The Lord's Supper 1/3

The apostle Paul teaches about the Lord’s Supper in his letter to the Corinthians. He guides them carefully in how one should behave at the Lord’s table — the meal at which we proclaim “the Lord’s death till he come.”

Paul shows that whoever behaves unworthily at the Lord’s Supper is guilty of the body and blood of Jesus; that is, of his death. It is therefore no wonder that a person who behaves unworthily at the Lord’s Supper “eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself.” This is not, however, condemnation unto perdition, for “there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” It is also well worth noting that Paul does not write that people are unworthy to take part in the Lord’s Supper, but that no one should behave unworthily at the Lord’s Supper.

A meal for believers

Because it is a covenant meal, the Lord’s Supper is specifically the privilege of born-again believers. For we are children of the new covenant, become friends of God as a result of Jesus’ redeeming work. Paul instructs that such a person be put out of the fellowship of believers who will not forsake a life of sin. Thus we understand that a person put out of fellowship cannot take part in the Lord’s Supper either. The Lord’s Supper therefore does not belong to those connected with the church who deliberately want to continue living in sin.

The person who takes part in the Lord’s Supper does not, however, need to be perfect. Following Jesus is a matter of willingness or unwillingness to repent. The life of a disciple of Jesus should be a continual striving to live according to the heavenly will. Yet we do not always automatically yield to this will, and so we are encouraged to self-examination, and before the celebration of the Lord’s Supper an excellent opportunity for this arises.

Rom 8 1 Cor 10, 11 Heb 12