Subscribe to our PODCAST here.The Lord’s Supper Communicates
Intro.
A. The Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11:20) is also called the Lord’s table (1 Cor. 10:21), the communion (we bless..we break, 1 Cor. 10:16), and the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42; 20:7).
B. It is observed weekly (Acts 20:7), and secular history clearly confirms that the early church met weekly for this purpose.
1. Justin Martyr (140 A.D.) - “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in the cities or in the country gather together to one place...Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ, our Savior, on the same day rose from the dead.”
2. Clement of Alexandria (Egypt, 194 A.D.) - “He, in fulfillment of the precept, keeps the Lord’s Day when he abandons an evil disposition...glorifying the Lord’s resurrection in himself.”
3. Tertullian (Africa, 200 A.D.) - “We solemnize the day after Saturday...We, however (just as we have received), only on the day of the Lord’s resurrrection...” (D.M. Canright).
C. Notice some things communicated in the Lord’s supper:
Body:
A. Communicates the fulfillment of the Old Testament:
1. It was instituted by Christ at a Passover feast (Mt. 26:17,26-29).
a. At the Passover there were four cups and each participant had his/her own cup that was filled four times during the meal. “One goblet or wineglass is placed on the table for each and every one who is to participate in the seder service. Every participant, whether male or female, must during the course of the seder service, drink exactly four cups of wine, mead, or grape juice...The third time it was filled, it was called ‘the cup of blessing’” (A Treasury of Jewish Holidays, Hyman E. Goldin, p. 138; Encyclopedia Judaica, p. 173 says the same; a Jewish “Rabbi” told me this is general knowledge.)
b. So much for the one container argument! There was one cup - fruit of the vine, and one bread - unleavened bread. Has nothing to do with number containers or pieces.
2. The Passover lamb became typical of Christ - our Passover (Ex. 12:13-22; 1 Cor. 5:7).
a. Christ fulfilled the types of the O.T. (Lk. 24:44).
b. We sing “when I see the blood, I will pass, I will pass over you” (#289).
B. Communicates the establishment of the New Covenant.
1. “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Mt. 26:28). Lk. 22:20 - “Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
2. The first covenant was dedicated with the blood of animals (Ex. 24:8; Heb. 9:19-20).
3. It is inconsistent to observe the Lord’s supper and teach the Old Covenant as our Law.
C. Communicates that our actions must be sanctified by blood.
1. The blood of bulls and goats “sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh” (Heb. 9:13). The “tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry” were purged by blood” (Heb. 9:21), but “the heavenly things themselves (are sanctified) with better sacrifices than these” (v. 23).
2. To reject what the New Testament says is to reject the blood of Christ.
a. Everything in the tabernacle worship was dedicated with blood (Heb. 9:18-23)
b. Everything in the spiritual house must be dedicated with blood (Heb. 10:28-29; 13:10-13; Jn. 19:20).
3. Anything added to the Lord’s revelation - is not dedicated by His blood (Eph. 5:25-27).
D. Communicates that His kingdom is in existence.
1. “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Mt. 26:29; Lk. 22:29,30)
2. The Lord’s supper is in the kingdom, the church observed the Lord’s supper - therefore the church is the kingdom (1 Cor. 10:16).
3. It is to be observed “till He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26).
4. The kingdom was established when Jesus ascended (Dan. 7:13,14; 2:44; Acts 2:29f).
5. If the kingdom has not been established, the Lord’s supper which He instituted as a memorial of He death and resurrection can never be observed. He would not commune with them “until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Mt. 26:29), but the New Covenant says “till He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26) - so not after He comes.
E. Communicates the necessity of a godly life.
1. Cannot serve Satan and Christ (1 Cor. 10:20-22). If there were two tables up here, and the Lord spoke and said - “eat at the table of the one whom you have been serving” - which table would you eat?
2. Eating in a worthy manner (1 Cor. 11:27-29) - does not mean to be worthy, but one who is in love with the world is an enemy of God (Jas. 4:4) and cannot commune with Him (Rom. 6:3-13).
F. Communicates our faith in His death, resurrection and second coming.
1. 1 Cor. 11:24-28 - “remembrance” - looks back; “till He comes” - looks forward; “examine himself” - looks inward; “proclaims” - looks outward.
2. Those who do not believe in the resurrection of Christ, or that He will come again for the faithful - cannot be expected to have much interest in the Lord’s supper.
3. Some deny that He is coming again (2 Pet. 3:3,4) - others deny it by their lives (they are hoping that this life will be all there is - no eternal life or punishment).
Concl.
The Lord was raised from the dead on the first day of the week (Mk. 16:1-6); the church was established on the first day of the week (Acts 2 - Pentecost), and Christians have observed the memorial of Christ on the first day of the week - from the first century and will until He comes again. We serve a living, triumphal Christ and if we are faithful, we will be triumphant over the second death.
