see that God promised not to again destroy the world with a flood - and because of that gave man a token of the rainbow.

Therefore, even today when it has rained, we can look in the sky and see the token of God’s unconditional covenant between Himself and all of mankind, and we can remember that we have a God that keeps His promises!

God gave Noah the Rainbow

God gave Abraham Circumcision - Gen. 17:7-14

Back in Gen. 12, God called a people in Abraham, and God made him a promise.

In Gen. 17; God is giving a token of that promise in the form of circumcision on the 8th day.

This was a conditional covenant unto Abraham and his descendents. it has no effect unto you and I. If you desire to circumcise your children, then by all means go ahead - but the institution of that was for the purpose of identifying a peculiar people in a very personal way.

God gave Abraham Circumcision

God gave Moses the Sabbath - Ex. 19:5-8; 31:12-18

Upon Mt. Sinai, God offered a covenant unto the COI. This was not for them as a people, but for a Priesthood. They would be God’s vessel to communicate to the world the Word of God.

This was a conditional covenant, in that God had His part, they had theirs. The contractual agreements are found written in stone and the wording is listed in Ex. 20.

The token was they keeping the Sabbath.

This to was a promise unto a particular people. This is where SO MANY PEOPLE GET MESSED UP!

The Commandments were written unto a people for the purpose of the priesthood - they were not incorporated unto the church for Salvation!

This goes as well for the Sabbath. We don’t keep the Sabbath because that was a sign between the Jew and God for the purpose of the priesthood. But the Jews aren’t exclusively the priesthood - the believer today has the priesthood.

God gave Moses the Sabbath

God gave David the Resurrection - Ps. 16; Act. 2:29-32

David in shadow spoke of the Resurrection - and Jesus performed that promise by raising from the dead. And God has kept that promise for an eternal Kingship (Potentate) through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God gave David the Resurrection

God gave the Church the Lord’s Supper - Luk. 22:17-20; 1Cor. 11:23-32

Lastly, God gave us this - the LORD’s table, the LORD’s supper, Communion - however you want to term it. This is the sign / token for the Covenant of Salvation through Jesus Christ.

God gave the church the LORD’s Supper

It Functions as a Sign. Secondly, it Illustrates a Sacrifice

II. It Illustrates a Sacrifice

This wasn’t a random token. God didn’t just give something completely unrelated as the sign for the Covenant. It was a very personal one. It’s a very profound one.

This speaks of a Blood that was Shed

A Blood that was Shed

The Bible tells us: Hebrews 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

The LORD’s Supper reminds us of how Jesus bled and died.

It reminds us of how in the garden as Jesus prayed, blood polluted the ground

It reminds us of how when Jesus was in the priest’s house, as they buffeted him, His blood was spilt

It reminds us of when Jesus was at the whipping post at the Judgment Hall, his blood was strung out everywhere as they took the whip to Him.

It reminds us of what came forth once the thorns broke the skin upon His brow.

It reminds us the what flowed from his hands, feet and side up upon Mt. Calvary.

It reminds us that there was a GREAT COST for our redemption!

Some people apologize for it, some avoid the subject - but Christianity is a bloody religion, BUT THANK GOD IT IS! FOR WITHOUT THE BLOOD, THERE WOULD BE NO REDEMPTION FOR YOU AND I!

This Juice represents a Blood that was Shed for you and I

A Body that was Broken

As Jesus took the bread and brake it, it symbolizes how the flesh from off His body was tore asunder.

It reminds us of how they plucked His beard from off His face, with pieces of skin attached to the ends of each one.

It reminds us of the bruising and swelling that would incur as they smote upon Him with their hands.

It reminds us of how when they would lay that whip across His back, arms & legs, and the bone & glass laced within the straps puncture, then rip pieces of flesh from His body.

It’s a truth that not a bone of Christ was broken. It’s also true that the eyes of Christ could look down at His body and see the bones with His bare eyes. Psalm 22:16–17 “For dogs have compassed me: The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: They pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: They look and stare upon me.”

This bread illustrates a broken body - for you and I

It Functions as a Sign. Secondly, it Illustrates a Sacrifice. Next it Acknowledges our Standing

III. It Acknowledges our Standing

This institution is a statement. By partaking of it, you are reminded as to who you are in Christ.

Christ Took our Suffering

All of the suffering that we’ve spoken of - Jesus took that for me.

I am reminded that because Jesus took the punishment for my sins, I don’t have to bear them myself.

Here’s the truth. Sin must be punished - and sin WILL be punished - the only question is, who’s going to suffer the punishment.

Another truth is that every one of us deserves Hell.

(Ill.) I’m so sick of hearing the same tired, shallow, unBiblical argument that says “Well I don’t see how a loving God could send someone to Hell. There’s really so much to say to that.

First off, God is simply giving to us what we deserve. He is ‘paying us our wages’

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death;…”

We’re all sinners by nature and by practice - therefore, we deserve Hell.

Secondly, God is simply giving the soul that lifts up their eyes in Hell WHAT THEY ASK FOR

Now don’t get me wrong - I understand that no one in their right mind would choose Hell. But by rejecting Christ, that is the result of the choice that they make. (Ill.) I don’t choose to be fat. I choose to eat too much, therefore my choice makes me fat.

But because of Jesus, we don’t HAVE to suffer! Jesus has already suffered for us! AND BECAUSE OF HIS SUFFERING, HE HAS SECURED OUR SALVATION!

