Pastor Jerry Rockwell / THE LORD’S SUPPER An Understanding of

Pastor Jerry Rockwell

 

THE LORD’S SUPPER
An Understanding of

 

Introduction: Luke 22:19 (KJV), “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.”

Introduction: This subject, with its profound significance in Christianity, can cause consternation among believers, even Baptists. The views of the Lord’s Supper have garnered disputes and discussions about how it is viewed and applied in the Bible. From the time of the Reformation, some differences developed in the view of the Roman Catholic Church toward the Lord’s Supper. Martin Luther was the first and was followed by John Calvin, Ulrick Swingli (both noted Reformers), and others, especially Baptists (non-Reformers)[1]. It is interesting to note the development of the views of the Lord’s Supper

The Roman Catholic Church View of Eucharist. The Roman Catholic Church (RCC) claims its origination to the early ’30s of the first century. However, historians grant a later date when the Roman Emperor Constantine brought the church and government together in 325 A.D. The wedding of the church and government developed a church that became the controller of the government and ruled over the people. The development of the RCC doctrine grew over several centuries. One of them was the Lord’s Supper, or Eucharist as they call it. It is also considered a “sacrament.” The word means “. . .a religious ceremony or ritual regarded as imparting divine grace, such as baptism, the Eucharist and (in the Roman Catholic and many Orthodox Churches) penance and the anointing of the sick.”[2] To the RCC, the “Eucharist,” with bread and wine, allows those who take these to have “grace” (even eternal life) dispensed on their behalf as a sacrament. This view was the dominant view throughout the “Dark Ages,” which historians define as the period in Europe beginning with the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 a.d. until the Reformation in 1517. While splinter groups of Christians opposed the RCC, it still dominated the church scene. It suppressed the populace to the dominance of their view of spirituality at the threat of condemnation to hell. To the RCC, the bread was turned into the “body of Christ,” and the wine was transformed into the “blood of Christ.” They see the elements of the Lord’s Supper as instruments of eternal life. They teach that the elements have the presence of Christ and are transformed into the body and blood of Christ. This is called “Transubstantiation.”

 

The Reformation View of the Eucharist. One source states Martin Luther’s theology could be expressed in four Latin terms: “Sola fide, sola scriptura, solus Christus, sola gratia: through Faith alone, by Scripture alone, in Christ alone, by Grace alone! These four maxims, which had already been developed by 1521, astutely summarize the theology of Martin Luther.” His break with the Roman Catholic Church brought great angst to the RCC and an attempt to eliminate him from existence, which failed. The Reformers (named above) developed a modified application of the Lord’s Supper. They held to the “Consubstantiation” view, which means that Christ’s body and blood are present in the bread and wine during the service of communion, but the bread and wine do not change. Most of the churches who identify with the Reformed tradition hold to this view.

Baptist View of the Lord’s Supper. Some Baptists, do not refer to the Lord’s Supper as “communion.” This word is found only one time in the Bible in relation to the Lord’s Supper and that is 1 Corinthians 10:16 (KJV), “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” The word means fellowship, association, joint participation, et al. The times the Lord’s Supper is observed it is a great time of reflecting on what it means and our relationship with other believers.

The Early History of the Church  

While the local church has a fascinating history of its ups and downs of doctrinal purity, it is worth noting that some early positions have found expression in the local church of today. For instance, an ancient Greek document covers some of the practices of early churches. It is dated as early as the latter part of the first or early second century, and some consider it the apostles’ writing.[3] Regardless of its history, it has some things that address the subject of our study. It gave some brief instructions concerning the “Lord’s Supper” (they used the word Eucharist). It said, “But let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist unless they have been baptized into the name of the Lord; for concerning this also the Lord has said, “Give not that which is holy to the dogs.” Early the Lord’s Supper observance was a serious matter and should be to us today.

 

The First Day of the Week

The Gospels give testimony of the resurrection, and the account in Mark makes some points that should be considered. Mark 16:1 says, “And when the sabbath was past. . .” is an essential point before noting that Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome made their way to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. The reason is from what is said in Mark 16:2 (KJV), “And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.” Jesus rose on the first day of the week, which would be Sunday. The scripture said that Jesus would be “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matt. 12:40). If He was crucified on Wednesday before sunset, three days and three nights would end on the first day of the week. The Bible says that Jesus “was risen early the first day of the week” (Mark 16:9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1). Lewis Sperry Chafer makes an essential statement concerning this subject. He says, “The whole Mosaic system, including its Sabbath day, has given way to the reign of grace.”[4] This brings cancellation of the Sabbath Observance to Christians, which some have not learned.[5] This event gives credence to the observance of the first day of the week by the early church. Look at Acts 20:7 (KJV), “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” Paul instructed the church in Corinth that, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come,” (1 Corinthians 16:2). The observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, is in memory of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This important event is the hope of our salvation and the testimony to the world that we acknowledge the resurrection of Christ. The observance of the Lord’s Supper is also an observation of the same event.

