The Lord's Supper

Note, this article is part of a topical study series.
“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. 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. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 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. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”
1 Corinthians 11:24 - 31

The Lord’s Supper is a time the Lord set aside for the church to shew, proclaim, and remember the Lord’s death until he comes again. Apparently, the church at Corinth had corrupted this time by coming together to eat and get drunk, and were not remembering the Lord…

“For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.” 1 Corinthians 11:21 -22

So how do we take the Lord’s Supper unworthily? We come together to eat the Lord’s Supper, and do not remember or discern the Lord… “he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”

How do we take the Lord’s Supper worthily? We take the time to look in God’s Word and remember the Lord Jesus’ death on the cross, His body and his blood, and then we take the Lord’s Supper…

“…this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” 1 Corinthians 11:25

“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” 1 Corinthians 11:28
“Examine yourself, make sure you are remembering the Lord, proclaiming his death, discerning his body, then fear not, and eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” 1 Corinthians 11:30

The Lord’s Supper should be a time of remembrance, which should lead to thankfulness and rejoicing for what our Lord and Savior Jesus has accomplished for us through his death, burial and resurrection!

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:18
“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness…” Isaiah 61:10

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