THE ORDINANCE OF THE LORD’S
SUPPER
The Lord’s Supper
has traditionally held a central place in Baptist worship. It has been
regarded as the supreme expression of fellowship and its observance as one
of the marks of true churchmanship. Most Baptists hold the Zwinglian point
of view regarding the Table. The bread and wine remain symbols of -
i.e., they represent – Christ’s body and blood. Christ is present not in the
material elements but in the hearts and minds of the believers around the
Table, and in the midst of His people. They feed on Him in a spiritual way
by faith. So the Table becomes a means of grace as faith is renewed and love
deepened.
What Does The Lord’s
Supper Mean?
1. A Command of the
Lord, “... do this in remembrance of Me”, I Cor. 11:24. It is not to be
approached carelessly or thoughtlessly; beware of “trifling with the death
of Christ” (LB, I Cor. 11:29). There is the need for due preparation and
self-examination.
2. Remembrance of
all that Christ’s death meant and accomplished, - His full, perfect, and
sufficient sacrifice for sin; the blessings of the new covenant, (Jer.
31:31-34; Mt. 26:26-29; I Cor. 11:24-26). In the Lord’s Supper there is the
repeated visible assurance of forgiveness. We are not remembering a
doctrine, but a Person, a Saviour, and a Friend.
3. Our participation
by the eating and drinking of the elements indicates symbolically the fact
that we are sinners who need to turn in trust to Him over and over again. By
doing this we affirm our side of the covenant.
4. Eucharist, (eucharisteo),
‘I give thanks’. We recall our debt to Him.
5. We feed on Him
spiritually by faith with thanksgiving. The Lord’s Supper shows that our
spiritual life and nourishment is only in Christ. At the Table God is not
specially present but we are specially aware of His presence. Neglect of the
Lord»s Table leads to spiritual decline.
6. Not a private
occasion for individuals, the Lord’s Table is a Church ordinance (Acts
2:42,44; 20:7), - the highest expression of church fellowship and a symbol
of equality and unity among believers (I Cor. 10:16,17).
7. Rededication to
the Lord, - a renewal of the loyalty made in baptism.
8. The Table looks
forward to the Second Coming and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Mt. 26:29;
I Cor. 11:26).
THINGS TO CONSIDER
...
* The Table is where
new members are received.
* The importance of
a right relationship with others when we come to the Table.
* We all take part
because of our belief in the priesthood of all believers.
* When communion is
taken to the housebound it is essential to take church leaders and members
as well (a ‘miniature church’).
C.H. Spurgeon.
“Christians are to remember Christ at the Supper: with gratitude as their
Saviour; with reverence as their living example and Lord; with confidence as
their Strength; as their great Representative before the throne; and lastly
as soon to come ... their chief point of remembrance is our Lord Jesus in
His death. ... You come to the Communion Table to remember your absent
Friend ... the Supper is also an exhibition of the life-giving sacrifice of
Jesus. It is a ‘communion’ with Christ so real that ... symbolically we
feast upon Him ... I believe in the real presence of Christ; I do not
believe in the carnal presence of the Romanist. I believe in the real
presence to the believer; but that reality is nonetheless real because it is
spiritual; ... communion also means that we are one with each other”.
* * * * *
