Spiritual Partaking of the Lord's Supper
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 5/18/2014 AM |
Text: | II Corinthians 13; Lord's Day 30 |
Psalters: | 401, 324, 299, 284 |
- His spiritual presence.
- The Reformed churches reject any concept of Christ's presence being physical.
- The church of Rome believes Jesus is physically present in the elements ? transubstantiation.
- Luther taught that Christ was present ?in, with, and under,? i.e., really and substantially present in the bread and wine.
- The Reformed churches teach that Christ is present in the Supper in a spiritual sense.
- First, Jesus is in heaven, where He is to be worshiped.
- Christ is present only in a spiritual sense.
- Thus, this is an important way to show (demonstrate) the Lord's death (as the way to salvation) until He returns.
- The Reformed churches reject any concept of Christ's presence being physical.
- The administration of the sacrament must be spiritual.
- Spiritual administration means: Jesus is seen as the Host through His representatives who administer and distribute it.
- Second, spiritual administration requires that the Lord's Table be guarded properly.
- The elders supervise who partakes by discipline: silent censure prevents (I Cor. 5:11).
- Also the elders practice "close", not "open communion" (the historic Reformed practice).
- And the elders determine which non-members may partake, judging closeness in doctrine and practice.
- Third, spiritual administration requires the preaching which displays the Jesus and the death He died.
- Spiritual partaking requires the exercise of active faith.
- Faith holds for truth the once for all death of Jesus, which fully accomplished complete salvation (Heb. 7:27).
- Three groups are not proper partakers.
- Those who by confession and life declare themselves to be unbelieving and ungodly.
- Hypocrites, i.e., those who are church members but know they are false.
- Insincere believers, i.e., those who do not turn to God with sincere hearts.
- When believers do it SO, then blessings result for the believers and for the church.
- The Supper gives visible assurance that He gave Himself, and that full salvation is given to those who believe.
- In this way our faith is stimulated to greater hunger and thirst for Christ.