THE LORD’S SUPPER
This article is written to let you know the two Christian rites namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper do not save people. Read more on the article of Baptism. The Lord’s Supper is a pure remembrance of the death and suffering of Jesus Christ until He returns to reign.
Many do not know what is the Lord’s Supper or what is Baptism. The Lord’s Supper is not what the Catholics call Mass. This article is written to let you know what the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion is. Christianity or the Christian faith has only two rites or sacraments, namely baptism and the Lord’s Supper or the Holy Communion or the Eucharist. Please read my article on BAPTISM. The word ‘rite’ occurs in the Bible, only in the Old Testament.
Exd 12:25 -27, “When you enter the land which the LORD will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite. And when your children say to you: What does this rite mean to you? You shall say: It is a Passover sacrifice to the LORD who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes. And the people bowed low and worshiped.”
Exd 13:5 ,“It shall be when the LORD brings you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall observe this rite in this month.”
Num 9:14 ,“And if a stranger dwells among you, and would keep the Lord’s Passover, he must do so according to the rite of the Passover and according to its ceremony; you shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger and the native of the land.”
Note: Rite in Hebrew is ` abodahwhich means a sacred service, a sacred ceremony; – it occurs 141 times in the Old Testament. The word ‘rite’ does not occur in the New Testament. It is right to think of rite as ceremony. Baptism is a ceremony of identifying with Jesus Christ, declaring to the world that you are a Christian and belong to Christ. The Lord’s Supper is a ceremony of remembering the death of Jesus Christ who died bodily for our sins until He returns. These are simple truths taught in the Bible. There is no mystery about them.
Christianity does not have nor practice liturgy. The word ‘liturgy’ does not exist in the Bible. The more dead or lifeless a religion is the more liturgies it has. Christians observe baptism and the Lord’s Supper by the authority of Jesus Christ, not the pope, or apostle, or anyone else.
Christians do not believe in Eucharistic theology or any theology made by men, only in the Biblical theology as it is written in the Scriptures. The Lord’s Supper is also called the Last Supper because it took place right before Jesus was going to die on the cross for sinners. The Lord’s Supper is also called the Holy Communion, the communion of believers with the Lord through the Holy Spirit.
1Cr 10:16 ,“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?”
2Cr 6:14 ,“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”
2Cr 13:14 ,“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”
Note: Communion in Greek is koinōnia which means fellowship, association, joint participation, the share which one has in anything, participation; – it occurs 20 times in the New Testament. Communion means the sharing in the benefits of Christ’s death and in the mystical body of Christ which is the Church.
The Lord’s Supper is also called the Eucharist or the Sacrament. The word ‘Eucharist’ does not exist in the Bible. The word ‘sacrament’ also does not exist in the Bible. Eucharist means sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. A sacrament is a sacred rite. Based on their simple definitions, Eucharist and sacrament do not have conflict with the Bible. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines the sacraments as “efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions.” The elaboration of the term does not have Biblical support, infused with tradition, confusion and teaching of men. The catechism included in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer defines a sacrament as “an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us, ordained by Christ himself, as a means whereby we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us thereof.” I cannot find anywhere in the Bible that defines or explains baptism or the Lord’s Supper as inward and spiritual graces. Perhaps the word ‘ordinance’ is more appropriate than the word ‘sacrament’. However, I cannot find anywhere in the Bible the distinction that ‘sacrament’ stresses mainly, but not solely, what God does; and ‘ordinance’ what the Christians do. True, baptism and the Lord’s Supper must be permanently observed by the Church until Jesus returns.
There are seven sacraments in the Catholic Church: Baptism, Confirmation or Chrismation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. Except baptism and the Lord’s Supper, the rest were invented by the Catholic Church. Anglican teaching is that there are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord, and that those five called Sacraments, that is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extreme Unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel. Although I am not an Anglican, I hold the Anglican position to be Biblical. Furthermore, no where in the Bible teaches that all who receive the sacrament also receive forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation. It is equally wrong to add or delete the ordinances of the Lord. The meanings of the Lord’s Supper are clearly spelled out in the Bible; however, the Catholic Church invented the doctrine of transubstantiation, which is false and will be dealt with later.
