Our lesson today is the Lord's supper.
Most denominations do have some form of what they call the Lord's supper - the method of administration is pretty well universal. The elements used are not - in fact they are quite a problem and when we are looking for a church to attend or join we must make sure of what elements are used, that they are the correct ones. Look for these errors.
1) use of ordinary bread (which has leaven, or as we call it, yeast) in it and it's use is fairly common.
2) or some use crackers
3) The biggest problem is with the liquid element. Most use a liquid element other than what is taught in the Bible such as grape juice, water or some other kind of Fruit like orange juice, pear juice, raison juice or even pop. This is all contrary to the plain teaching the Bible.
Most denominations also practice open communion. That means they let any person who states he\she is a Christian partake of the Lord's supper - not knowing or caring what church or denomination they come from - or how faithful they are to church attendance or how good or bad their lifestyle is. They also don't seem to care what state of spirituality they are in. Are they in good fellowship with God or their own church. What are their doctrinal stands. As we shall see this is important - there should be none of these faults or errors present between members taking The Lord's supper.
Sound Baptists do not practice any of the above and of course as a result are hated by all the ones who do practice all or some of the above mentioned errors.
What does the Bible teach on these items - does it have any saving power?
To make this question short and to the point - No - the Lord's supper does not have any saving value. Like baptism it is an ordinance - a commemoration of an event taken place - a remembrance of Jesus shedding His blood on the cross resulting in His death that pays the penalty of the sins we who are trusting in His finished work commit.
What does the Bible teach on the Elements? Let's take a look at a number of important facts.
The elements used must be clear of Impurity or uncleanness even in figurative form.
This is why unleavened bread is used - and the liquid must also be the fruit of the vine. That there can be no dispute. The Bible is very clear on no leaven either in the bread or the liquid used. It also mentions the fruit of the Vine. This leaves a big question mark - just what is the fruit of the vine. Let's take a look at an article I copied from the Library of this subject.
Quote "Wine and the fruit of the Vine: In the Gospel accounts, the Lord refers to the "fruit of the vine'. Mt. 26:29 - Mark 14:25 - Luke. 22:18. The Gospels do not refer to wine in the Lord's supper. What then does the 'fruit of the vine' mean? First of all, 'fruit of the vine' was drunk out of a cup (Matthew 26:27). It was therefore liquid, and related to the fruit of the vine, a liquid from the fruit of the vine. Also, fruit of the vine' must mean something more specific: it is not a vague, nondescript reference. But what exactly was the fruit of the vine? In fact, a study in Jewish culture & practice reveals that 'fruit of the vine' actually was a common way of referring to - wine." Unquote
There is much more to that article but just goes off into a lot of detail which we do not have space for in this sermon. But I will also like to take another extract from another article from the library also. This is a long - four page article so obviously I cannot use the whole article. It comes under many headings most of which are irrelevant to this article. To understand why leaven is not tolerated by God in His worship the following facts should be understood.
Fermentation:
In the climate of Palestine fermentation begins almost immediately, frequently on the same day for juice pressed out in the morning, but never later than the next day. At first a slight foam appears on the surface of the liquid, and from that moment, according to Jewish tradition, it is liable to the wine- tithe. The action rapidly becomes more violent, and while it is in progress the liquid must be kept in jars or in a vat, for it would burst even the newest and strongest of wine-skins. Within about a week this violent fermentation subsides, and the wine is transferred to other jars or strong wine-skins and parallel's, in which it undergoes the secondary fermentation. At the bottom of the receptacles collects the heavier matter or "lees" - from which the wines or the lees gather strength and flavor.
Here we see the leaven being fermented out of the wine - the purifying of the grape juice which will now be called wine. Note that during this fermentation period the leaven we call it yeast) has a very violent effect on the liquid. It is during this period of fermentation when the grape/wine is so stirred up and "moving by itself" that the Bible tells us not to drink of it. (Proverbs 23:31)....... That only makes sense - because if the fermentation is powerful enough to break even a strong wine-skin just think of what it would do to your stomach!! It would make you very sick - or worse still - kill you!!
Another fact every Baptist should know is that the drinking of wine is NOT the great sin so many people try to make out it is. Jesus drank it on a regular basis. He had to, the water supply in that hot country was not good and event the little they did have soon stagnated and soon became unfit for human consumption. Wine was drank in place of water - that was about the only liquid fit to drink. Grapes and the juice from it would be non-existent within a week or two of the grape harvest. So for 11 out of 12 months of the year there would be no grape or grape juice available. Only its extension - wine would be. Grapes and grape juice in fact was only stepping stones to the final product - wine. Let's see what this article has to say.
Wine drinking
Quote "Throughout the Old Testament, wine is regarded as a necessity of life and no way as a mere luxury. It was a necessary part of even the simplest meal, it was an indispensable provision for a fortress, and was drunk by all classes and all ages, even by the very young. "Unquote
And we could add - and by the family of Jesus Christ and by Jesus Christ himself. No, there was no objection to the use of wine - it was the abuse of wine that was strongly spoken against by Jesus and the apostles. And so should we restrict it to that reason. We see that beyond a doubt that wine was used for the "Feast of unleavened Bread" during the Passover observance. We use the same elements in the observance of the Lord's supper as we see the instructions to use unleavened bread - so it only stands to reason since this element of the Passover supper was used then the same liquid element must also be the same as used in the Passover supper. That liquid element used in the Passover supper was unleavened/fermented grape juice which is commonly called wine, as we have seen that from the articles I have quoted above.
