The Lord's Supper

Introduction

Read I Corinthians 11:23-31

As we look into this portion of scripture in preparation for the observance of the Lord’s Supper here at HPBC, it is important that we understand not only how the Lord’s Supper is to be observed but more importantly why it is observed year after year.

At HPBC we believe that the scriptures give us two ordinances which are to be observed in the context of the local church- these are baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

These are to be practiced by the local church as they were also practiced in the early church. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is to be administered on a regular basis (for our church in particular- once a year) and that every member of High Plains Baptist Church is to partake in this observance.

It is carried out in the context of the local church and so it is limited to the membership of the local church- those who have been saved and baptized and have been led of the Lord to join our membership.

The passage we have read was written to the congregation of the church at Corinth which would have been a local church much like ours.

Now having detailed how we observe the Lord’s Supper let us explore the reason that we continue to observe it year after year.

The Lord’s Supper should cause us first to...

Look Backward (Vs. 23-25)

The Lord’s Supper service is intended to be somewhat of a memorial service commemorating the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

When we observe the Lord’s Supper we should pause to remember Christ’s death upon the cross.

We pause to remember His body which was broken for us. We must remember the mode of His death. Jesus Christ died a cruel death.

Jesus did not merely die, He suffered in anguish and pain, He was mocked and ridiculed, beaten and battered, and ultimately His hands and feet were nailed to a wooden cross where He would hang until finally He would breath His last breath and lay down His life for you and me.

We must also remember the reason for His death. Jesus suffered and died not for any crime which He Himself had committed but for the sins of all mankind.

The punishment that He endured was the penalty for the sins which you and I and others like us have committed. It was not the Roman soldiers or the Jewish religious leaders alone who were responsible for His death, but rather it was the whole of sinful humanity which bears the responsibility.

1 Peter 2:24 KJV 1900

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

We must also remember the blood that He shed and the power of that precious blood to secure our salvation.

1 Peter 1:18–19 KJV 1900

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

The purchase price of our redemption from sin was the precious blood of Jesus Christ. May we never forget the price which was paid to secure our salvation.

As we approach the observance of the Lord’s Supper may we take the time to remember His death. Mark 15:14-39- may we consider all that Christ endured for our sake.

The Lord’s Supper should also cause us to...

Look Upward (Vs. 26)

The question may be asked, why do we still continue to observe the Lord’s supper nearly 2000 years after His death? This is because we are yet awaiting His return.

The Lord’s Supper is not only a time to consider Jesus gruesome death, but is also a time to remember that He is alive and one day He shall return!

I Thessalonians 4:15-18- one day Jesus Christ will return to catch away all those who have believed and this will be the beginning of the end when finally Jesus shall return to the earth to establish His kingdom.

We do not know the precise timing of the Lord’s return but we do know that it could be at any moment. There is nothing which remains to be accomplished that would prevent our Lord’s return.

As we remember His death, let us also remember that He arose from the dead and that He sits now at the right hand of the throne of God making intercession for us, but He eagerly awaits the moment when He shall come for His own.

Acts 1:9–11 KJV 1900

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

The same Jesus that ascended back to the father so many years ago shall come in like manner and shall ultimately rule and reign and we alongside Him.

Jesus Himself when instituting the Lord’s Supper with His disciples spoke of the day when He would sit down with them (and with us) in His Father’s kingdom.

Matthew 26:26–29 KJV 1900

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, 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. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

His death secured our salvation but His imminent return brings us hope of a brighter future.

Finally, the Lord’s Supper should cause us to...

Look Inward (Vs. 27-31)

It was the careless observance of the Lord’s Supper in the Corinthian church which provoked Paul to write to them of it.

As we consider the Lord’s death and His imminent return we should naturally be led to examine ourselves in light of these truths.

As we remember the Lord’s Death, we must ask ourselves “Am I living in a manner that was worth Christ dying for?”

As we Remember that the Lord may return at any moment, we must ask ourselves “Am I ready for His return?”

As Paul wrote to the believer in Corinth we must understand the issue he was dealing with. His assertion was not that somehow the believers could make themselves worthy of the sacrifice which Jesus made for them.

Paul was asserting that the manner in which they were conducting themselves in the observance of the Lord’s Supper was inappropriate and brought shame and reproach to the name of Christ.

In the Corinthian church sin and carnality were prevalent and thus they were partaking of the Lord’s Supper unworthily in a manner that was not appropriate to the remembrance of Jesus death.

Paul’s instruction was that each member of the Corinthian church would examine themselves in the light of the truths that he had presented to them.

We must do the same as we prepare ourselves to partake in the Lord’s Supper.

Are there hidden sins which need to be dealt with in our lives? Are our hearts right with God and are we striving to the best of our ability to live as god would have us to live?

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 KJV 1900

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

We must ask ourselves the question “Am I living for Jesus Christ?” If the answer is no, then I must make the necessary corrections so that I do not unworthily partake of the Lord’s Supper.

The consequences of partaking unworthily are obviously severe according to Paul’s warning. We must rightly judge ourselves otherwise we shall be judged.

Conclusion

Would you take some time today to remember the Lord’s death? Remember the mode of His death, the reason for His death, and the price of His precious blood which was shed for us.

Would you take some time to consider the fact that He will return? If Jesus Christ were to come back today would you be ready or would you be left with regrets?

In light of these truths, would you take some time today and over the next several days to examine yourself? Are there sinful attitudes or behaviors which need to be corrected? Are you approaching the observance of the Lord’s Supper with sincerity and seriousness?

2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV 1900

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

If you are here this morning and you realize that you have never placed you faith in Christ to save you, you must understand that partaking in the Lord’s Supper is utterly meaningless for you. You must first partake of salvation! Jesus died for you, and He will save you today, if you will but call upon Him!