Why do Christians keep the Lord's Supper?

The Lord’s Supper

It was Jesus himself, on the night he was betrayed who instituted a simple way for his Church to remember Him. This is recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke’s Gospels (Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26 and Luke 22:14-20). In 1 Corinthians 11:17-22 the apostle Paul rebukes the Corinthian church for turning this remembrance of Jesus into something that He would disapprove of.

 

Paul then reminds them of what he had received from the Lord and had taught to them, v23-26. “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come”.

 

 

The Early Church

 

The church that Jesus built began in the city of Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and those who believed and gladly received the command to repent and be baptised were added by the Lord to the church, Acts 2:36-41, 47. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers, v42. In breaking bread and drinking of the cup they were remembering Jesus in the way he had appointed them”.

 

We have the example of the church in Troas meeting on the first day the week, (Sunday) to “break bread” Acts 20:7. As a church of Christ we follow the same practice as given to the church through His apostles rather than by doctrines devised by man. The bread represents his body that was broken when He was nailed to the cross. The cup (contents of) representing His shed blood which atones for our sins. Christians gather together as a church, each one partakes of a small portion of the bread and wine in remembrance of the fact that Jesus gave His own life for them.

 

Still practised today

 

In keeping this memorial “supper”, (sometimes called communion) we are both remembering what Jesus did for us when he paid the price for our sins with his own life and we are also looking forward to His return.

 

Romans 5:8 – 10. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life”.

 

As we take part in this we are in fellowship with one another and the Lord and this was why the apostle Paul chastised the Corinthians for turning into something that Jesus would disapprove of.

 

The Church of Christ in Tunbridge Wells, meets as they did in the first century on the first day of the week and strive to be true to the New Testament pattern and message, in all we teach and practice.

 

We invite you to come and see for yourself, you will be made very welcome. We welcome your questions or comments on this or any other concern you have about Jesus and His church. 

 

All quotes from the King James Version