May 21, 2017
Morning Service

THE LAST PASSOVER MEAL = THE COMMUNION SERVICE.

 

Mat 26:20-24  Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.  (21)  And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.  (22)  And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?  (23)  And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.  (24)  The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

When the Apostle Paul gives us what was revealed to him by the Lord in I Cor. 11, he says this after explaining that the bread, is the Body of Christ, and the fruit of the vine is His blood, he says this.

1Co 11:27-29  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.

 

Some have taken and used this Scripture to place undue pressure on Christians.  Yes, we should do our best to keep the Lord’s commandments, and to live a life that would be pleasing to Him, and to encourage one another to be faithful to the Lord’s teaching.  However, this Scripture does not refer to this idea.  It refers to  the structure of how we execute this part of our worship service.  That we should not treat it as a meal, where some have plenty, and some have nothing.  We should perform this act of worship in remembrance of Jesus, and what He did for mankind.  Not the idea that I must be perfect, for there are none perfect in themselves, but only by being in Christ are we perfect.

 

In our Communion prayer we always ask for forgiveness for our sins, and this is sufficient.  However, we also ask that He would help us through His Holy Spirit, to live a life that He would be proud of.  Then it’s up to us to do our best. 

Once this prayer is prayed, and we can say amen, we are ready to commune with our Lord.

 

The Communion is for all baptized believers in the Lord, and should learn the importance of partaking of the Communion, of the Body, and Blood of Christ.

 

Scriptures to study:

Matt. 26:26-28.

John 6 entire chapter.

I Cor. 11:17-34.

 

Bro. Jerry