1. Jesus Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper.
Luk 22:11 ，”And you shall say to the owner of the house, The Teacher
says to you: Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover
with My disciples?”
Note: It was very significant when the Jews ate the Passover, Jesus
instituted the Lord’s Supper; and the Jewish Passover became the
Christian Good Friday when the Lamb of God was slain. Do you have a
guest room for Jesus Christ? Do you have room for Jesus in your heart?
Mat 26:18 -30 ，“And He said: Go into the city to a certain man, and say
to him, The Teacher says: My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples. So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. Now as they were eating, He said: Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me. And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him: Lord, is it I? He answered and said: He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said: Rabbi, is it I? He said to him: You have said it. 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. Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying: Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”
Note: A certain man; there is always a certain man designated to do a
certain thing. Do you know what Jesus designates you to do? Are you a certain man with a mission? The disciples did as Jesus had directed.
Christians must always do as Jesus had directed. What Jesus had
directed are written in the Bible and personally led by the Holy Spirit.
Direct in Greek is syntassō which means to put in order with or together, to arrange, prescribe, appoint; – it occurs only twice in the New Testament. God arranges things for His children. Watch out for
self-appointed so-called Christian leaders who do not have the Spirit of
Christ in them, they try to lead Christians astray. Do not follow them.
One of the disciples called Judas betrayed Jesus. Betray in Greek is
paradidōmi which means to give into the hands of another, deliver up
treacherously, by betrayal to cause one to be taken; – it occurs 121 times in the New Testament. Outsiders cannot betray Jesus; false prophets, false teachers and false brothers can betray Jesus. Those who preach false gospels betray Jesus. Those who lead believers astray betray Jesus. Those who merchandise the gospel for profit betray Jesus. Those who deny Jesus is the Son of God betray Jesus. Those who appoint gay preachers and support same-sex marriage betray the Lord. Woe to those who betray the Lord. It would have been good if a traitor had not been born. The bread symbolizes the body of Christ, and the wine symbolizes the blood of Christ. The blood of Christ was shed for the remission of sins. Remission in Greek is aphesis which means forgiveness or pardon, of sins letting them go as if they had never been committed, remission of the penalty, deliverance; – it occurs 17 times in the New Testament. This was the Last Supper because Jesus would not drink this fruit of the vine again until that day when Jesus drinks it new with believers in His Father’s kingdom. They sang a hymn. Sing hymn in Greek is hymneōwhich means to sing the praise of, sing hymns to; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament. Christians sing hymns to praise God and because they rejoice in the Lord. Christianity is the only religion (in addition to Judaism) that sings hymns and spiritual songs. All other religions moan and groan. Have you noticed that other religions also try to acquire some form of singing?
Luk 22:15 ,“And He said to them: I have earnestly desired to eat this
Passover with you before I suffer.”
Note: Jesus Christ had greatly desired to eat this Passover with disciples before He died. To be crucified was to under go an unspeakable suffering.
1Pe 2:21 ,“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for
us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:”
Note: Christ leaves us an example; to follow Jesus’ steps is to suffer for Him. Not to fancy yourself what would Jesus do in a certain situation, for Jesus does not vote, does not marry, does not need a job, does not buy a house, etc. Jesus is completely unlike any human being for He is the Son of God with the mission to save mankind. Jesus Christ came to the world to die for sinners. Do those false prophets and false teachers come to die? Do they come to suffer?
Jhn 21:20 ,“Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus
loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and
said: Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”
Note: In the last days there are many who betray the Lord by loving the
world, by backsliding, by denying the Lord, by preaching and following
false doctrines. Do not betray the Lord by your thought, word, or deed.
