The Lord’s Supper

In 1991 Paul Sain published a book entitled Ready Reference for Growing Christians. A more concise, pocket edition was printed in 1997, of which I have a copy. It contains facts and scriptures on 100 Biblical subjects, one of which is titled, A Few Biblical Facts about the Lord’s Supper. This article is basically a copy of that outline, with a few scripture snippets and comments interspersed with the original material by brother Sain.

Scripture References

• Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:17-26; Luke 22:14-23; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16-21

Lord’s Supper—What Is It?

• Memorial: “do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
• Table of the Lord: “you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21).
• Breaking bread: “when the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7; cf. Acts 2:42).
• Communion with Lord: “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?” (1 Corinthians 10:16).
• Proclamation: “you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
• Statement of anticipation: “…till He comes” (ibid.)
• NOT: Eucharist, nor sacrament (Note: Both are Catholic concepts, the Eucharist being the transubstantiated blood and body of Christ. A sacrament is one of 7 actions in Catholicism, arbitrarily elevated by that church).

Who Should Partake of the Supper?

• Members of the Lord’s Church: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).
• The disciples: “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7).
• Those in kingdom: “And I bestow upon you a kingdom …, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom” (Luke 22:29-30).

When?

• Regularly/Stedfastly: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). (Note: The practice in the beginning of the church was not an annual or rare one, but practiced commonly among the disciples).
• First Day of the Week: “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7).
  • (Every week has a first day)
• Significance of the first day —
  • Resurrected on first day: “Now on the first day of the week… came to the tomb… did not find the body… He is not here, but is risen!” (Luke 24:1-7).
  • Appearance on first day: “And after eight days [the first day of the week] His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst” (John 20:26).
  • Ascended on the first day: (Acts 1:3).
  • Holy Spirit came: (Acts 2:1-3).

What’s the Purpose of the Supper?

• Memory of Jesus Christ: “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
• Preaches Christ’s death: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
• Preaches His second coming: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
• Preaches new covenant: “In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:25).
• Blood shed for many: “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28).

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We have a precious opportunity each first day of the week to memorialize the sacrificial death of our Savior. “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28).