Matthew 6:9-13 - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
The Sermon for this week is: Why I Believe In The Lord’s Supper
INTRODUCTION
1. In our previous study I provided reasons to believe in the ordinance of baptism...
a. It is commanded by Christ and His apostles
b. It is the avenue of wonderful blessings
2. Another ordinance worthy of our faith is the Lord’s Supper, also known as...
a. The Communion - 1 Corinthians 10:16 - 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?
b. The Breaking Of Bread - Acts 2:42 - And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine
and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. ; Acts 20:7 - And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on
the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
c. The Eucharist, from the Greek eucharisteo, “giving of thanks”, which Christ did
at the time of its institution - Matthew 26:26-27 - 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;
3. The Lord’s Supper is a simple act, in which those who are Christians...
a. Partake of unleavened bread
b. Drink of the fruit of the vine
4. I believe in the Lord’s Supper for two simple reasons...
a. It was instituted by the Lord Himself - cf. Matthew 26:26-28 - 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.
b. It’s observance was commanded by the Lord - cf. 1 Corinthians 11:24-25 - 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 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.
[Such is sufficient for the disciple of Christ. Yet in order to develop a stronger faith in the importance
of the Supper, and a greater commitment to keeping its observance, let’s first review...]
I. THE MEANING OF THE SUPPER
A. IT IS A MEMORIAL...
1. Note Paul’s account as given by the Lord Himself - 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 - 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: 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 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.
a. We eat the bread in memory of His body
b. We drink the cup (fruit of the vine) in memory of His blood
2. We therefore commemorate the death of Jesus on the cross - Matthew 26:28 - For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
a. Whose death make the new covenant possible - Hebrews 9:16 - For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
b. Whose blood was shed for the remission of sins - Ephesians 1:7 - In whom we have redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
-- As the Passover was a memorial commemorating Israel’s deliverance from Egypt through the
blood of the lambs on the door post, so the Supper is a memorial of our Lord’s death who makes our deliverance from
the bondage of sin possible
B. IT IS A PROCLAMATION...
1. We proclaim our faith in the efficacy of the Lord’s death - 1 Corinthians 11:26a - For
as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup,
a. That His death was indeed for our sins
b. If we don’t believe He died for our sins, why keep the Supper?
2. We also proclaim our faith in the Lord’s return - 1 Corinthians 11:26b - ye
do shew the Lord's death till he come.
a. For it is to be done “till He comes”
b. If we don’t believe He is coming, then why keep the Supper?
-- Thus the Lord’s Supper looks forward as well as backwa rd, and will ever be observed by
His disciples who trust in His redemption and anticipate His return!
C. IT IS A COMMUNION...
1. A fellowship or sharing in the blood of Christ - 1 Corinthians 10:16a - The cup of blessing
which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?
a. As we partake, we commune with the blood of Christ
b. Perhaps in the sense of reinforcing blessings we enjoy through the blood of Christ - cf. 1 John
1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus
Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. ; 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.
2. A fellowship or sharing in the body of Christ - 1 Corinthians 10:16b-17 - The bread which
we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread,
and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
a. As we partake, we commune with the body of Christ
b. Perhaps in the sense of reinforcing fellowship together in the body of Christ (i.e., the church), as
we break bread together
-- The extent to which we share in the body and blood of the Lord as we partake may be uncertain,
but dare we neglect whatever may be the be nefits of that communion?
[“The Lord’s Supper” therefore has great significance and should done in faith.
We do well therefore to consider what the Scriptures reveal about...]
II. THE OBSERVANCE OF THE SUPPER
A. WITH REVERENCE...
1. That is, “in a worthy manner” (NKJV) - 1 Corinthians 11:27 - 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. ; 1 Corinthians 11:29 - For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh
damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
a. The KJV says “worthily”, which some have misunderstood
b. It is an adverb, describing how we take it, not whether we are worthy (none are truly worthy)
2. With respect for the supreme price Jesus paid for our sins
a. E.g., the cruel torture and humiliation of His physical body
b. E.g., the spiritual anguish suffered as Jesus bore the punishment for our sins (“My God, My God,
Why have You forsaken Me?”)
3. Failure to observe with proper reverence brings condemnation - 1 Corinthians 11:27 - 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. ; 1 Corinthians 11:29 - For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth
and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
a. One will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord
b. One will eat and drink judgment to himself
-- To make light of this memorial puts one in the same category as those who mocked Him as He hung
on the cross!
B. WITH INTROSPECTION...
1. Such as reflecting upon one’s spiritual condition - 1 Corinthians 11:28 - But let a
man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that
cup.
2. Are we living in a manner that shows appreciation for His sacrifice?
a. By accepting the grace of God in our lives? - cf. 2 Corinthians 5:18-6:1
- And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ,
and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not
imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for
Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you
in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 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. We then, as workers together
with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace
of God in vain.
b. By living for Jesus who died for us? - cf. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 -
For the love of Christ constraineth us;
because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: ; Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself
for me.
3. Or are we by willful sinning, guilty of having:
a. “trampled the Son of God underfoot”?
b. “counted the blood by which [we were] sanctified a common thing”?
c. “insulted the Spirit of grace”? - cf. Hebrews 10:26-29 - For
if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But
a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses'
law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy,
who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy
thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
4. Do we, by refusing to repent of our sins, “crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put
Him to an shame”? - cf. Hebrews 6:4-6 - For it is impossible for those
who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted
the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing
they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
-- In one sense, the Supper is a very private matter between a Christian and his or her God; a
time to reflect on the past and to resolve for the future