The Lord’s Supper is a holy institution that Jesus Himself initiated; Matt 26:26-30. This is to be a moment we regularly remember the death of our Lord. It is not until we understand His death and sacrifice we will be in the position to understand His life He gives to us who believe. The rebuke Paul gave to the Corinthians is for all, not to make common and unholy this sacred ordinance; see full passages below.

This requires wisdom for all in that we do not fear going to partake of the Lord’s Table, but at the same time, we honor it in proper manner of approaching. Furthermore where we would share with others who walk on dangerous ground among us Paul’s warning.

John helps us in how we approach the Lord and His salvation in this way:

If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

When we walk in the light, we step out and away from the darkness simultaneously.

Those who take the cup of the Lord and eat the bread of His sacrifice in an unworthy manner, are those who do not commit to walking in the light. They are ones who attempt to live both in the light and in darkness thus put themselves in danger of the Lord’s judgment. 

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and no not practice the truth. vs 6

Those who walk in the light of Jesus Christ quickly confess their sins. Confessing is not merely acknowledging them but aligning our lives with His Word upon our confession. 

How often have we said sorry to someone but really did not mean it? May this not be the case when we confess our sinful hearts to the Lord!

Gathering together, recognizing we are members of His Body, merits our reverence as well as joy in fellowship. This unity of this kind of fellowship is not one that we have created but was knit together through the sacrificial offering Christ gave and is spiritual; John 17:20-26. Observance and partaking in the Lord’s supper is profoundly unique because it brings a proclamation – that makes all that is of Satan shudder with dread. We are reminding the devil of the fate he will soon face and the world that Jesus died so we may live.

So, as we take part, may we first examine our hearts before approaching with the holy reverence and humility it justly requires. 

The Lord’s Supper

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;  and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said,“Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”  In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Examine Yourself

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lords body.  For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.  But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come. 1 Cor 11:23-34

 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? 1 Cor 10:21-22