Communion Instituted by Christ

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.”

1 Corinthians 11:24-25

The Lord’s Supper or Communion is a New Testament ordinance or prescribed practice which Jesus Christ instituted and established for his church. (1 Cor. 11:23-26; Mark 14:22-26; Matt. 26:26-29; Luke 22:14-23 ) Communion was instituted on the same night the Lord Jesus was betrayed and the very next day Jesus would go to the cross, shed His blood and died for us.

The Purpose

The Lord’s Supper (Communion) reminds us of Jesus and what He did to make us free. Communion presents a very important picture. The bread is a picture of His Body (Matt. 26:26) and the cup is a picture of His Blood (Matt. 26:27-28). Jesus’ body was offered as a Sacrifice for sin (1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; 2 Cor 5:21) and His Blood was shed so that our sins could be forgiven (Matt 26:28; Eph 1:7; Rev 1:5). So the purpose of communion is 1. We are to look backward: a time when we think back to the cross and remember what Jesus did for us when He died in our place (Luke 23:26-56). 2. We are to look inward: examine our present relationship with Jesus Christ and others (1 Cor. 11:28). 3. We are to look forward: Lookin for Jesus’ return (1 Cor. 11:26).

The Necessary Conditions

Jesus did not tell everyone to eat the bread and drink the cup. He told His disciples to do this. Before you take communion you should make sure of these things: 1. Salvation - make sure that you are a believer in Jesus Christ and that you are trusting Him and what He did on the cross for your eternal salvation. 2. Sanctification - make sure you examine yourself (1 Cor. 11:27-31) communion is only for those clean in their heart. Before partaking the believer needs to realize: God cannot have fellowship with an unclean believer (John 13:8; 1 John 1:5-9). 1 Corinthians 11: 29-32 tells us the penalty of taking the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner “he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgement to himself”. Make sure you are ready. Communion is a serious time. A time to think about our Saviour and what He has done, examine yourself, humble yourself and repent to God.

Thought to Remember