The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 11:24-29. The Lord’s Supper is a testimony. By partaking of it, I testify that Jesus’ body was broken for me and that He shed His blood for me. I thereby proclaim the death of Christ. We are to do this in remembrance of Him. When I break the bread, I remember how His body was broken for me. When I drink of the cup, I remember that He shed His blood for my sake for the forgiveness of sins. I testify at the same time that I have also received this gift, or this grace. I do not partake of it in order to receive forgiveness for my sins, but because I have received the forgiveness of sins.

God will not forgive me my trespasses if I do not forgive men their trespasses. Matt. 6:15. “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup.” I am not worthy to receive forgiveness if there is someone I cannot forgive. I testify against myself if I then drink of the cup. I pass sentence on myself. We are to walk in fear throughout the time of our sojourn because we have been redeemed from our aimless conduct by the precious blood of Christ. 1 Pet. 1:17-19. Every person must examine himself whether he hates all aimless conduct; then he may break the bread and drink of the cup. I eat and drink unworthily if there is a fault in my life which I love and do not want to let go. He has given His blood to redeem me. I am judged, and I sin against the body and the blood of the Lord if I want to hold on to my fault.

Because there is only one bread we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of that one bread. 1 Cor. 10:16-17. All those who break the bread testify that they do not serve themselves, but each other. By breaking the bread I testify that I do not live for myself, but for the others, and that I am willing to accept all the help for salvation they can give me because we all eat of the same bread. Let each one examine himself, and then break the bread. Because Jesus laid down His life for us, we also ought to lay down our lives for each other. 1 John 3:16. When I eat and drink, I too proclaim that I ought to lay down my life for those who truly eat of the same bread, because we proclaim the death of the Lord. When I proclaim His death, I also proclaim that I died with Him that I might no longer live for myself, but for Him who died for me and rose again. 2 Cor. 5:15.

Just as a member supplies the other members with all the strength and nourishment he draws from the body, so we too are to supply the other members with all the love, wisdom, strength, grace, mercy, patience, and faithfulness that we receive from Christ. If we are not willing to love, we re also not worthy to receive love. 1 John 4:11. If we are unwilling to be merciful, forgiving, easy to get along with, helpful, or forbearing, then we are also unworthy to receive these blessings.

Let each one examine himself and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.