“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death, till he come.” 1 Corinthians 11:26
THE LORD’S SUPPER WAS INSTITUTED ON THE NIGHT OF THE PASSOVER OBSERVANCE: “…That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:” (1 Corinthians 11:23). “For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:7). The PASSOVER set forth Christ’s redemptive work in typology. The Lord’s Supper sets forth Christ’s redemptive work in a pictorial ordinance. BOTH AGREE! They set forth the same redemption and the same Redeemer. There was one law that governed the observance of the Passover–there were to be no exceptions granted. No stranger was to partake with the congregation, and only those in covenant with the congregation were to observe the ordinance with the congregation.
THUS, THE LORD’S SUPPER IS TO BE OBSERVED IN LOCAL CONGREGATION CAPACITY. “…when ye come together in the church” 1 Corinthians 11:18, “When ye come together therefore into one place” 1 Corinthians 11:20, “…when ye come together to eat” 1 Corinthians 11:33.
The Church is to have jurisdiction over this ordinance. The Church has no jurisdiction over non-members. Neither can non-members examine themselves in view of their standing in the Body (Local Church) that is observing the ordinance. The Lord’s Supper is not an individual ordinance, but a church ordinance. Any non-member is not in the position of partaking as a member of the church observing the ordinance. A non-member has neither responsibility, obligation, nor rights as a member of the local church.
THERE IS NO CANNIBALISM OR VAMPIRISM IN THE PARTAKING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER. We are eating unleavened bread (a type of Christ’s sinless body broken for us), and drinking the fruit of the vine (a type of Christ’s precious blood shed for us). We are neither eating His flesh, nor drinking His blood.
THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A PICTORIAL ORDINANCE, NOT A SACRAMENT! The Lord’s Supper shows forth the properties upon which our salvation is established–the sacrificial offering of Christ in our stead. To make the Lord’s Supper out to be a sacrament (a requirement to help be saved and keep saved), makes the deed of observing as having saving power, rather than observing that which the ordinance sets forth as being the merits of our salvation–the blood and body of Christ!
As often as we do it, we show the Lord’s death till He come!
SHARING
