Proper Observance of Our Lord’s Supper
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 6/2/2019 PM |
Text: | II Corinthians 13; Lord's Day 30 |
Psalters: | 401, 186, 280, 233 |
- A spiritual presence.
- We unashamedly reject Rome’s concept of Christ’s presence in their Mass as being physical.
- The church of Rome believes Jesus is physically present in the elements – transubstantiation.
- This means that Jesus is repeatedly sacrificed every time the bread is broken and the wine poured.
- And Rome’s Mass is idolatry because they worship the elements trusting in a piece of bread to confer grace.
- The Biblical and Reformed understanding of Christ’s presence in the Supper is that He is present only in a spiritual sense.
- First, Jesus is locally in heaven, no longer on the earth.
- Thus Christ can be only represented in the Supper in a spiritual sense. The elements portray Jesus in a sacramental sense.
- We are to show the Lord’s death (as the only and perfectly sufficient way to salvation) till He come (I Cor. 11:26).
- We unashamedly reject Rome’s concept of Christ’s presence in their Mass as being physical.
- The only way to partake is sincerely, which requires self-examination (I Cor. 11:28; 13:5).
- It is wrong to partake insincerely.
- Self-examination helps the child of God deal with sins in his life and it is a means to personal, spiritual growth.
- Proper examination of self must be done in the light of God’s Word (Ps. 139:23,24).
- Proper receiving and eating of the elements requires a soul seeking and finding forgiveness in Jesus.
- When we sincerely partake by faith, then blessings result for the believers and for the church.
- The Table of the Lord must be guarded or restricted.
- The church has a responsibility to watch over the sacraments.
- This calls for “close communion.” Close” communion means that the elders (representing the Lord) assure the congregation that they have a personal knowledge of those who partake that we all have a closeness in belief and walk.