Subject: THE LORD
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Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2007 10:31:37 -0600

THE LORD’S SUPPER

-Introduction

-Last Sunday morning, we addressed the fact that
God provides patterns.

-These patterns
provide organization (rather than confusion) and cohesiveness

(rather
than division).

-They are
authoritative and binding.

-Therefore, we
are to conform to them and will be held accountable to them.

-In regards to specific patterns provided by
God, I would like to address the topic of worship.

-John 4:24, Matt
15:7-9

-These passages
(amongst others) show that there is a proper (acceptable) way to worship

God.
Therefore, there are also improper (unacceptable) ways to worship
God.

-With these things being said, I would like to
begin a series of lessons on the topic of worship.

-To begin this series, let’s take a closer look
at the Lord’s Supper.

-The Origination of the
Lord’s Supper

-Matt 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke
22:19-20

-The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus
during the Passover on the evening of His betrayal.

-Let’s note two items of significance regarding
this timing.

1.  Passover
– Ex 12:3-13

-lamb,
male without blemish, token of blood, avenue of deliverance

-1 Cor
5:7, Isa 53:7, Jn 1:29, 2 Cor 5:21, 1 Pet 1:18-19, Col 1:14

2.  Night of
His Betrayal – On that very night, Jesus would be taken by His enemies and the

events leading up to the crucifixion would be
underway.  Through His crucifixion, Jesus

would willing offer that which was represented in the
Lord’s Supper – His body & blood.

-Emblems to be
Used

-Matt 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke
22:19-20

-bread & cup (fruit of the vine)

-Remember, the Lord’s Supper was instituted at
the time of Passover.  The bread used with the

Passover was unleavened bread (Ex
12:8, Matt 26:17, Mark 14:12, Luke 22:1,7)

-leaven –
(Mirriam/Webster Dict.) – “a substance (as yeast) used to produce fermentation

(as
in dough)”

-significance:  Leaven is sometimes used in the scriptures to represent sin
and its influence.

-1 Cor
5:6-7

-Jesus
knew no sin (2 Cor 5:21); therefore, the bread to be used is to be
unleavened.

-application of logic:  If the bread was to
be unleavened in its representation of the Lord’s body,

then the fruit of the vine should be
unleavened in its representation of His blood.

-The debate of “wine” vs “fruit of the
vine.”

-The word “wine”
in the scriptures can be used to describe both fermented and
non-fermented

beverages.  (see Isa 65:8 – unfermented; Gen 9:21 – fermented)

-In the N.T., the
Greek word “oinos” is translated as “wine” and can describe a fermented or

non-fermented beverage.  The context must be used to determine which type
of beverage.

-The Lord left
the Lord’s Supper out of that debate.  He did not use the word “oinos” but

used a
different phrase meaning “the fruit of the vine.”

-application of
logic:  Since we are to use unleavened bread to represent the purity of our

Lord’s
body,  we should use unleavened “wine” (fruit of the vine) to represent His
blood.

-quick reference to the issue of one cup vs
multiple cups

-When /
Frequency

-If we only had the accounts in Matt, Mark &
Luke regarding the institution of the Lord’s Supper,

we would not know when to take the
Lord’s Supper nor how often.

-Thursday,
Sunday, Friday?

-Acts 2:42 tells
us that this was something the Christians continued to do.

-annually,
quarterly, weekly, daily?

-Acts 20:7 tells us that the Christians in the
N.T. church, in accordance with apostolic authority,

partook of the Lord’s Supper on the first
day of the week.

-Therefore, we
should partake on the first day of the week as well – not Saturday night, not

another
night of the week, not for special occasions (i.e. weddings, holidays,
etc.)

-1 Cor 11:26 tells us that we are to partake of
the Lord’s Supper often.  But, how often?

-Here are a few things to consider:

1.  How many
weeks have a first day? – every week

2.  the
principle of the Sabbath – Ex 20:8

-How
many weeks have a Sabbath?  every week

-The
O.T. scriptures reveal that each and every Sabbath was to be
observed.  (Rom 15:4)

3.  the
collection – In 1 Cor 16:2, Paul instructed the Christians to give on the first
day of the

week.  We are being inconsistent with the
scriptures if we gather each first day of the week

to worship, give each first day of the week but
not partake of the Lord’s Supper each first day.

-The Lord’s Supper is to be observed
every first day of the week.

-Purpose of the Lord’s
Supper

-I plan to deal with this more in an additional
lesson.  However, I’ll briefly point out this crucial

aspect of the observance of the Lord’s
Supper.

-1 Cor 11:24-29   (vs 24 & 25 –
“in remembrance of me”)

-The Lord’s Supper is to remind us of the
sacrifice of Jesus – the giving of His body and the shedding

of His blood.

-To partake of the Lord’s Supper without
remembering Jesus is to take unworthily (vs 27, 29).

-Who is to
Partake?

-1 Cor 10:16-17

-James Burton Coffman, with reference to the
Wycliffe Bible Commentary, said, “The great principle

behind Paul’s remarks here is the truth
that ‘Partaking of a religious table, whether Christian, Jewish

or heathen, involves fellowship with the
being to whom it is directed,’ as well as with the

participants themselves” (Commentary
on 1 and 2 Corinthians, Firm Foundation Publishing House,

Austin, TX, © 1977, pg 157).

-Who is the “we” being spoken of by Paul?
1 Cor 1:2 – “the church” – the body of Christ (Col 1:18)

-Those who are obedient to the Gospel are those
who have had their sins washed away by the blood

of Christ (Acts 22:16, Col 1:14, 1 Pet
1:18-19).  Upon obedience to the Gospel, they were added

to the church, the body of Christ, by the
Lord (Acts 2:42).  They are in fellowship with the Lord (1

John 1:3,6-9) as long as they live
faithfully to Him.

-So, faithful
Christians are the ones who are to partake of the Lord’s Supper.

-Are you a faithful Christian?  Are you in
fellowship with the Lord?  Do you commune with Him?

If you have not initially obeyed the
Gospel, please do so! (believe – John 8:24, Confess – Matt 10:32,

repent – Acts 17:30, be baptized – Acts
2:38).  If you’ve obeyed the Gospel but haven’t remained

faithful, come back!  (confess your
sin, repent, pray for forgiveness – 1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24)

Date:  December 4,
2005

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