THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME

1 Corinthians 11:23–32 KJV 1900

23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27 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. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Intro: There are only two ordinances which we Baptists recognize. The word Ordinance means, “A law, or something prescribed.” In other words, Baptists recognize only two rituals as being prescribed by the Word of God. The first is the ordinance of baptism by immersion and the other is the Lord’s Supper, or Communion.

Baptism is a symbolic act that portrays what Jesus has done for the believer in salvation. It is a picture of a person dying out to an old life of sin and raising again to a new life of service to the Lord. It is an outward symbol of the inward work of God in the human spirit.

The Lord’s Supper, on the other hand, is a symbolic act that calls to mind the death, resurrection and promised return of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we take the bread and the cup, we are remembering the day when Jesus Christ died for our sins on the cross, was buried, and rose again from the dead. The Communion is a symbol of the eternal work God did through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

This morning, we will do what Christians have been doing for over 2,000 years. We will remember Jesus; what He did; why He did it and what it means for us. I want to take a few minutes to share with you the truth about what the Lord’s Supper is.

More than anything else, the Lord’s Supper service is a time of remembrance. That is why Jesus said, “This do in remembrance of Me.” And, that is the thought that I wish to magnify for a few minutes this morning. Allow me to share three facts regarding the nature of the Lord’s Supper as we think on the thought: This Do In Remembrance Of Me.

I. THIS IS A TIME OF COMMEMORATION

The word Commemorate means “to honor the memory of somebody or something in a ceremony; to serve as a memorial to something.” If the Lord’s Supper is anything, it is a memorial. It is a time to remember Jesus and what He did for us. The following is what we commemorate today.

A. We Commemorate His Sufferings—Verses 24 and 25 talk about the “broken body” and the “blood” of Jesus. Both of these vivid phrases bring to mind suffering and pain. When we take the elements of the Lord’s Supper, we are to remember that Jesus Christ suffered horribly for us to save us from our sins. Jesus suffered at the hands of man—Isa. 52:14. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

Jesus suffered at the hands of God, Isa. 53:1–12

1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many,

And He made intercession for the transgressors.

Matt. 27:46. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

B. We Commemorate His Sacrifices—The fact that Jesus Christ was in a human body speaks of the sacrifices He made to redeem us. God became a man, lived and died in this world to redeem the lost:

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ,

14; And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Phil. 2:5–8!

He suffered shame, Matt. 27:39–44; 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

Rejection, John 1:11; He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Poverty, 2 Cor. 8:9; For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Pain, 1 Pet. 2:21; or even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

and Death, John 19:30. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

In fact, the goal of giving Himself as our sacrifice was His whole purpose in coming to this world in the first place,

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

When the bread and the juice are passed around in a little while; stop to remember what Jesus did for you. We are here to commemorate His sufferings and His sacrifices for us!

II. THIS IS A TIME OF CELEBRATION

Just as much as the Lord’s Supper service is a commemoration; it is also a celebration! The word Celebrate means, “to mark a special occasion or day by ceremonies or festivities.” It comes from a Latin word that means “To attend a feast.” That is what we are here to do today! We are here to attend a feast celebrating what Jesus did for us! There should be a heart of thankfulness, happiness and joy within every saved person today because of Who Jesus is and what Jesus has done! Listen to why we celebrate.

A. Church,We Celebrate His Compassion—Notice the words “for you” in verse 24. These words remind us that Jesus did what He did and suffered what He did all because He loved us, John 3:16; John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends

He had no sin of His Own to die for,as seen in, 2 Cor. 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1 Pet. 2:24 echo, “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.”

