By Gary Ray Branscome
Because “the gospel of Christ… is the power of God unto
salvation to every one who believes,” it is the gospel message proclaimed
by the Lord’s Supper – the good news that Christ’s body was given for us on the
cross, and that His blood was shed for us on the cross so that we could have
forgiveness – that makes the Lord’s Supper a means of grace. And, the purpose
of the Lord’s Supper is to assure us that we have received Christ’s body and
blood [His death] as the atonement for our sin.
At the same time, because Christ only died once, every
offer of the Lord’s Supper can be viewed as a continuation of what Christ did
when He instituted it – as opposed to an imitation or copy of what He did. Viewed
that way, there has only been one celebration of the Lord’s Supper in history; because
the one that Christ started is still going on. In other words, just as Christ
passed the elements (the bread and cup) to the Apostles, they passed them to
others, who passed them to still others all the way down through history to us.
And, just as Peter repeated Christ’s words as he passed the elements on to
others, pastors today repeat Christ’s words as they pass the elements on to us.
Viewed that way, the blessing that Christ placed on the elements [see Matt. 26:26]
remains upon the elements, and every time we partake we are partaking of that
first Lord’s Supper. Moreover, every time we partake we are reminded that His
body was given, and His blood was shed [on the cross], to secure forgiveness
for us.
That being understood, we only have a valid celebration
of the Lord’s Supper when those administering it are doing what Christ told
them to do when He said, “This do” (Luke 22:19). That means that
just as Christ used bread and wine, we should use bread and wine. And, just as
Christ said, “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you,” and “This cup is
the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you,” those administering Christ’s Supper should
repeat His words (1Corinthians
When it comes to the elements
being used, although the Bible refers to the contents of the cup as, “The
fruit of the vine,” that phrase is a Jewish synonym for wine (Luke
In order to do the will
of God, the words that Christ spoke when He instituted His Supper must be taken
seriously, not explained away. And, those who come should come respectfully, with
“a heart that is humbled and sorry for sin” (Psalm 51:17). That rules
out all attempts to alter the Lord’s Supper by eliminating the cup, changing
the elements, or failing to repeat what Christ said etc. Because such changes call
into question the validity of what is being done they undermine the very
purpose Christ intended for His Supper to serve, and should be condemned by
all.