Why I believe in Lord's Supper
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Ordinances
Ordinances
What is an ordinance? It is an authoritative order or decree. I think we have introduced ordinances before, like last week, baptism. Today we will look at the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper.
Last week we looked at Baptism, as commanded by Christ and his apostles as authorized by Christ; And through it the wonderful blessings that come from it.
Forgiveness of sins
It brought gift of the Holy Spirit
It brought eternal life to all who believe
Its the place where God’s hand; and God’s Spirit meet in circumcision not made with hands and you are born again of water and spirit. - in other words, it brings salvation!
Some say there are 6 ordinances in the N.T.
Baptism
Lord’s Supper
Preaching
Scripture reading
Prayer
Singing
Some will say faith is an ordinance, and marriage is too, as well as foot washing, anointing with oil. Well, today we want to focus on the Lords’ Supper
It has been commonly called
Communion (1Cor10:16)
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
The breaking of bread (Act2:42; Act20:7)
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
and the other acts passage
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.
The Eucharist (Mt26:26-27)
This is from Greek word “eucharisteo” meaning giving thanks; and that is exactly what Christ did
26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you;
It is a simple act for Christians, believers
It consists of unleavened bread
And fruit of the vine
The importance of it
Jesus commanded it (Mt26:26-28)
It was observed by Jesus and the apostles (1Cor11:24-25)
(Transition) For us to grow, to mature in our walk with Christ we want to grow in our understanding of the reason we believe in the Lord’s Supper and why we observe it weekly. So, here is where we are going this morning.
The meaning of the Supper
The observance of the Supper
The taking of the supper together
The meaning of the Supper
The meaning of the Supper
Christ was intentional in everything He did. As Christians we too should be intentional, but know why we are, not from a place of tradition like the Jews, but from faith, from heart. So, let’s now get into the meaning of the Supper.
This lesson today maybe redundant to some, new to others, and a great reminder to all of us about the Supper, and that is why we are going to celebrate together at the end this morning.
It is a memorial (1Cor11:23-25; Mt26:28; Heb9:16: Eph1:7; Exo12:1-14)
Let’s check out Paul’s words
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 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.”
25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
Received, delivered, proclaimed.
Proclaimed so we would remember this memorial
This memorial is taken to remember His body
This memorial is taken to remember his blood
This memorial is taken to commemorate what He did for us on the cross
28 “this is my blood, which seals God’s covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
it is only by His death the new covenant is made possible (consider Heb9:16)
Or as further evidenced by
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
This memorial was the fulfillment of the shadow that you can read in (Exo12:1-14)- which was the memorial commemorating Israel’s deliverance from Egypt through the blood placed on the door posts from a lamb that was slaughter. Jesus is the Lamb of God that was killed for us to have this covenant, this memorial we celebrate.
It’s a proclamation (1Cor11:26)
It’s our proclamation in our believe, our faith, in the efficacy of the Lord’s death
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
A proclamation of the Lords death until He comes and the reason was for our sins. He died for our sins.
If we do not believe, have faith, trust in the finished work on the cross, why take the supper at all?
A proclamation that we continue to make until He comes. That means we believe that He is coming back, just as He promised.
Again, if we do not believe, if we do not have faith, trust in His word and that He is coming back, why continue to take the supper?
It’s a communion (1Cor10:16-17; 1Jn1:7-9)
It is a communion with each other and with the Lord himself
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
A communion of the body of Christ.
A great reminder of the blessings we have in Christ, consider
7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We commune when we talk together with the Lord, in the Light
We commune in remembrance that the blood of Jesus cleanses us of all sin.
And we are not sinless, if we think so we are deceiving ourselves.
We commune in remembrance of His faithfulness and righteousness to forgive us our sins and cleanse of of all unrighteousness continually.
We commune together too as the body of Christ remembering the body of Christ that was sacrifice so we could become the body, the bride of Christ, the church!
(Transition) the Lords supper looks backwards and forwards, backwards in remembrance, forwards in hope. We gather and share in it together as a body, but dare we forget or neglect whatever may be the benefits of the supper. When we take the Supper it must be coupled with faith, or why do it at all. So, now let’s look at who we should observe the supper.
The Observance of Lord’s Supper
The Observance of Lord’s Supper
Observance, hum, meaning: the action or practice of fulfilling or respecting the requirements of law, morality, or ritual. More than just remembering, it is practicing, it is respecting.
We should do it with reverence (1Cor11:27-29; Isa53:3-6)
With reverence is to do it, by meaning: deep respect for something or someone as a noun, or as a verb: regard or treat with deep respect.