Jhn 13:1-5 ,“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew
that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the
Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to
the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”
Jhn 13:21-34, “When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in
spirit, and testified and said: Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will
betray Me. Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about
whom He spoke. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His
disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him： Lord, who is it? Jesus answered: It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it. And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, [the son] of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him: What you do, do quickly. But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him: Buy those things we need for the feast, or that he should give something to the poor. Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night. So, when he had gone out, Jesus said: Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews: Where I am going, you cannot come, so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
Jhn 13:4-5,“Rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”
Note: In addition to instituting the Lord’s Supper, Jesus also set an
example of humility by washing the disciples’ feet. Almost all masters or founders of religions wanted their followers to wash their feet.
1Cr 10:16 -23 ，“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the
communion of the blood of Christ? 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. Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.”
Note: Communion in Greek is koinōniawhich means sharing;
fellowship; communication; contribution; association; joint
participation; an embodiment and proof of fellowship;
partnership; social intercourse; a Christian sacrament in which consecrated bread and wine are consumed as memorials of Christ’s death or as symbols for the realization of a spiritual union between Christ and communicant or as the body and blood of Christ (Merriam-Webster Dictionary); – which occurs 19 times in the New Testament.
It is wrong for some Taiwanese politicians who claim to be
Christians who worship idols and participate in Buddhist
temple services. No Christian can have fellowship or
communion with demons. No Christian can partake of the
Lord ’s Table and the table of demons. Idolatry provokes the
Lord to anger and wrath.
2. The symbols of the Lord’s Supper.
There are two symbols, namely, the bread and the wine. Bread and wine are symbols of the body of Christ and His blood, not the real things.
Luk 22:14-20,“When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve
apostles with Him. Then He said to them: With fervent desire I have
desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I
will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. Then He
took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, take this and divide it among
yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until
the kingdom of God comes. And He took bread, gave thanks and broke
it, and gave it to them, saying: This is My body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of Me. Likewise He also took the cup after
supper, saying: This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
Note: The bread symbolizes the body of Jesus which was given for believers. Jesus died a bodily death on the cross with all the pain and anguish, and rose again from the dead with glorious and spiritual body. The cup symbolizes the blood of Christ which was shed for the sins of believers. Since they are symbols, they are not the real physical things.
Jhn 6:35 ,“And Jesus said to them: I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”
Jhn 6:41 ,“The Jews then complained about Him, because He said: I am the Bread which came down from Heaven.”
Jhn 6:48 ,“I am the Bread of Life.”
Note: These Scriptures say that Jesus is the Bread of Life. Yes, it is a
figure of speech. True, Jesus is more important than bread, because the bread we eat we will be hungry again and die. To have Jesus the bread of life, we will never hunger and never thirst and never die. So the bread of life is more real than anything because Jesus is the Life.
Jhn 8:12 ,“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying: I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life.”
Note: Jesus is not the sunlight, candlelight, or electric light. Jesus is the Light of the world. This is real, more real than the sunlight. Because Jesus is the true Light, the eternal Light. He who follows Christ will not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life. Only with Jesus as your Light, you can see the truth, you can see God.
Jhn 10:9 ,“I AM the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and
will go in and out and find pasture.”
Note: Jesus is not the door made of wood or metal. Jesus is the Door,
the Door of salvation. If anyone enters by Jesus, he will be saved, and
will go in and out and find pasture like a sheep.
Jhn 10:11 ,“I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life
for the sheep.”
Note: Jesus is the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. Jesus died for believers. The followers of Christ are His sheep.
Jhn 10:14 ,“I AM the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am
known by My own.”
Note: Jesus knows His sheep, and His sheep know Him. If you do not
know Christ because you are not His sheep.
Jhn 10:36 , “Do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world: You are blaspheming, because I said: I am the Son of God?”
Note: Jesus is the Son of God, literally and spiritually and eternally true
and true.
Jhn 11:25 ,“Jesus said to her: I am the Resurrection and the Life. He
who believes in Me, though he may die, yet he shall live.”
Note: Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. It is true. He who believes
in Christ, though he may die, yet he shall live.
