THE LORD’S SUPPER
-Introduction
-Last Sunday morning,
we addressed the fact that God provides patterns.
-These patterns
provide organization (rather than confusion) and cohesiveness
(rather than
division).
-They are
authoritative and binding.
-Therefore, we
are to conform to them and will be held accountable to them.
-In regards to specific
patterns provided by God, I would like to address the topic of worship.
-John 4:24, Matt
15:7-9
-These passages
(amongst others) show that there is a proper (acceptable) way to worship
God.
Therefore, there are also improper (unacceptable) ways to worship God.
-With these things
being said, I would like to begin a series of lessons on the topic of
worship.
-To begin this series,
let’s take a closer look at the Lord’s Supper.
-The
Origination of the Lord’s Supper
-Matt 26:26-28; Mark
14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20
-The Lord’s Supper was
instituted by Jesus during the Passover on the evening of His betrayal.
-Let’s note two items
of significance regarding this timing.
1. Passover – Ex
12:3-13
-lamb, male
without blemish, token of blood, avenue of deliverance
-1 Cor 5:7,
Isa 53:7, Jn 1:29, 2 Cor 5:21, 1 Pet 1:18-19, Col 1:14
2. Night of His
Betrayal – On that very night, Jesus would be taken by His enemies and
the
events
leading up to the crucifixion would be underway. Through His
crucifixion, Jesus
would
willing offer that which was represented in the Lord’s Supper – His body
& blood.
-Emblems
to be Used
-Matt 26:26-29; Mark
14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20
-bread & cup (fruit of
the vine)
-Remember, the Lord’s
Supper was instituted at the time of Passover. The bread used with the
Passover was
unleavened bread (Ex 12:8, Matt 26:17, Mark 14:12, Luke 22:1,7)
-leaven –
(Mirriam/Webster Dict.) – “a substance (as yeast) used to produce
fermentation
(as in
dough)”
-significance:
Leaven is sometimes used in the scriptures to represent sin and its
influence.
-1 Cor
5:6-7
-Jesus knew
no sin (2 Cor 5:21); therefore, the bread to be used is to be
unleavened.
-application of logic:
If the bread was to be unleavened in its representation of the Lord’s
body,
then the fruit of the
vine should be unleavened in its representation of His blood.
-The debate of “wine”
vs “fruit of the vine.”
-The word “wine”
in the scriptures can be used to describe both fermented and
non-fermented
beverages.
(see Isa 65:8 – unfermented; Gen 9:21 – fermented)
-In the N.T., the
Greek word “oinos” is translated as “wine” and can describe a fermented
or
non-fermented
beverage. The context must be used to determine which type of beverage.
-The Lord left
the Lord’s Supper out of that debate. He did not use the word “oinos”
but
used a
different phrase meaning “the fruit of the vine.”
-application of
logic: Since we are to use unleavened bread to represent the purity of
our
Lord’s body,
we should use unleavened “wine” (fruit of the vine) to represent His
blood.
-quick reference to the
issue of one cup vs multiple cups
-When
/ Frequency
-If we only had the
accounts in Matt, Mark & Luke regarding the institution of the Lord’s
Supper,
we would not know
when to take the Lord’s Supper nor how often.
-Thursday,
Sunday, Friday?
-Acts 2:42 tells
us that this was something the Christians continued to do.
-annually,
quarterly, weekly, daily?
-Acts 20:7 tells us
that the Christians in the N.T. church, in accordance with apostolic
authority,
partook of the Lord’s
Supper on the first day of the week.
-Therefore, we
should partake on the first day of the week as well – not Saturday
night, not
another night
of the week, not for special occasions (i.e. weddings, holidays, etc.)
-1 Cor 11:26 tells us
that we are to partake of the Lord’s Supper often. But, how often?
-Here are a few things
to consider:
1. How many
weeks have a first day? – every week
2. the principle
of the Sabbath – Ex 20:8
-How many
weeks have a Sabbath? every week
-The O.T.
scriptures reveal that each and every Sabbath was to be
observed. (Rom 15:4)
3. the
collection – In 1 Cor 16:2, Paul instructed the Christians to give on
the first day of the
week. We
are being inconsistent with the scriptures if we gather each
first day of the week
to worship,
give each first day of the week but not partake of the Lord’s
Supper each first day.
-The Lord’s Supper is
to be observed every first day of the week.
-Purpose
of the Lord’s Supper
-I plan to deal with
this more in an additional lesson. However, I’ll briefly point out this
crucial
aspect of the
observance of the Lord’s Supper.
-1 Cor 11:24-29 (vs
24 & 25 – “in remembrance of me”)
-The Lord’s Supper is
to remind us of the sacrifice of Jesus – the giving of His body and the
shedding
of His blood.
-To partake of the
Lord’s Supper without remembering Jesus is to take unworthily (vs 27,
29).
-Who
is to Partake?
-1 Cor 10:16-17
-James Burton Coffman,
with reference to the Wycliffe Bible Commentary, said, “The great
principle
behind Paul’s remarks
here is the truth that ‘Partaking of a religious table, whether
Christian, Jewish
or heathen, involves
fellowship with the being to whom it is directed,’ as well as with the
participants
themselves” (Commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians, Firm Foundation
Publishing House,
Austin, TX, © 1977,
pg 157).
-Who is the “we” being
spoken of by Paul? 1 Cor 1:2 – “the church” – the body of Christ (Col
1:18)
-Those who are obedient
to the Gospel are those who have had their sins washed away by the blood
of Christ (Acts
22:16, Col 1:14, 1 Pet 1:18-19). Upon obedience to the Gospel, they
were added
to the church, the
body of Christ, by the Lord (Acts 2:42). They are in fellowship with
the Lord (1
John 1:3,6-9) as long
as they live faithfully to Him.
-So, faithful
Christians are the ones who are to partake of the Lord’s Supper.
-Are you a faithful
Christian? Are you in fellowship with the Lord? Do you commune with
Him?
If you have not
initially obeyed the Gospel, please do so! (believe – John 8:24, Confess
– Matt 10:32,
repent – Acts 17:30,
be baptized – Acts 2:38). If you’ve obeyed the Gospel but haven’t
remained
faithful, come back!
(confess your sin, repent, pray for forgiveness – 1 John 1:7-9, Acts
8:22-24)
Other sermons and lessons about Worship:
