July 31 Click on verses for Full Scripture

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Today's Pathway: I Corinthians 11:23-26 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 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.

Having exposed some of the errors that the Corinthian church had concerning the Lord's Table, Paul now explains how and why it should be done. He starts by stating that he received his teaching directly from the Lord. Paul mentions this in Galatians 1:11-12:

"But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."

"Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me."

"He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken",

"For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken."

Jesus handles the cup in a similar fashion. He tells them that it represents His blood, which was about to be shed for the remission of sins. He also mentions that it is the "new testament". The word "testament" carries the idea of a "covenant". Under the old Mosaic covenant, oceans of blood were spilled constantly through animal sacrifices, but they could never cleanse away a man's sins (Hebrews 10:4). However, the blood of Christ shed on the cross provided the necessary sacrifice by which all mankind could be saved (Hebrews 9:12-22). The old covenant couldn't save anyone, because man could not measure up to its standard. The new covenant can and will save anyone who chooses to believe and receive Christ.

It should be noted here that there are numerous false teachings concerning the Lord's Supper, some of which will be briefly mentioned here. First, partaking in Communion never saved anyone. Salvation is by faith, not by works or religious rituals. While Communion is a church ordinance and an activity which believers should participate in, it does not and can not provide salvation. It is a memorial where Christians gather together in their local church to reflect on Christ's great sacrifice for their sins. It is to be done "in remembrance", and not for salvation. In addition, according to verse 26, they are "showing" the Lord's death. The Greek word translated "show" means to "declare" or "proclaim". Every time the church has communion they are declaring to themselves and to the world around them that they believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Also, because they are to do this "till he come", they are also proclaiming that Jesus will return to earth some day. Second, the bread and the cup are what the Bible says they are, unleavened bread and the "fruit of the vine" (Luke 22:18). A priest can not magically turn them into Christ's literal body and blood (transubstantiation), nor does some event take place where the bread and juice remain bread and juice, but the presence of the body and blood of Christ somehow mystically enter into them (consubstantiation). Third, there is no evidence in the Bible that alcoholic wine was served at the Lord's Supper. The word "wine" is never used in connection with that event. The terms used are "cup" and "fruit of the vine". We know that the bread was unleavened, because it was the Passover, so it makes sense that the cup was also unleavened, which would mean there was no alcohol. Plus, to have served alcohol at the Lord's Table would violate numerous Old Testament principles.

Tomorrow we will look at the practical applications of the Lord's Supper.