The Lord's Supper-Communion Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:2-28 Today's topical discussion takes another look at the Lord's Supper which is commonly referred to as Communion. Partaking of bread and wine is in commemoration the night Christ and His disciples were eating before His betrayal. They were eating the Passover meal and "Jesus took the bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:26-28). We know that Jesus came to earth to be man's propitiator through His shed blood on the cross of Calvary. We also know that man's sins had to be forgiven before man's broken fellowship could be restored and Jesus was the only sinless person who could atone for the world's sins. Jesus' death on Calvary's cross made forgiveness possible. In order for forgiveness to be received, true repentance, having faith in Jesus Christ and confessing ones sins. With that being said, What symbolism and importance does the bread and wine have in your life? Bread and wine symbolizes the death and resurrection of Christ as the source of spiritual life for each believer and the Christian church as a whole. The bread represents the broken body of Christ's life in the redemptive sacrifice He paid. The blood represents Christ's blood or the bruising by the divine wrath of God, which Jesus Christ took on because man lacked the ability to die for his sins; as God had found the whole world guilty (Romans 3:10-18). In a word, bread and wine represents the sacrifice of Christ's life. As a memorial to Christ's death it is the believer's renewed obedience to the will of Christ while acknowledging that our salvation rests solely on Christ's broken body and His shed blood. The question now becomes, How must one partake in the Lord's Supper? According to scripture, all those participating in the Lord's Supper must be regenerated by grace and that the communicant must be living a life consistent with the commemoration of Christ's death. It is also noteworthy that each participant examine his or her faith before participating in the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). Also, our scripture verses states that communicants living obedient lives while refraining from Š All rights subsists October 21, 2011 Willie White
deliberate sins opens one self to a more intimate fellowship with Christ (1 Corinthians 11:28). Allow me to close today's discussion by summarizing the significant of the Lord's Supper as it relates to the past, present and future. 1. The past significance is the remembrance of Christ's death in redeeming all who believe from the condemnation of sin. 2. The presence significance is the fellowship with Christ and a participation in the benefits of His sacrificial death on the cross at Calvary. 3. The future significance is the foretaste of God's kingdom and His heavenly banquet feast prepared for all believers (Matthew 8:11; 22:1-14; Mark 14:25; Luke 13:29; 22:17-18; 30; Isaiah 55:1). Given all that Christ has done for mankind the question is worth repeating, How are you partaking in the Lord's Supper? Is it in true faith, with a repentant heart, sincere prayer and a renewed commitment to God, His Word and will? However it is, He is worthy of our best and total commitment. Comments are welcome Author's contact: http://willie-writing.blogspot.com, white3285@sbcglobal.net, www.shepherdministries.info.
Š All rights subsists October 21, 2011 Willie White