The Lord's Table and the Lord's Supper According to the Scripture

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AND
THE LORD'S SUPPER
ACCORDING TO THE
SCRIPTURE
THE TRUE CHURCH—THE LORD'S TABLE
AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
In order for us to learn the truth of God we need to acquaint ourselves with God's precious Word, the Bible, for "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16,1716All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16‑17), and we are exhorted to "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." 1 Thess. 5:2121Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21). The way we prove that what we hear is the truth of God is to be like the Bereans of old, who when they heard Paul preaching, "they searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so, therefore many of them believed." Acts 17:11,1211These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. (Acts 17:11‑12).
There are many true born again children of God who have come to the Lord Jesus Christ as guilty sinners and have believed the wonderful truth of John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16), "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." They know they are saved by the assurance of God's Word, "These things I have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life." 1 John 5:1313These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13).
Now what we desire to show, is that the same Word of God, the Bible, which tells us the way of salvation does not leave us to choose, and "Go to the church of our choice," for it also shows us what the church of God is, how we become part of it, and how we should gather together as believers in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is one very simple verse, spoken by the Lord Jesus Himself in Matt. 16:1818And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18), that tells who is the Builder of the true church. He said, "I will build My church." He spoke these words to Peter, and we learn from Peter's epistle that the church is composed of "living stones", true believers who are "built up a spiritual house." 1 Peter 2:55Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5). When a person is saved by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior, then he or she does not have to choose and join a man-made church organization, having some chosen name in order to become a church member. We read in Acts 2:4747Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:47), "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." The moment a person is saved, the Lord adds him or her to His church, and such persons become living stones in the church that Christ is building.
We know that we are saved on the authority of the Word of God, and we know also that we have been added to the true church which the Lord Jesus Christ is building. Now the next question is in what Name should we gather? The Lord Jesus Himself, the true Builder of the church, answers that question for us. He said, "for where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them." Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20). It is His church and the Spirit of God would seek to gather us together in His Name. Could we have any more wonderful Name than His, for He is "Head over all things to the church which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all." Eph. 1:22,2322And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22‑23).
The church of God, then, is a spiritual building composed of living stones, and it is also spoken of as the body of Christ, "For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free: and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." 1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13), "Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular." (1 Cor. 12:2727Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (1 Corinthians 12:27))
There are some precious things about the Lord's table that the Spirit of God brings before us that touch our hearts as we lay hold of them. We notice that "the cup of blessing" is mentioned first in chapter 10, while in chapter 11, the cup is second. Surely the Lord would remind us that our title to be at His table is only through the precious blood of Christ, as we read in Heb. 10:19,2019Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Hebrews 10:19‑20), "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way." How wonderful to be at His table, "holy and without blame before Him in love." Eph. 1:44According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1:4).
Then the one loaf is brought before us next, and in this chapter it is given to us as a symbol of the spiritual body of Christ of which every believer is a member. We are told about this in 1 Cor. 10:1717For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (1 Corinthians 10:17), "For we being many are one bread (loaf) for we are all partakers of that one bread (loaf)." It is also instructive to notice that at the feast of Pentecost in Lev. 23:1717Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord. (Leviticus 23:17), they kept the feast with bread "baken with leaven,"
because when the loaf, as in 1 Cor. 10 is a figure of believers (the one body), we still have the old nature in us, but it is not to be active, as yeast (leaven) is not active after the bread has been baked (see Rom. 6:1111Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:11)).
We now come to 1 Cor. 11 and as we have already noticed the subject in this chapter is the Lord's supper. We are therefore reminded here that it was on the night of the Lord's betrayal that He Himself instituted the Lord's supper, the remembrance of the glorious work of redemption accomplished at Calvary. The loaf comes first here, a symbol of His physical body and the remembrance of all that He suffered when bearing our sins in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)). In those hours of darkness, He was made sin for us, "that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)). Then it was after He had borne all the judgment for us and cried, "It is finished," and had dismissed His spirit (John 19:3131The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. (John 19:31)), that the soldier pierced His blessed dead side and the precious blood flowed forth. The work was finished, and His precious blood cleanseth us from "all sin." (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). It is in the Lord's supper that we remember the cost of our redemption. God would keep it ever fresh in our minds, when on the first day of the week we come together to break bread (Acts 20:77And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7)) and He has asked us to continue with this remembrance until He comes (1 Cor. 11:2626For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. (1 Corinthians 11:26)).
Now we have already noticed that the Scriptural way to meet together is in His Name as members of the body of Christ of which all true believers are part. We learn in 1 Cor. 10:6-226Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 11Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 14Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 15I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 16The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. 18Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 22Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? (1 Corinthians 10:6‑22) that it is in separation from all that is contrary to truth and holiness, for holiness is the eternal principle of God's house, as we read in Psa. 93:55Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever. (Psalm 93:5), "Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh Thine house, 0 Lord forever." As believers we are responsible to examine ourselves and confess any sins that have been allowed in our lives (1 Cor. 11:2828But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (1 Corinthians 11:28), 1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)). There are some sins that are to be judged by the assembly, for God's assembly is responsible to maintain holiness. Careful instruction as to this is given in 1 Cor. 5:11-1311But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:11‑13) and 2 Tim. 2:18-2118Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:18‑21), so that there is to be separation from moral and doctrinal evil, because if it is allowed it defiles the whole assembly for "a little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump." This is spoken of as to moral evil in 1 Cor. 5:66Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (1 Corinthians 5:6), and as to evil doctrine in Gal. 5:99A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (Galatians 5:9).
It is popular and accounted respectable in the religious Christian world to have a church name, but the Word of God is to be our guide and in Christianity "Christ is all and all" (Col. 3:1111Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11)). We are exhorted in Heb. 13:1313Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13). "Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp bearing His reproach." We all know that there is a reproach when we confess Jesus as our Lord, and there is often a further reproach when we confess that we meet in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, not as a members of some man made church organization, but as members of the one body of Christ according to His Word.
God has one Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, His own beloved eternal Son, whom He delights to honor, and Who is the only gathering center for the members of His body,—the church for whom He gave Himself. "Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Eph. 5:25-2725Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25‑27).
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