LORDS SUPPER QUALIFICATION
Introduction: As we will conduct one of the two rituals Christ has given to the Church in a few minutes let’s reflect on what scripture says concerning this great event. Christ established it the night of His arrest and commanded us to conduct this service in Memory of Him. Where in Luke 22:19-20 He said “Do this in Remembrance of Me”
Core: The Lord Supper is to be conducted as a memorial service to Jesus Christ we are to reflect upon what He has accomplished for us.
Body
I. Reflect upon the purpose of His coming.
A. John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
1. He came to bring Salvation to all mankind not condemnation.
2. He accomplished His mission when He died upon that cross and rose from the dead.
3. 1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
4. As well as 1 John 4:9-11 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
5. He paid the price for our sins
6. He paid the price for All mankind’s sins so the issue is trust in Christ alone
7. For you cannot trust in works.
8. Ephesians 2 verse 8 & 9. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
9. If Salvation is by works then we can have pride in what we have done to make it to heaven and there is no need to have Faith in what Christ has accomplished for us.
10. The gift of God is Salvation by Faith in Jesus Christ.
B. We need to remember He came to bring Salvation to all mankind.
1. With His death on the cross John says He accomplished just that.
2. We need to take this further He died for _________. Put you name at the end of that sentence
3. He became the “propitiation for our sins:” that would be all that believe on the Lord Jesus
4. But 1 John 2:2 takes it further when John says Propitiation was “…not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
5. That would be the unbeliever’s sins.
6. Propitiation here in 1 John 2:2 means that sin has been paid for by another.
7. Christ is my advocate as well as yours if you have truly believed
8. He is interceding on my behalf as well as yours if you have placed your faith in Him
9. He is my propitiation as well as yours, whether you have believed or haven’t believed, John says He is the Propitiation of the whole world.
10. We need to remember that He is the propitiation for believer and unbeliever alike.
C. God sent Him out of Love
1. God so Loved the World, John 3:16 tells us
2. That He sent His only begotten Son
3. All that believe will not perish
4. But have eternal life.
D. Because He came all who receive are changed.
1. Ephesians 4:22-24 tells us that you receive new life
2. Ephesians 2:1 and 5 tell us we have been made alive, made new
3. While Ephesians 2 8 & 9 say our salvation is by Grace
4. Through faith, that is worth remembering.
II. Remember we have a new Life according to 1st Corinthians 5:17
A. Old things have passed away all things have become new.
1. Gone is the old life style and that came at Salvation that is worth remembering
2. He made us new.
3. That is great news.
4. We need to remember He did that for us.
B. We are to walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4
1. We were buried with Him in Baptism
2. Raised in newness of life by Glory of the Father
3. So we should walk in newness of life.
4. So we must seek His will in all we do.
C. Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
1. Christ delivered us form the penalty of the Law
2. We should serve Him in newness of Spirit
3. Not in the letter of the Law
4. We should remember He delivered us from the penalty the Law brings.
III. Romans 7:23 tells us that there is a war raging in us.
A. The Old Sin Nature is in us trying to gain control
1. When we give in we sin
2. Sin causes loss of fellowship between you and God
3. God will not hear nor answer your prayers
4. If you are under the Control of the Old Sin Nature
5. He will only hear and answer when you are controlled by the Holy Spirit
6. Being controlled or influenced by the Holy Spirit is to be Filled with the Spirit
B. 1 John 1:9 says confess that sin
1. Make sure there is no unconfessed sin in your life
2. Ensure you are guided by the Holy Spirit.
3. Ensure you have fellowship with God
4. That means when you commit a sin confess that sin and He will forgive the sins you don’t realize you have sinned, 1 John 1:9 says “…cleans us from All unrighteousness.” Those are the unknown sins in your life.