Jhn 14:6 ,“Jesus said to him: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No
one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Note: Jesus is the Way, the way to God, the way to salvation, the way to Heaven. It is absolutely true. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. To know Jesus is the Way is to know the Truth. To know the Truth is to have life. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus.
Jhn 15:5 ,“I AM the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me,
and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
Note: Jesus is the vine, the true Vine; Christians are the branches. He
who abides in Christ, and Christ in him, bears much fruit; for without
Christ believers can do nothing. Just as branches can do nothing
without the vine, so Christians can do nothing without Christ.
The symbols of the Lord’s Supper are symbols, not realities. But Jesus
Christ is more real than reality. What you can see is temporary, what
you cannot see is eternal. Spiritual truth is more than scientific truth
because it is eternal truth. The Word of Christ is the truth.
3. The meanings of the Lord’s Supper.
Luk 22:19 , “And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying: This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Note: Remembrance in Greek is anamnēsiswhich means a
remembering; recollection; bearing in mind; ability to
remember; commemoration; which occurs 4 times in the
New Testament. It can be said to have the Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of the Lord’s death and sufferings on the
cross for our behalf.
Luk 22:20 ,“Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying: This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
1Cr 11:24-25 ,“And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said:
This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me. In the
same way He took the cup also after supper, saying: This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
Note: The body of Christ was given to believers because Jesus Christ
sacrificed Himself on the cross to die for sinners. His body bore our sins and sorrows and endured pain. The meaning of the Lord’s Supper is not a reenactment of the sacrifice, but symbolizes the suffering and death of Jesus Christ for Christians. The sacrifice of Jesus was once and for all. It was finished, but Christians must do the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Christ until He returns to reign with the saints.
Catholics do Mass as an reenactment of the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins is un-scriptural. Jesus only died once for all, and it was finished.
Isa 53:5 ,“But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was
crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon
Him, And by His scourging we are healed.”
Note: Pierce in Hebrew is chalal which means to wound fatally, bore
through; – it occurs about 141 times in the Old Testament. Transgression in Hebrew is pesha` which means rebellion against God, sin, trespass; – it occurs about 93 times in the Old Testament. Crush in Hebrew is daka’which means to be broken, to be bruised, smitten with stripes; – it occurs 18 times in the Old Testament. Iniquity in Hebrew is `avonwhich means perversity, depravity, guilt or punishment of iniquity; – it occurs about 230 times in the Old Testament. Scourging in Hebrew is muwcar which means chastening, discipline, correction; – it occurs 50 times in the Old Testament.
Heal in Hebrew is rapha’ which means to make healthful, sew together,
restore to health; – it occurs 67 times in the Old Testament. The Book of
Isaiah was the book of the Gospel in the Old Testament. The Old
Testament prophet Isaiah preached the good news of the Messiah. In
summary, the meaning of the Lord’s Supper is to remember the
sufferings and death of Jesus Christ for sinners.
4. The purpose of the Lord’s Supper.
A. Bringing us to God.
1Pe 3:18 ,“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust,
that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made
alive by the Spirit.”
Note: Suffer in Greek is paschō which means to be afflicted, to be in
bad plight, undergo evils; – it occurs 42 times in the New Testament. The suffering of Christ was not martyrized or victimized, it was substitutionary or vicarious, the Just for the unjust. Bring in Greek is prosago which means to open a way of access for one to God, lead,
draw near to, approach; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament.
Jesus Christ suffered once for sins. Once in Greek is hapax which
means once for all, one time; – it occurs 15 times in the New Testament.
The sacrificial death of Christ was done to be of perpetual and
permanent value and validity that it never needs to be repeated. The
Catholic Church treats the Lord’s Supper as a Mass which means
sacrifice. Every time the Catholic Church holds a mass is a reenactment of the crucifixion, Jesus Christ is sacrificed once more time and He suffers once more time. This kind of false teaching is clearly in violation of Biblical teaching.
B. Proclamation of the Lord’s death.
1Cr 11:20-34 , “Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the Church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said: Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me. 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. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.”
