1. The Lord's Supper Was Instituted by Jesus Christ on the Night He Was Betrayed
On the same night in which He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to His disciples. He then took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood." This was not a human invention but a divine institution from Christ Himself. Therefore, it carries the full authority of the Lord. The church has no power to change, add to, or diminish this ordinance.
2. The Lord's Supper Is a Remembrance of Christ's Death
Jesus explicitly commanded, "Do this in remembrance of Me." The Lord's Supper is not a re-sacrifice of Christ. He died once for all; His sacrifice will never be repeated. Instead, the Supper is a memorial, a calling to mind of His body broken and His blood shed for the forgiveness of sins. Every time believers partake, they proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
3. The Bread Represents the Body of Christ
Jesus took bread, broke it, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." The bread is not transformed into the literal physical flesh of Christ. He was standing bodily before them as He spoke. The bread is a symbol, a representation, of His body given for believers. As bread sustains physical life, so Christ's broken body sustains spiritual life. Believers feed on Christ by faith, not by physical eating.
4. The Cup Represents the Blood of the New Covenant
Jesus took the cup, saying, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." The cup is not transformed into literal blood. It represents His blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins. The old covenant was ratified with the blood of animals; the new covenant is ratified with the precious blood of Christ. The cup proclaims that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission.
5. The Lord's Supper Is a Communion (Fellowship) with Christ
The apostle Paul asks, "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 Lord's Supper is not merely a mental exercise. It is a spiritual communion, a fellowship, with the crucified and risen Lord. By faith, believers truly partake of Christ and all His benefits.
6. The Lord's Supper Is a Communion with One Another
Paul also states, "For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread." The Lord's Supper is a corporate act, not a private devotion. It expresses and strengthens the unity of believers in the body of Christ. To partake is to affirm fellowship with every other true believer at the table. Divisions and factions contradict the meaning of the Supper.
7. The Lord's Supper Is to Be Observed Until Christ Returns
Paul writes, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes." The Lord's Supper is a temporary ordinance. It looks back to the cross and forward to the coming kingdom. When Christ returns, the Supper will cease, for believers will feast with Him in the marriage supper of the Lamb. Until that day, the church continues in this observance.
8. The Lord's Supper Requires Self-Examination
Paul gives a solemn warning: "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup." The Lord's Supper is not to be taken lightly or unworthily. To partake in an unworthy manner is to be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Self-examination includes confession of sin, repentance, and reconciliation with brethren. Believers are to discern the Lord's body, recognizing the sacred nature of the ordinance.
9. Partaking Unworthily Brings Judgment
Paul solemnly declares that many among the Corinthians were weak, sick, and some had died because they did not discern the Lord's body. This is not a light matter. To partake without faith, with unconfessed sin, or without regard for the church's unity is to bring divine discipline. The Lord's Supper is a blessing to the worthy partaker but a judgment to the unworthy.
10. The Lord's Supper Is Not a Sacrifice nor a Means of Grace That Saves
The Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation (the bread and cup becoming the literal body and blood) is contrary to Scripture. Jesus said, "This is My body" while He was still present in His physical body. The Lord's Supper does not confer saving grace. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. The Supper is for those already saved, as a means of remembrance, communion, and spiritual nourishment, not for forgiveness of sins.
11. The Frequency and Manner of Observance
The New Testament does not prescribe a specific frequency, but the early church continued steadfastly in the breaking of bread. Some met daily; others weekly on the first day of the week. The Lord's Supper is to be observed in the context of the local church, not as a solitary act. It is to be taken with reverence, joy, and thanksgiving, remembering the Lord until He comes.
Conclusion
The Lord's Supper is a precious ordinance given by Christ to His church. It is not a sacrifice, not a means of salvation, but a memorial of His death, a communion with His body and blood, a proclamation of His return, and a bond of unity among believers. Let every believer examine himself, discern the Lord's body, and partake worthily, giving thanks for so great a salvation.