IV. 1 Corinthians 11: 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another
A. Paul admonishes us to ensure we are worthy to partake of the elements.
1. Notice He said He received the command from the Lord that the church is to observe the ordinances.
2. He says Christ established this the night of His betrayal.
3. Paul received it but he was not in the upper room.
4. He received the instruction in direct revelation from the Lord.
B. The very first thing the Lord did at the institution of the Lords supper was to give thanks.
1. An example to us we need to give thanks for every meal
2. Whether in a restaurant or in our home we should give thanks for the meal.
3. Christ gave thanks the night of His betrayal with Sin knocking at the door there in the Upper room.
4. He gave thanks to God we need to Remember that.
C. He broke the bread and also the Passed cup
1. As we take the bread Paul says we are to do so in remembrance of Christ
2. The bread representing His Body
3. That was broken for you
4. The beating, the pulling out of His beard by the roots, the crown of thrones on His head and His crucifixion show His body broken for you and me
5. If you’ve seen the latest movie “Son of God” you will see what He went through for our sins
6. We need to remember that as we partake of the elements of the Lord’s Supper.
D. Then He took the cup and said:
1. This is the New Testament in my Blood
2. A New Covenant was began that night one just for the Church.
3. The new Life we have comes
4. Because He gave His blood as payment for our sins.
5. As often as we drink the cup
6. We drink in remembrance of Him.
E. Verse 26 says as often as we observe this it shows His death until He returns
1. So we need to remember He will return
2. Just as He promised He would.
3. He is coming back to take the church His Bride home
4. That is what we need to remember and look forward to.
V. 1 Corinthians 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another
A. Paul takes this further in the 27th through 33rd verses of the Chapter.
1. Do not partake unworthily
2. Don’t take the Bread
3. Nor the Cup unworthily
4. For when you do He says you become guilty of the blood of the Lord.
B. But in Verse 28 He says examine yourself.
1. Make sure you have no unconfessed sin in your life.
2. Ensure you have the proper frame of mind.
3. Be sure be very sure you have received Christ as your savior.
4. Be sure you know if you are under the Control of the Holy Spirit, have fellowship with Christ and no sin is influencing your life
5. Because if you partake unworthily Paul says in verse 29 you eat and drink damnation to yourself
6. For you are not properly discerning the Lord’s body.
C. You bring damnation to yourself because you don’t discern the body of Christ
1. When you don’t discern the bread as being a special bread set apart to remember Christ body broken for you.
2. Instead considering it as common bread as you would have with a common meal.
3. In other words the Corinthian’s were careless and irreverent in receiving the elements of the Lords supper.
4. In doing so they brought upon themselves damnation
D. Verse 30 many had died and were sickly
1. They had not confessed their sin
2. They had not ensured they had a proper attitude a proper walk with God.
3. They were not in fellowship
4. They were not under the influence of the Holy Spirit Many were sick
5. Many died because they were careless and irreverent in receiving the elements.
6. We need to remember His body and Blood given for us
7. We need not be careless and irreverent in receiving it.
E. So now is the time for everyone of us, each individual here to judge ourselves.
1. To ensure you are worthy to take the elements
2. Any sin in your life that is unconfessed
3. It should have been confessed before you came to church
4. Some ill feeling toward someone here
5. Someone who offended you and you still have hurt feelings
6. Now is the time to get right with them before you get wrong with God by partaking unworthily
7. Remember Christ and His Body broken for you
8. Remember His blood shed for the payment of your sins
9. Pray for each other that none partake unworthily.
10. Pray that God will reveal any sin in your life before you partake.
Conclusion: You and I are in just few minutes going to partake of the Ordinance of the Lord Supper. Scripture is clear you must be right with God to partake. That means first and foremost you must have been saved. Scripture is clear you must Believe on Jesus Christ as your savior admit you’re a sinner in need of a salvation. Admit that you need a savior and that you believe Christ has paid that price and is the only means of salvation. Then call upon the Lord and you will be saved. Ensure first you are saved. Then ensure you have a clean heart and all sin is confessed prior to taking the elements, judge whether you are worthy of partaking discern the body of Christ ensure you are reverent in partaking of the elements. Then all who have been saved that are scripturally baptized and have judged themselves worthy may partake of the elements of the Lord supper.