Note: Proclaim in Greek is kataggellō which means to announce,
declare publicly, promulgate, make known, publish; – it occurs 17 times
in the New Testament. To do the Lord’s Supper is to proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. The Lord’s death for sinners is the number one doctrine of Christianity, the number two is the resurrection of Jesus for our justification. The good news of Jesus Christ is that Jesus died for us, the Righteous for the unrighteous to pay a ransom for our sins. Jesus rose again from the dead by the power of God means He is able to save all who come to Him and save them to the end. Jesus has accomplished the salvation on the cross, all you need to do is to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Whoever believes in Christ has eternal life.
C. In remembrance of Christ.
Luk 22:19-20,“And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying: This is My body which is given for you; do this in
remembrance of Me. Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying: This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
Note: Remembrance in Greek is anamnēsis which means a
remembering, reminder, affectionate recollection; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament.
1Cr 11:24-25 , “And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said:
This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me. In the
same way He took the cup also after supper, saying: This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
Note: The new covenant was done in the blood of Christ. The Lord’s
Supper does not save souls; it requires remembrance of His death, and
demands gratitude from all believers. Therefore, it is wrong for those
denominations that do away with the Lord’s Supper.
D. Sharing of Christ.
1Cr 10:16 ,“Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the
blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body
of Christ?”
Note: Sharing in Greek is koinōnia which means joint participation,
fellowship, association, communion; – it occurs 20 times in the New
Testament. Although we may not fully understand the depth and extent
of sharing, just as the new birth participates in the divine nature, so in
the Lord’s Supper we share the blessings in the blood of Christ and in
the body of Christ. We are also to share in the suffering of Christ. If we
share the suffering of Christ, we shall share His glory when He comes.
Spiritually speaking, to have the Lord’s Supper is to have a sharing in the Blood of Christ, and a sharing in the Body of Christ. Sharing means to have joint participation, fellowship, associations and intimate
communion with and in Christ.
1Cr 11:25 ,“In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
Note: To observe the Lord’s Supper is not to practice any
liturgy, but to remember the Lord’s death and all He has done
for believers.
5. The erroneous doctrine of the
Roman Catholic Church.
The basic principle of interpreting the Word of God is taking it as its face value. What is a symbol should be treated as a
symbol. What is a parable should be treated as a parable.
What is a plain statement should be treated as a plain
treatment. What is a doctrine should be treated as a doctrine.
What the Bible emphasizes, we must not de-emphasize. Almost all errors and for that matter heresies originate from stressing what the Bible does not stress, and missing what the Bible stresses; and speculating on what the Bible is silent. What is the least important must not be treated as the most important. What is the most important must not be treated as the least important. Hear the Word, believe and accept it, remember it and do it; proclaim the Word and glorify it, devote completely to the Word; hold firmly the Word of life, and obey the Word.
The Pentecostal church commits two blunders: they overemphasize the ministry of healing and speaking in tongues. Our focus here is on the Lord’s Supper. The Roman Catholic Church commits many errors in interpreting the Word of God; we mention in passing the Virgin Birth,
Peter as the first pope, papacy, transubstantiation, and purgatory, etc.
Please read the article on Catholicism on this website. The Roman
Catholic Church calls the Lord’s Supper the Mass, which is the Sacrifice of Calvary . Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, not the Catholic Mass.
It is Catholic belief that in objective reality, not merely symbolically, the
wheaten bread and grape wine are converted into Christ’s body and
blood, a conversion referred to as transubstantiation , so that the whole Christ, body and blood, soul and divinity, is truly, really, and substantially contained in the sacrament of the Eucharist.
Transubstantiation is a false doctrine of Roman Catholicism not based
on the Word of God. According to the Catholic Church, the bread turns
literally into the body of Jesus and the wine into the blood of Jesus.
There is much internal evidence that contradicts this false teaching.
