Transcript The LorD’s Supper - Duke Street Church, Richmond

The Means
of Grace
“… we work
with you for
your joy…”
2 Corinthians 1:24




In what sense is it “Communion”?
What does “This is my body / blood” mean?
What happens?
How then should we celebrate it?
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and
after blessing it broke it and gave it to the
disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks
he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you,
for this is my blood of the covenant, which is
poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I
tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the
vine until that day when I drink it new with you in
my Father's kingdom.” (Matthew 26:26-29)

Context of Matthew 26:26-29:



A meal
The Passover: “Remembering”
Jesus’ words: “This is my blood of the
Covenant.”

See Exodus 24:7-11
Then [Moses] took the Book of the Covenant and read it in
the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the
LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”
And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and
said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has
made with you in accordance with all these words.”
Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and
seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the
God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a
pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for
clearness. And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of
the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.
(Exodus 24:7-11 ESV)

Jesus’ words: “This is my blood of the
Covenant.”
From Exodus 24:8
Seals the Covenant
 A Meal with God




Communion with the Lord
Communion with one another
Active remembrance of the Lord’s work in
saving us

What did Jesus mean?
Luther
“Consubstantiation”
Christ’s Body is around bread
Christ’s blood is around wine
Roman Catholic
“Transubstantiation”
Bread is physically Christ’s body
Wine is physically Christ’s blood
Zwingli
“Memorial View”
Bread is just bread
Wine is just wine
Calvin
“Real / Spiritual Presence”
Participation in Christ (1 Cor. 10:14-18 & John 6:51)
[14] Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. [15] I
speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what
I say. [16] The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a
participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we
break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
[17] Because there is one bread, we who are many are
one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
[18] Consider the people of Israel: are not those who
eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?



Participation in Christ (1 Cor. 10:14-16 & John
6:51)
Union with Christ and each other (1 Cor. 10:17)
Because there is one bread, we who are many
are one body, for we all partake of the one
bread. (1 Corinthians 10:17)



Participation in Christ (1 Cor. 10:14-16 & John 6:51)
Union with Christ and each other (1 Cor. 10:17)
The Problems in Corinth (1 Cor. 11:29-31)
But in the following instructions I do not commend
you, because when you come together it is not for
the better but for the worse…
For anyone who
eats and drinks without discerning the body eats
and drinks judgment on himself. That is why
many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be
judged.
(1 Corinthians 11:17, 29-31 ESV)
The Supper of the Lord Jesus, was instituted
by him, the same night wherein he was betrayed,
to be observed in his Churches unto the end of the
world, for the perpetual remembrance, and
shewing forth the sacrifice of himself in his death
confirmation of the faith of believers in all the
benefits thereof, their spiritual nourishment, and
growth in him, their further engagement in, and
to, all duties which they owe unto him; and to be
a bond and pledge of their communion with him,
and with each other.
30:1



Westminster calls the Lord’s Supper “a
sacrament”
London Baptist Confession calls the Lord’s
Supper, “an ordinance”
Sacrament = sign and a seal


The Lord does something in us and for us
Ordinance = something commanded

We do something for the Lord

It is about communion:





with one another and
with the risen Lord Jesus
Remembering with our whole selves, head
heart and hands
The Lord is spiritually present by the Holy
Spirit
The Lord feeds us and nourishes us.

Past:


Present:


We look back to build faith
We look around to build love
Future:

We look forward to build hope
“I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of
the vine until that day when I drink it new with
you in my Father's kingdom.” (Matt 26:29)

Why celebrate it?



It is commanded
It is a good gift from the Lord
Who should partake in it?

Baptised believers

How should we partake of it?



With joy and thanksgiving not sadness
With one another (not eyes closed)
With preparation
 Pray to be fed
 Resolve conflicts
 Repent of sins
 Discerning the body (1 Cor. 11:29)

With care, fencing the table

When?


With the preached word
Often
As we celebrate the Lord’s Supper …
We do not merely remember intellectually
but are fed spiritually
We do not eat and drink individually
but feast corporately
We not only express our communion with Christ
but declare and build our communion
with one another.
We are not primarily mourning over our sin
but rejoicing in our salvation.