Leaven in scripture is always figurative of impurity, of uncleanness or sin and unrightousness. Let's read the following scriptures:
Matthew 16:6 - Then Jesus said unto them, take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
The leaven here being the false doctrines of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
1 Corinthians 5:5-6 - To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
The leaven here being the man Paul is advising the church to deliver unto Satan. This man had been caught in a very immoral deed and Paul was telling the church to get that evil man (hunk of leaven) out of their midst.
Since leaven is a symbol of uncleanness it is strictly forbidden in the use of worship.
Exodus 23:18 -- Thou shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning.
Liviticus: 2:11 - No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the Lord, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the Lord made by fire.
NO LEAVEN!!!!!!!!!
How is the Lord's supper administered and by who? The pastor is usually the person who administers the Lord's supper with the help of deacons or any one he chooses to Help, although I don't think there is any set rule saying it must be him. Again - it is a church ordinance and the church can authorize any one they chose - but within the Lord - the person must be saved, baptized and a member of that church since it is a local church observance with only members of that church present. Remember this - the Lord usually did all His preaching out in the open - in the market, in the Temple or out in the fields or along the seas shores. Open to the public use. But when He held the Passover supper and after supper instituted the Lord's supper He took His disciples to the privacy of the upper room. Why? Because this was a private affair. Both the Passover supper and the Lord's supper. First - only Jews were allowed into the Passover supper. Even Judas who later betrayed Jesus was allowed to partake of the Passover. As a Jew he was qualified to partake of that supper. But later just before Jesus instituted the Lord's supper Jesus discreetly gets rid of Judas by telling him to go do 'that which was necessary for him to do'. And of course that was the ordained job that was given Judas in betraying Jesus. You see, Judas was not qualified to take the Christian Lord's supper. He was not saved. He was a wolf in sheep's clothing in company with these disciples. Jesus knew that, but no one else did. Once Judas was off the scene Jesus instituted the Lord's supper with only saved, members of His New Testament church present. And those are the type of people we should have taking the Lord's supper in our church. No friends or relatives just because they are friends or relatives. Treat all alike - no one who is not a member of the church taking the communion take part in that communion (Lord's supper) If you accept some even friends and not others you are looking for serious trouble - and more than likely will find it.
There is a reason for these restrictions. Let's look at where Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper.
Luke 22:15-20 - He said unto them, with desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks and brake it, and gave unto them saying, this is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
Where were they - what were they doing just prior to Jesus instituting the Lord's Supper? They had just completed observing the Passover supper that had been commanded by God centuries before in Old Testament times to be celebrated every year forever. This is found in Exodus chapter 12. We will go there in a few minutes. This ordinance is still held today by the Jews and they still use unleavened bread and wine. So should we in the observance of the Lord's supper.
For now let's read
1 Cor. 11:18-31 - For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? Or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread; 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. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
There are certain criteria for taking the Lord's Supper. Of course you must be saved. I have already mentioned the reason why above. You must belong to that church taking the communion (Lord's supper). Note that what we read stated in so many words that anyone taking the Lord's supper should be of good standing with that church. To be in good standing with a church they would have to be living a high moral life as well faithful to that church in attendance and support.
How could an outsider be any of these. How would a church know if an outsider is living a high moral life. Even if they are friends of some of the members taking the supper the church itself could not know as well as their own members if they are living a Godly life. It is hard to know your own members fully - but to know strangers to most in the church? You are treading on dangerous ground. And of course any examples in the New Testament churches it was always only members taking part. Let's follow their example - then we can't go wrong.
Another thing is a church could not know if there are doctrinal differences between the 'stranger' and the church. This is true of even members. Small differences of opinions do not hurt too much. Of course ideally everyone should believe exactly alike - but we know that just will not happen. God does not give everyone the same measure of faith and knowledge. But when it comes to the base doctrines we call the cardinal doctrines - if there are any in the church, stranger or church member who do not believe in these doctrines they should not partake of the Lord's supper with the church who as a whole does.
Now let's go to the scripture in:
Exodus 12:14-27 - This day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven ut of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. In the first month on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whose over eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. Ye shall eat g nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the Passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy seed forever. And it shall come to pass, when ye come to the land which the Lord will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.. And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, what mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, it is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped
This is the instituting of the Passover which God commanded to be celebrated forever. Note and be very clear on how strongly God orders there to be NO leaven present during this first initiation of the Passover. NO LEAVEN/or yeast) was to be found in any way shape or form on a person or in his home and especially eaten, for 7 days before that Passover or its celebration in the years to come on penalty of being booted out of camp and disowned by the nation itself. GOD TOOK IT VERY SERIOUSLY!!!
And so should we in the observance of the Lord's supper!!
What has this got to do with the Lord's Supper? As we read before the Lord's supper was instituted by the Lord while celebrating or just after the observance of the Passover meal using exactly the same elements - unleavened bread and unleavened grape juice (wine). There would have been no presence of leaven in that room whatsoever in keeping with God's instructions of the observance of the Passover we read in Exodus 12.
We should also be just as serious in our observance of the Lord's supper especially the elements used. It MUST be unleavened bread and unleavened grape juice( WINE). If a church does not observe the Lord's supper with these unleavened elements then we should 'disown' that practice and go where they do it with the proper elements. God will not recognize a Lord's supper when it is done wrongly - how can you expect Him too - He has laid the observance down so He is not going to change it just to satisfy man's fancies - yours or anyone else's.
God bless.