If the bread is really the body of Jesus, when He broke it in the first Lord’s Supper the body of Jesus must have been broken. No, the body of Jesus was not broken until He died on the cross. Now when we observe the Lord’s Supper, if the body of Jesus is broken, how do you account for Jesus who is sitting at the right hand of God in heaven. The absurdity is \clear and transparent. If every time we eat the Lord’s Supper down here on earth we eat the body of Jesus, the body of Jesus must have been eaten up. How ridiculous to believe that the bread turns into the body of Christ! The body of Christ is the Church. How can the church eat the church? What the Bible does not teach, Christians need not believe. As to the wine turning into the blood of Christ, it is even more absurd, because the Bible forbids eating of blood.
Act 15:20 ,“But that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by
idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.”
Note: Food or fruit offered to idols are things polluted by idols, Christians must not eat them. This is common practice of idol worshipers. Anything offered to a false god is polluted.
Act 15:29 ,“That you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood,
from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep
yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
Note: Chinese Christians must be extra careful not to eat blood of any
kind, since the Chinese people practice eating blood of pig, chicken, etc. Some years ago I was hired by the Chinese Ministry of Education as a professor at a National university; I ate in a separate dinning hall and had a private cook. Once it incensed me greatly because the cook’s female assistant told me it was good for me to eat blood. I told them that Christians are prohibitive from eating blood of any kind. The Bible has unity in doctrines and messages. The Bible does not contradict itself.
Act 20:28 ,“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”
Note: Jesus Christ purchased the Church of God with His own blood.
Rom 3:25 ,“Whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood
through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in
the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed.”
Note: Propitiation in Greek is hilastērionwhich means appeasing
or expiating; atonement; appeasement; the acting of
placating guilt; an expiatory sacrifice; mercyseat; – which
occurs 3 times in the New Testament. Primitive religions use sacrifices and rituals to appease their angry gods or spirits. The blood of Jesus was a propitiation for believers to obtain forgiveness of God through faith.
Rom 5:9 ,“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we
shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”
Note: Believers have been justified by the blood of Jesus, and saved
from the wrath of God.
Eph 1:7 ,“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”
Note: Christians have redemption in Christ through His blood.
Eph 2:13 ,“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have
been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
Note: The blood of Christ has brought believers near to God.
Col 1:20 ,“And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having
made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in Heaven.”
Note: Through the blood of His cross, believers have made peace with
God.
Hbr 9:12 ,“And not through the blood of goats and calves, but through
His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained
eternal redemption.”
Note: Through His blood Jesus entered the holy place once for all and
obtained eternal salvation for all believers.
Hbr 9:14 , “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the
eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Note: The blood of Christ through the eternal Spirit cleanses the
conscience of believers from dead works to serve the living God.
Hbr 9:22 , “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
Note: Without shedding of the blood of Jesus there is no forgiveness.
Hbr 10:19 , “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the
holy place by the blood of Jesus.”
Note: Christians have confidence to enter the holy place, that is to come to the throne of God, by the blood of Jesus.
Hbr 13:12 ,“Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people
through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.”
Note: Jesus sanctifies believers through His own blood positionally once and for all, and continuously conditionally as long as believers are on earth.
Hbr 13:20 ,“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the
great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant,
even Jesus our Lord.”
Note: Not only the redemption of Jesus Christ by His blood is eternal, the covenant of God is also eternal. By His blood Jesus our Lord has made eternal covenant with God for those who come to Him.
1Pe 1:19 ,“But with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and
spotless, the blood of Christ.”
Note: The blood of Christ is precious because it is sinless and holy and
it has power to cleanse sinners.
1Jo 1:7 ,“But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we
have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son
cleanses us from all sin.”
Note: The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Rev 1:5 ,“And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood.”
Note: Jesus Christ loves His followers and released believers from sins
by His blood.
Rev 7:14 , “I said to him: My lord, you know. And he said to me: These
are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Note: The blood of the Lamb can wash our robes and make them white.
Rev 12:11 , “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb
and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their
life even when faced with death.”
Note: Because of the blood of the Lamb, Christians can overcome the
devil.
Luk 22:19 ,“And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to
them, saying: This is My body which is given for you; do this in
remembrance of Me.”
