Questions, Answers, and Comments

Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The ‘breaking of bread’ in this verse is not referring to a common meal but to the Lord’s Supper. Again we have an approved example of the early church gathering on ‘the first day of the week’ (i.e. Sunday) to partake of the Lord’s supper in Acts 20:7.

Acts 20:7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

This is why we partake of the Lord’s Supper. It was commanded by Jesus, carried to the early church by the apostles, and practiced by the early church as part of their worship and doctrine.

What are the benefits?

The benefits are a oneness among the communicants and a refreshed mindset as to what took place on Calvary. Paul scorned the Corinthians over their conduct concerning the Lord’s Supper. They were treating it as a common meal instead of a special observance, they were also dividing into ‘factions’ when they should have been coming together as one. (I Corinthians 11:17-22)

Again we look at Acts 20:7 (above) The disciples ‘came together’ to observe the Lord’s Supper. They realized this was a time of solidarity for believers, otherwise they could have just observed this supper at home by themselves.

Not only do we benefit from the unity this supper brings to the participants, but we benefit by being reminded of Jesus’ great sacrifice. If we lose sight of this, we’ve lost it all… The Lord’s supper is a time when we should push all else from our minds and remember the cross (do this in remembrance of me) The emblems present help to take our minds back to Calvary. Which brings us to the next question:

What is the meaning of this practice?

I will let the Bible speak as to the meaning of the emblems themselves, and then what the meaning is to the participants.

The emblems that must be present in observance of the communion are one loaf of unleavened bread, and one cup containing ‘fruit of the vine’. It is important to remember when looking at these emblems, that Jesus instituted this memorial during the Jewish Passover time.

THE LOAF

We know that ONE loaf should be used as Jesus had (has) but one body, both symbolically, physically and spiritually speaking. I don’t believe a specific verse is needed to prove that Jesus had just one physical body, as I have never heard anyone argue otherwise .

But we can look at a verse or two that explain the one symbolic body and one spiritual body.

Symbolically, Christ was represented by one paschal lamb during the passover. 1 Cor. 5:7 tells us that “Christ is our passover.” John says, “Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) It was commanded that when preparing the passover, no bones of the lamb should be broken (Exo. 12:46). We read of Jesus’ crucifixion, “…when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs” (John 19:33), “these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled” (John 19:36). The paschal lamb was to be “without blemish” (Exo. 12:5) Jesus “committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22) Just as there was one lamb per house (Exo. 12:3) during the Passover, we have one loaf representing Christ (our sacrificial lamb, Acts 8:32, 1 Peter 1:19, Rev 5:12) in each assembly of the saints that meets to worship God on the first day of the week (acts 20:7).One lamb per house (Israel) = one loaf per congregation (NT church)Spiritually, Christ has one body as well. Eph 4:4 tells us “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling” [emphasis mine]. This one body equates to the new testament church. (see Colossians 1:18; Eph 1:22-23) There is to be no ’schism’ (1 Cor. 12:25) and no “division” (1 Cor. 1:10) in that one body. Perhaps the most compelling passage that leads us to use just one loaf during the communion comes from Paul in 1 Cor. 10:16,17-

…The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread…

We also realize that the one loaf must be unleavened because during the Passover (the feast Jesus and the disciples where observing the night the Lord’s supper was instituted) there was to be no leaven used at all. (Exo. 12:14-17)

Also we realize that leaven in the New Testament is a symbolic representation of sin, and we should not add a symbol for sin to a symbol of the Lord’s sinless body. (Mt. 16:11; 1 Cor 5:6-8)

So taking all of this into consideration, we set the table with one loaf of unleavened bread… what does this loaf represent? Simply it is a symbol of Jesus’ body which was sacrificed for us. (Mt. 26:26, Mark 14:22, Luke 22:19, 1 Cor 10:15, 1 Cor. 11:24)

THE CUP OF BLESSING

Christ used one cup filled with the fruit of the vine when instituting the Lord’s Supper.

Matthew 26:27 “Then He took the cupand gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ” Mark 14:23“Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “

“[emphasis mine]

There is little doubt that one cup was used for dispensing the fruit of the vine among the disciples. This alone should be enough for us to use one cup in our assemblies as well. Since Jesus told them to “do this” in remembrance of me.

However this is not the only reason for using one cup per assembly. The cup was specifically given significance in the Lord’s supper. Let’s take a look at some similarly worded passages:

Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” (emphasis mine JW)

The first important item is the bread, which represents Jesus’ body.

2. Mark 14:23-25 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. “Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (emphasis mine JW)

The second important item is the fruit of the vine, which represents Jesus’ blood.

3. 1 Corinthians 11:25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (emphasis mine JW)

The third important item is the cup, which when filled with the fruit of the vine and blessed for this purpose in the Lord’s supper, represents the New Testament in Jesus’ blood.

It is for these reasons that we set the table for the Lord’s supper with one loaf of unleavened bread and one cup filled with the fruit of the vine. When we do this we have Christ’s body represented, Christ’s blood represented, and the New Testament (which was ratified by the blood of Christ, Heb. 9) represented.

Not only do we have these very important symbols present in the Lord’s supper, but we have some guidelines as to what our thoughts should be centered on while partaking of the communion. There is a threefold perspective spoken of in the scriptures.

1) Retrospective - “This do in remembrance of me(1 Cor. 11:24). We partake with a vivid memory of Christ’s cruel and brutal death upon the cross. We have his body represented on the table, as well as his blood. As his blood spilled, his life ran out, but at the same time it gives all alive access to eternal life!

2) Introspective - “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup” (1 Cor 11:2 We must not just look back to the cross, but also look inwardly and examine ourselves. Are we living the life that Jesus wanted us to live?

3) Prospective - “For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come” (1 Cor 11:26) So our thoughts at the communion should not just be sorrow for the cross and soul-searching for the present, but hope for the future! We don’t just remember his death, but also the fact that he is coming again! Let us be ready on that day, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20)

We could talk for pages about all the symbolism of the Lord’s Supper, but we’ll stop here for now and look at the last question of your e-mail:

Who Partakes?

The Saints.