A. The Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11:20) is also called the Lord’s table (1 Cor. 10:21), the communion (we bless..we break, 1 Cor. 10:16), and the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42; 20:7).
B. It is observed weekly (Acts 20:7), and secular history clearly confirms that the early church met weekly for this purpose.
1. Justin Martyr (140 A.D.) - “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in the cities or in the country gather together to one place...Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ, our Savior, on the same day rose from the dead.”
2. Clement of Alexandria (Egypt, 194 A.D.) - “He, in fulfillment of the precept, keeps the Lord’s Day when he abandons an evil disposition...glorifying the Lord’s resurrection in himself.”
3. Tertullian (Africa, 200 A.D.) - “We solemnize the day after Saturday...We, however (just as we have received), only on the day of the Lord’s resurrrection...” (D.M. Canright).
C. Notice some things communicated in the Lord’s supper:
Body:
A. Communicates the fulfillment of the Old Testament:
1. It was instituted by Christ at a Passover feast (Mt. 26:17,26-29).
a. At the Passover there were four cups and each participant had his/her own cup that was filled four times during the meal. “One goblet or wineglass is placed on the table for each and every one who is to participate in the seder service. Every participant, whether male or female, must during the course of the seder service, drink exactly four cups of wine, mead, or grape juice...The third time it was filled, it was called ‘the cup of blessing’” (A Treasury of Jewish Holidays, Hyman E. Goldin, p. 138; Encyclopedia Judaica, p. 173 says the same; a Jewish “Rabbi” told me this is general knowledge.)
b. So much for the one container argument! There was one cup - fruit of the vine, and one bread - unleavened bread. Has nothing to do with number containers or pieces.
2. The Passover lamb became typical of Christ - our Passover (Ex. 12:13-22; 1 Cor. 5:7).
a. Christ fulfilled the types of the O.T. (Lk. 24:44).
b. We sing “when I see the blood, I will pass, I will pass over you” (#289).
B. Communicates the establishment of the New Covenant.
1. “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Mt. 26:28). Lk. 22:20 - “Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
2. The first covenant was dedicated with the blood of animals (Ex. 24:8; Heb. 9:19-20).
3. It is inconsistent to observe the Lord’s supper and teach the Old Covenant as our Law.
C. Communicates that our actions must be sanctified by blood.
1. The blood of bulls and goats “sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh” (Heb. 9:13). The “tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry” were purged by blood” (Heb. 9:21), but “the heavenly things themselves (are sanctified) with better sacrifices than these” (v. 23).
2. To reject what the New Testament says is to reject the blood of Christ.
a. Everything in the tabernacle worship was dedicated with blood (Heb. 9:18-23)
b. Everything in the spiritual house must be dedicated with blood (Heb. 10:28-29; 13:10-13; Jn. 19:20).
3. Anything added to the Lord’s revelation - is not dedicated by His blood (Eph. 5:25-27).
D. Communicates that His kingdom is in existence.
1. “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Mt. 26:29; Lk. 22:29,30)
2. The Lord’s supper is in the kingdom, the church observed the Lord’s supper - therefore the church is the kingdom (1 Cor. 10:16).
3. It is to be observed “till He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26).
4. The kingdom was established when Jesus ascended (Dan. 7:13,14; 2:44; Acts 2:29f).
5. If the kingdom has not been established, the Lord’s supper which He instituted as a memorial of He death and resurrection can never be observed. He would not commune with them “until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Mt. 26:29), but the New Covenant says “till He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26) - so not after He comes.
E. Communicates the necessity of a godly life.
1. Cannot serve Satan and Christ (1 Cor. 10:20-22). If there were two tables up here, and the Lord spoke and said - “eat at the table of the one whom you have been serving” - which table would you eat?
2. Eating in a worthy manner (1 Cor. 11:27-29) - does not mean to be worthy, but one who is in love with the world is an enemy of God (Jas. 4:4) and cannot commune with Him (Rom. 6:3-13).
F. Communicates our faith in His death, resurrection and second coming.
1. 1 Cor. 11:24-28 - “remembrance” - looks back; “till He comes” - looks forward; “examine himself” - looks inward; “proclaims” - looks outward.
2. Those who do not believe in the resurrection of Christ, or that He will come again for the faithful - cannot be expected to have much interest in the Lord’s supper.
3. Some deny that He is coming again (2 Pet. 3:3,4) - others deny it by their lives (they are hoping that this life will be all there is - no eternal life or punishment).
Concl.
The Lord was raised from the dead on the first day of the week (Mk. 16:1-6); the church was established on the first day of the week (Acts 2 - Pentecost), and Christians have observed the memorial of Christ on the first day of the week - from the first century and will until He comes again. We serve a living, triumphal Christ and if we are faithful, we will be triumphant over the second death.