Note: Break in Greek is klaōwhich means to split, smash; suggesting a
violent death; – it occurs 15 times in the New Testament. If the bread is
real body of Christ, how come when Christ broke it, the body of Christ
was not broken? Apparently, this is a figure of speech. The bread
symbolizes the body of Christ, not the real body of Christ. Whenever
down on earth Christians break bread to remember Christ, if it is the
real body of Christ, then Christ would have been broken in many times.
No. Christ’s spiritual and glorious body is sitting now at the right hand
of God.
6. How the Lord’s Supper should be
observed.
1Cr 11:20-34 ，“Therefore when you come together in one place, it is
not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own
supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What!
Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the
Church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to
you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. For I received from
the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the
same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had
given thanks, He broke it and said: Take, eat; this is My body which is
broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me. 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. For
as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.”
Note: The Catholic liturgy of the Eucharist was not the way the early apostles and disciples observed the Lord’s Supper. To get drunk or become gluttonous are the unworthy manners. To treat the Lord’s Supper irreverently is an unworthy manner. I believe for some believers to leave the service before the Lord’s Supper begins is also an unworthy manner. Some church members act as if the Lord’s Supper is something to avoid. Some church members took the bread home to give to the sick believing it will cure disease is superstitious. The Lord can heal, the bread and the wine do not. You cannot participate in the Lord’s table and worship idols at the same time.
1Cr 11:27 ,“Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.”
Note: Guilty in Greek is enochoswhich means worthy of punishment,
liable; – it occurs only 10 times in the New Testament. Whoever eats the
bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be
guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. Those who are guilty will be punished.
1Cr 11:30-31,“That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we should not be judged.”
7. Christ’s table in His Kingdom.
Luk 22:16 ,“For I say to you: I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”
Luk 22:30 ,“That you may eat and drink at My table in My Kingdom, and
you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Note: Table in Greek is trapeza in Greek which means a table on which
food is placed, an eating place, a banquet, feast; – it occurs 15 times in
the New Testament. It is clear that the children of God or saints shall
eat and drink at Christ’s table in the Kingdom of Christ. What we shall
eat and rink are not specified. What shall we eat in the Kingdom of Christ are not made known; however, the Bible does mention the fruits of life ( Rev 22:2 ), the water of life ( Rev 21:6 ), the hidden manna ( Rev 2:17 ), and possibly the bread of life ( Jhn 6:35 ).
One thing is sure: the spiritual and glorious body can take food and drink, but does not have the problem of elimination. There is no toilet in Heaven. There is no need of toilet in Heaven.
Rev 19:9 ,“Then he said to me, Write: Blessed are those who are invited
to the marriage supper of the Lamb! And he said to me: These are the
true sayings of God.”
Note: Blessed in Greek is makarios which means happy, blissful; – it
occurs 50 times in the New Testament. Invite in Greek is kaleō which
means to be called, to be named to participate or enjoy; – it occurs about 146 times in the New Testament. Those who are saved or the saints will be invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The sayings of God are always true.
Rev 19:17-18, “Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried
with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of Heaven:
Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, so that you
may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.”
Note: There is another invitation, an invitation to the supper of the great God. The invitation is to all the birds that fly to eat the flesh of kings, generals, the rich and powerful, the wicked and unbelievers.
You have a choice: to repent and believe in Jesus Christ, you will be invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Those who do evil and reject Christ, they will become the supper of the great God for birds to eat their flesh.
Rev 19:20 , “Then the beast was captured, and with
him the false prophet who worked signs in his
presence, by which he deceived those who received
the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his
image. These two were cast alive into the Lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
The beast is the devil also called Satan. The devil and the false prophets will be cast in Hell, the Lake of Fire and Brimstone.
You are blessed to be invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Would you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior
now so that you will receive an invitation to the
marriage supper of the Lamb.
WILLIE WONG THOUGHT
WILLIE WONG
WILLIE WONG THOUGHT
WILLIE WONG
AUGUST 6, 2025
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