Christ Secured our Salvation

“Redeemed how I love to proclaim it Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb Redeemed through His infinite mercy His child and forever I am… Redeemed, redeemed…” “I’m not going to Hell! I met the Saviour, what a story I’ll tell I’m saved and forgiven, set free all is well I’m not going to Hell!”

Church I don’t know about you - but I know about me. I don’t know where you’re going, but I know where I’m going!

When I partake of that cup and that broken bread, I’m reminded that by the Sacrifice of Christ, my sin debt has been paid! I’m been born again - not by flesh and blood, but by the Spirit of God! 1 John 5:4–6 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.”

This ordinance reminds me that though I’m a sinner, by the blood of Christ I am a Saint - a child of the MOST HIGH GOD!

Christ Secured our Salvation

It Functions as a Sign. Secondly, it Illustrates a Sacrifice. Next it Acknowledges our Standing

IV. It Demands a Survey

Too often, we choose to live in ignorance. We put our minds on the interest of the flesh instead of the things of God. This puts us in a state of willful ignorance.

But this ordinance that Christ instituted demands a survey. What I mean is that, when partaking this, I cannot continue with my mind on my fleshly interests, but I must consider the things of God, if but for a moment.

Of the Past

When Jesus says in Matthew 26:26–28b “…Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

When He says “…this do in remembrance of me” - I must think back and set my mind on what transpired FOR MY SIN. I cannot ignore the truth of the horrors that Christ faced FOR MY SIN. I cannot bury my head in the sand and act as if it were all a bad dream.

The price for my redemption was REAL!

It’s been said that: Remembrance is “Bringing the Past into the Present”. I think back to that day and the commotion of Christ being led up Mt. Calvary. The wailing of the women, the shouts of condemnation and mocking from His accusers. The smell of dust and blood in the air.

If you can so easily ignore the horrors of Calvary, the odds are, you’ve NEVER BEEN to Calvary!

This ordinance, and Christ’s command to do so ‘In Remembrance of Him’ makes us Survey the Past, but that’s not all. It makes us Survey the Present

Of the Present

Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 11:27–28 “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”

I now - if I’m going to be treat this proper - take a good look at my life and my heart. I must look inwardly to see if there be any sin I am harboring, any sin unconfessed - and do one of two things: I can either confess and forsake them, or I can let this cup pass me by. Those are my options. To do otherwise is dangerous! (1 Corinthians 11:29–30 “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” )

This is important, as willful sin and treating the LORD’s Supper in such low esteem is akin to crucifying Christ anew. It is an affront to God, and a spit in the face of the Sacrifice that He made for you!

So it forces us to survey the past, the present - but also the future.

Of the Future

Paul said: 1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”

Church, Jesus is coming back!

He promised that He would: John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

We’re instructed to Watch:

Matthew 24:42 “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

Matthew 25:13 “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

Mark 13:35 “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:”

1 Peter 4:7 “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”

I got news for you - Jesus is coming back! As sure as He left, He’s coming back! We’d better not let this truth slip, else he finds us unprepared upon His return!

It forces us to survey the past, the present and the future

It Functions as a Sign. It Illustrates a Sacrifice. It Acknowledges our Standing. It Demands a Survey, and finally I want to address the Particulars of the Service itself

V. Particulars of the Service

Who to be Served

The direction is for believers, as we have presented, in right standing with God.

Some Restrict to local Church Members (in good standing), some have the restriction of being baptized - however, we offer it to people who simply have a profession of faith.

(After all, there’s plenty of church members all over our country who’ve never truly been born again).

The practice of restriction is known as ‘guarding the table’. However, the table is not in danger, the sinner is.

The Bible doesn’t give me instruction to guard it, or suppose one is fit while the other isn’t. Paul says specifically: 1 Corinthians 11:28 “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”

So we pass the plate and the cup with that instruction. What you do is on your head, not mine.

Who will be served

When to be Served

There is no set time, therefore there is no right or wrong. Jesus simply said ‘…as oft as ye…’ The instruction assumes that you will, but no instruction as to the frequency.

We here recognize it every quarter.

The church I pastored before did it every 5th Sunday with a fellowship meal to follow.

Some churches do it every week.

The important thing to understand is WHY. We’ve gone through this message explaining why. Nowhere in the ‘WHY’ did we remark that this is part of Salvation, because it’s not. It’s a recognition of the SAVED unto the PERSON and AGENT of Salvation. Therefore, there is no specific guideline as to when.

When to be Served

What to be Served

The Bread

Unleavened. As that’s what would have been served at the passover meal. Leaven is a picture of sin, and we are not ‘taking on’ sin, but rather, the sinless one.

The Wine

The Bible uses the word ‘Wine’ regarding two different stages - fresh and fermented. Jesus drank fresh wine, what we call today ‘juice’. In order to understand the difference, you must read the context - which is another subject for another time.

What to be served is Unleavened bread and juice

How to be Served

With Solemnity

This is a serious ordinance picturing the most serious of Sacrifice - therefore it’s to be regarded as such.

Nothing in life is more serious than the Sacrifice of Christ. Death is a serious subject, and none more so than the death of our LORD who died for our sins.

It should be regarded with Solemnity

Conclusion

This church is the Doctrine of Communion, which we’ll be observing in a moment. However, I want to give you opportunity:

To the Lost:

Jesus sacrificed Himself for you. Will you choose to let your punishment fall upon Christ, who’s already suffered for it, or do you choose to suffer for your sins yourself in Hell?

To the Saved:

Maybe you’ve not regarded or understood this ordinance. Maybe you want to just come and worship God at the altar for a moment. Maybe you have been harboring sin that you want to be cleansed of. Whatever your reason, I encourage you to come to the altar to do business with God.