27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.
I want to stop, focus on (vv.27, 29) now, we will get to 28 in a few minutes
(Insert Jesus on the cross picture here)
in KJV it says “worthily” and it is easy for us to take it wrong. This has nothing to do with our worthiness. It is an adverb, describing how we take it, not that we are worthy, for in reality our worthiness is only found in Him and we take it in Him in remembrance of Him and His worthiness and what He has done for us to make us worthy, by faith.
We remember the price He paid, the torture He suffered, the humiliation, the punishment all for us, not for Himself for anything He did.
We remember the and respect the spiritual anguish that He suffered for us. He bore the punishment of our sins.
Consider:
Isa53:3-4 “3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.”
Isa53:5-6 “5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.”
The failure toe observe with reverence brings condemnation
Lest we forget the sacrifice
Lest we forget the problem in the Corinthian church at the time. In fact I need to bring in passage so we see in context.
19 For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. 20 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper,
21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.
They knew the right thing to do, and were not doing it with the right heart for the right purpose. They were just as guilty as the Pharisee’s in Jesus day.
To take it and not believe is also bringing condemnation on yourself. This is to be done in reverence and if you don’t believe you cannot have reverence and should refrain from taking it.
We should do it with introspection (1Cor11:28; 2Cor5:18-6:1; 2Cor5:14-15; Gal2:20; Heb10:26-29; Heb6:4-6)
We can do that by self examination, self reflection of our spiritual condition
28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
Are we remembering God’s given grace that saved us? Is my life reflecting it in word and deed. if not, now is a time to commit and make adjustments
Speaking of God’s grace consider
2cor5:18-6:1 “18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 1 And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—”
The apostles were committed the ministry of reconciliation. They were the ambassadors went with a message to make an appeal. When you open your bible, when you read their words you are hearing their appeal. - When you reflect on your spiritual condition you are appealing to God again remembering His mercy and His grace!
We take it in introspection when we are living for Christ who died for us and for us living for Him now (see 2Cor5:14-15) and consider
20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
We take it in introspection when we self examine ourselves and realize there is willful sinning that we are guilty of that we need to repent and take the supper.
We need to know, and repent of our sins, we cannot put Christ on the cross again.
4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
This was the Hebrew Christians who were forgetting they were cleansed and returning to something that could not save them in the first place and there is no going back when you go to trusting in you and your works, your worthiness and forget God’s righteousness, Christ’s worthiness and Christ’s sacrifice for you to be accounted as righteousness.
We take in introspection when we take it with other Christians (Act20:7; 1Cor11:33; 1Cor10:17)
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.
When they were gathered together!
33 So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
When you come together, to eat, eat the bread, this was not a love feast meal, this was a memorial, a proclamation a celebration of the Lord’s Supper, we do it together.
17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.
We do it together for we are one together, one body, united in Christ Jesus!
Now, maybe you can’t make it to the assembly and take it together. it is not the plan to do it on your own, but you may have to due to being home bound or ill. Know we should make every effort to take it together. The Supper builds unity and fellowship with one another and that cannot be done unless we are there taking it together.
We take in introspection when we do it on first day of the week (Act20:7; 1Cor11:17-22; 1Cor16:1-2)
We already read the Act20:7 passage so no need to read it again.
We have bounced all around the 1Cor11:17-22 passage so now time to read that. So, stick with me a few more minutes
17 But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it.
19 For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. 20 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper,
21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.
You can find an inference to the Supper in 1Cor16:1-2, you can look up on your own.
We have the holy Spirit inspired words that give us a divine example, an example worth following, or imitating on the first day of the week.
You can find outside sources such as the Didache (AD95); Justin Martyr (AD150) as well as many others that reference the first day of the week when the church gathered, and some mention the taking of the Lord’s Supper as we are getting ready to do in a few minutes.
Denominations such as Catholics, Lutheran’s; Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and congregationalist, all celebrate the Lord’s supper on a regular basis
Food for thought if someone thinks that taking, celebrating, remembering, proclaiming the Lords supper on a weekly basis diminishes the significance of it, then that would mean our singing, our prayers, our studying God’s word and our assembling on a weekly basis would too.
(drawing a conclusion) -
We celebrate, commemorate, proclaim this on a weekly basis until He comes.
We do it in fellowship with the Lord and with each other
We reflect on our spiritual condition and take it according to His worthiness.
So, as I ask our song leader to come lead us in a song of preparation, then we will proclaim together, then give an invitation after.
(Lords supper song here) Lords supper (invitation slide) invitation (Song) (Prayer)