Proper Observance of the Lord’s Supper
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 12/6/2015 AM |
Text: | I Corinthians 11; Lord's Day 30 |
Psalters: | 391, 338, 281, 187 |
- Proper presentation.
- 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.
- Thus we reject any concept of Christ's presence being physical.
- The church of Rome believes Jesus is physically present in the elements – transubstantiation.
- Also Rome’s mass is a repeated sacrificing of Jesus every time the bread is broken and the wine poured.
- The Biblical and Reformed understanding of Christ’s presence in the Supper is that He is present only in a spiritual sense.
- The proper administration of the sacrament.
- Spiritual administration means: Jesus is seen as the Host is represented in the elders.
- Second, spiritual administration requires the preaching which displays the Jesus and the death He died.
- Third, spiritual administration requires that the Lord's Table be guarded.
- We practice "close," not "open communion" (the historic Reformed practice).
- And the elders determine which non-members may partake, judging closeness in doctrine and practice.
- And the elders supervise who partakes by discipline: silent censure prevents those no believing or living rightly (I Cor. 5:11).
- Proper partaking requires the exercise of active faith.
- Proper receiving and eating of the elements requires a soul seeking and finding forgiveness in Jesus.
- Three kinds of improper partakers, who ought to keep themselves from the Table, lest they eat to their condemnation.
- When we sincerely partake by faith, then blessings result for the believers and for the church.