PARTAKING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
It is the Lord’s table. HE is the host, and HIS people are HIS invited guests.
HE gave it as an ordinance to HIS Church, whereby the members of HIS body remember HIM in HIS death, burial, and
resurrection until HE returns, I Cor. 11:23,24.
The unleavened bread is a symbol of Christ’s perfect, sinless body. It is not actually
the body of our Lord, nor does it become so at any time. The Lord Jesus is present at the table, by His Spirit,
within the hearts of His chosen, redeemed, and called out people. The bread is a memorial of Christ’s body
that was crushed and bruised by God the Father, on behalf of the Church, Isaiah 53:10.
The wine is a symbol of Christ’s blood that He shed. It is not the actual blood
of the Lord Jesus, but, represents the death that He died on behalf of His people. Our Lord called it “the
new testament in my blood,” showing that by His one death, He ratified completely the old covenant which was that
of the blood of animals only, Exodus 24:8. Wine was often used for medicinal purposes in Scripture and is
an appropriate symbol of what the death of Christ accomplished for the Redeemed. By His one offering, they
have been sanctified forever!
The Lord’s table is only for the Church. Christ did not die for everyone. He died for the Church, Acts 20:28. There are four biblical criteria essential to partaking of the Lord’s table. You must be redeemed by Christ, Ephesians 1:7; regenerated by the Holy Spirit, John 3:3,8; immersed according to Christ’s command, Acts 2:41; and walking in fellowship with the Lord and His people, I Cor. 5:7,8,11. To eat or drink without regard to what Christ has ordained, is to dishonor Him and bring chastisement upon oneself and the body- I Corinthians 11:27-31.
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.