Lesson 8 – Receiving Salvation Through The Lord’s Supper

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1. WHAT IS THE LORD’S SUPPER OR COMMUNION?

Matthew 26:26-28 — While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

The Lord’s Supper is the eating and drinking of bread and wine by which God gives us Jesus’ body and blood, the same body that was nailed to the cross, the same blood that was shed for our sins.

2. WHY DO WE STILL RECEIVE THE LORD’S SUPPER TODAY?

Luke 22:19 — Do this in remembrance of me.

1 Corinthians 11:26 — For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Jesus told us to celebrate Communion, to remember how he died for our sins, and to confess our faith in him.       

3. IN WHAT WAY DO WE BENEFIT FROM RECEIVING THE LORD’S SUPPER?

Luke 22:19 — This is my body given for you.

Matthew 26:28 — This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

We receive strength for our faith, forgiveness of sins and salvation.

4. MAY ANYONE RECEIVE THE LORD’S SUPPER?

1 Corinthians 11:27 — Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

Every communicant receives Jesus’ body and blood, but some may be guilty of abusing it. Therefore some should not receive the Lord’s Supper.

5. WHO MAY PROPERLY RECEIVE THE LORD’S SUPPER?

1 Corinthians 11:28 — A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

Anyone who can properly examine himself, and does so, may receive the Lord’s Supper.

6. HOW SHOULD WE EXAMINE OURSELVES?

Matthew 26:28 — This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

We should know that we need and want the forgiveness that the Lord’s Supper offers.

Luke 22:19,20 — This is my body given for you…This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

We should know that we truly receive Jesus’ body and blood together with the bread and wine.

Romans 6:1,2 — Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!

We should know that we want to give up our favorite sins.

John 6:37 — Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

We should know that we are never “good enough” to take Communion, and trust that Jesus will accept us in spite of our imperfection.

Hebrews 10:29 — How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

Those who cannot examine and prepare themselves should not receive Communion. (Uninstructed, unconscious, insane, impenitent, unbelieving)

7. HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE RECEIVE THE LORD’S SUPPER?

1 Corinthians 11:25,26 — Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Matthew 11:28 — Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

We should receive the Lord’s Supper frequently, to confess our faith and to find personal comfort and peace.

8. WHY SHOULD WE RECEIVE COMMUNION ONLY IN OUR OWN CHURCH?

Romans 16:17 — I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

We should keep away from those who have different teachings.

1 Corinthians 10:17 — Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

Joint Communion signifies a common faith.

SUMMARY: The Lord’s Supper is Jesus’ special gift to his believers. In it Jesus gives us the same body that was nailed to the cross for us, the same blood that was shed for us. And with his body and blood he gives us forgiveness and eternal life. Since we sin often, and often doubt, we will want Communion often for the personal assurance of our salvation.

But Communion benefits only those who understand it and believe it. Others are disgracing Christ’s precious body and blood when they receive it ignorantly or thoughtlessly. Therefore we must carefully examine and prepare ourselves before going to Communion, and we must take care that others do not make themselves guilty of abusing the sacrament in our church.

Note: Registration for Communion is generally expected in Lutheran churches.

QUICKIE QUIZ (T or F)

  1. ___ The Lord’s Supper and Communion are two different names for the same thing.
  2. ___ Everyone who goes to Communion receives Jesus’ body and blood.
  3. ___ Everyone who goes to Communion receives the forgiveness of sins.
  4. ___ It is not necessary to go to Communion more than once a month.
  5. ___ We should not go to Communion if we have sinned the same day.
  6. ___ Children may not take Communion until they are confirmed.
  7. ___ We go to Communion to earn the forgiveness of sins.
  8. ___ As long as he believes in Jesus, anyone may go to Communion.
  9. ___ Some will not be saved because they didn’t go to Communion often enough.
  10. ___ We should not go to Communion if we don’t feel the need for it.

WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY

  1. that Jesus gives me his body with the bread?

    Matthew 26:26-28 — While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

  2. that Jesus gives me his blood with the wine?

    Matthew 26:26-28 — While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

  3. that Jesus gave his body for me?

    Luke 22:19 — This is my body given for you.

  4. that we should examine ourselves before communing?

    1 Corinthians 11:27 — Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

  5. that we should not commune with those who do not agree with the teachings of our church?

    Romans 16:17 — I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

For more information you can watch this lesson presented as a Bible study HERE.  Please click HERE to find the complete series of Bible studies.

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