But He willingly took our sins upon Himself that we might be delivered from our sins and from the penalty of our sins. What love that Jesus Christ; the sinless Lamb of God would give Himself for us! But, He did, Rom. 5:6–8

Romans 5:6–8 KJV 1900

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

B. Today we come to Celebrate His Conquest—What is not mentioned in these verses, but what is clearly implied, is the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead after His death on the cross, v. 26! You see, anyone could have died; but only the God-man could have paid for sins through His death and then guaranteed eternal life by rising again from the dead, John 11:25–26

John 11:25–26 KJV 1900

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

But, that is just what Jesus did, Matt. 28:1–6

Matthew 28:1–6 KJV 1900

1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Rom. 5:10 “ For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

Thank God, because He lives, all those who believe in Him will live also, Rev. 1:18 “ I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

1 Cor. 15:20 “ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”

C. We Celebrate His Coming—We are clearly told that when we observe the Lord’s Supper, we are telling this world that we believe Jesus is coming again, v. 26. That is His promise to us, John 14:1–3:

“1. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

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.”

That promise was reaffirmed by Paul in 1 Thes. 4:13–18

“13. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

It was also reaffirmed by Jesus Himself in the closing words of the Bible, Rev. 22:20 “ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

III. THIS DAY, IS A TIME OF CONTEMPLATION

The Lord’s Supper service is a time for commemoration and celebration; but it is also a time for contemplation. That word means, “to think about something seriously and at length.” When I think of what Jesus suffered for me, I want to worship Him. When I think of all the things we are here to celebrate, I want to shout His praises.

But, when I understand the message of verses 27–32; I understand that the Lord’s Supper is also a very serious time. It is a time for us to reflect upon the condition of our lives so that we can be sure we are where we need to be with the Lord, before we participate in the service.

A. We Must Contemplate Our Salvation—In spite of all their sins and failures, Paul is writing to saved people in this chapter. When Paul uses the words “us” and “we”, he is talking about himself and his fellow believers. He is giving details of a celebration, a commemoration that is for believers only!

Some people practice what is called “Closed Communion.” This means that the church only allows those who are members of that church and who are in good standing with that church to participate in the Lord’s Supper. Others practice what is called “Open Communion”. In those kinds of churches, everyone who is present is encouraged to participate in the observance of the Lord’s Supper.

What I have always believed and practiced is what is known as “Close Communion”. In other words, everyone who is present is invited to participate; but only after they have been warned of the consequences of partaking in the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner. Since neither you nor I know anyone’s heart, each person is urged to practice self-examination and then they can participate if they choose to. In other words, only those who are in close communion with the Lord are encouraged to participate.

So, we are glad you are here today, but if you are lost, then you should let the bread and cup pass you by. Or, you should come to Jesus and be saved right now, so that you can be made worthy to participate in this great time of celebration.

B. We Must Contemplate Our Sanctification—Notice verse 27. There is a word in that verse that bothers me. It is the word “unworthily.” We are told that if we take of this bread and this cup “unworthily”; we bring God’s wrath upon our lives by not reverencing the Lord’s body. In fact, the phrase “not discerning the Lord’s body,” has the idea of treating Jesus like the mocking and jeering crowds did at His crucifixion. It means that we treat His broken body and His shed blood as if they were nothing!

The Lord is telling us to “examine” our own lives. We need to be sure that we are clean, before we come to His table. When we partake of His table with an unclean heart, we need to be aware that there will be a price to pay.

1. Some are sick because of it—verse 30a

2. Some are dead because of it—verse 30b

3. All will be chastened because of it—verse 32

What are we to do? The answer is in verse 31! We are to examine ourselves and bring our sins to His altar in confession and repentance, 1 John 1:9 “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

When we do that, we can expect His forgiveness. When we do not, we can expect His chastisement!

Is it that serious? Yes it is! In fact, it is so serious that I would say to you that if you have sin in your life and you do not plan to confess it and deal with in this altar; then you should let the bread and the juice pass you by!

Conc: We are almost ready to come to the Lord’s Supper table. We are almost ready to commemorate and celebrate our wonderful Savior’s life, His death, His resurrection and His return. But, before we do, we need to have a time of contemplation.

I am going to extend a challenge to you today to examine your heart. I want you to look deep within yourself and see just where you stand with the Lord. Here is what I want you to ask yourself.