THE LORD’S SUPPER

This discussion brings us to the Lord’s Supper. Baptists do not use the word “Eucharist” for this observance. The word originated with a Greek word, εὐχαριστία, which means “thanksgiving” and is always translated so. It is found in nine New Testament verses (2 Cor. 4:15; 9:11, 12; Phil. 4:6; Col. 2:7; 4:2, 3, 4; Rev. 7:12), and is never used in the New Testament with a discussion of the “Lord’s Supper” and not a “technical” word but just a word used in “thanksgiving.” As noted above, Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:2 indicate that the early church held their meetings on the “first day of the week,” which would be Sunday. Also noted above was the statement by L. S. Chafer that the Sabbath day “has given way to the reign of grace,” the first day of the week. The period of the church is known as the “age of grace.” It is a distinct dispensation before the Tribulation. Examining the scriptures about the church’s teaching on the Lord’s Supper is vital.

  1. BASIS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER. Jesus had told the disciples several times that He was going to be killed by the Jews. He said in Matthew 20:19 (KJV), “And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.” When the accounts are read, the disciples seem to be skeptical about what Jesus told them. Note what it says in Luke 24:10–11 (KJV), “10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.” [Emphasis added.] This event, the death, burial, and resurrection, were part and parcel of the significance of our faith. It is the basis of the Lord’s Supper. Believing the truth of the resurrection is the touchstone of our salvation. It says in Romans 10:9–10 (KJV), “9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” [Emphasis added.] Two things here must take place, or a person is not saved. One, they must “believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead.” Two, they have to say something with, “the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
  2. THE INSTITUTION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER, Matthew 26:26-30. This event occurred just hours before the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Jesus chose to observe the Passover with the disciples, and at that event, Jesus initiated the Lord’s Supper. Following this He led the disciples to the Mount of Olives, where Jesus prayed. Judas led the mob there and arrested Him, and the trials began, which led to the crucifixion. The event of the Lord’s Supper was the basis of Paul’s address to the Corinthians to establish the practice by the church the observance of the Lord’s Supper.
  3. BRINGING THE LORD’S SUPPER TO THE DISCIPLES. Look at 1 Corinthians 11:23–34 (KJV), “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. 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
  4. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
  5. Revelation from God. The things stated in 23 are statements from Paul that what he was telling the people at Corinth was not something he dreamed up or decided was necessary. He says, “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you.” This was direct revelation from God. We often overlook the revelations Paul received of the Lord and the times God spoke directly to him (Acts 18:9-10; 22:10, 18, 21; 23:11; 27:23-25; 2 Cor. 12:7; Gal. 1:12; 2:2). Paul was careful about the things he taught and wanted the people to know they were not his ideas about the matters under consideration. He told the Galatians in Galatians 1:11–12 (KJV), “11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Paul spent three years in Arabia receiving the revelation from God about the church (Galatians 1:15-17). We believe that everything in the Bible came from God, and Paul certainly believed so (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
  6. The Bread, 1 Corinthians 11:23-24, “. . .That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread; 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.”
  7. The Cup, 1 Corinthians 11:25 (KJV), “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.” LOOKING BACK
  8. The Regularity, 1 Corinthians 11:26 (KJV), “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” LOOKING FORWARD
  9. The Reason, 1 Corinthians 11:26 (KJV), “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”
  10. THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
  11. The Responsibility, 1 Corinthians 11:27 (KJV), “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.” LOOKING WITHIN
  12. The Recognition, 1 Corinthians 11:28–29 (KJV), “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.” LOOKING WITHIN One writer indicates that historically has been understood that, “To participate in the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner has traditionally been interpreted broadly to mean to participate while having unconfessed sin. This may be due in part to a misinterpretation that understands “unworthy” as describing the sinner rather than the manner of partaking.”[6] [Emphasis authors.]
  13. The Results For Not Having Recognition, 1 Corinthians 11:30–32 (KJV),

“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.”

  1. The Relationships to Foster, 1 Corinthians 11:33 (KJV), “Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.” LOOK AROUND

[1] In the study of what Baptists are, it was explained that the Baptist faith is traced back prior to the beginning of the Reformation initiated by Martin Luther, a Roman Catholic Priest, who began to read the Bible and discover what he called “Sola Fida” (Faith Alone) for one to be saved.

[2]https://www.google.com/search?q=sacrament&rlz=1C1CHZN_enUS1089US1089&oq=sacrament&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyDwgAEEUYORiDARixAxiABDIKCAEQLhixAxiABDINCAIQLhiDARixAxiABDIMCAMQABgUGIcCGIAEMg0IBBAuGIMBGLEDGIAEMhAIBRAuGK8BGMcBGLEDGIAEMg0IBhAuGIMBGLEDGIAEMgcIBxAAGIAEMgcICBAAGI8C0gEIMjAxOWowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8.

[3] Bob Wilkins, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Spring 2014, Vol. 27, No. 52, page 6.

[4] Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology Volume IV (Dallas, TX, Dallas Seminary Press, 1948) page 113.

[5] The people who have not learned this principle are the ‘Seventh Day Adventists.’ In Exodus 31:16 (cf. Lev. 24:8), God calls the sabbath observance “a perpetual covenant” made with Israel. According to Deut. 5:12-15, God gave the sabbath to Israel as a reminder of their deliverance from Egypt and bondage.

[6] Richard L. Pratt Jr, I & II Corinthians, vol. 7, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 201.