The Sanctity of Holy Communion (Episode 114)

One of the most sacred moments in the local church is known as Holy Communion. It is also called the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist. We partake of this ordinance because Jesus told His disciples to keep it to remember Him. He said as often we do so, we proclaim His suffering and His death until He returns.

During the Holy Communion, the bread and the fruit of the vine served are virtually the body and the blood of our Lord. Paul the Apostle addressed this sacred affair in his first letter to the church at Corinth. He says believers should examine themselves before eating the bread and drinking of the cup. He warned the church members of the consequences of failing to examine themselves accordingly.

“For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep,” he writes (1 Corinthians 11:30, KJV).

Paul’s warning was to those he refers to as drinking unworthily (KJV). The truth is that none of us are morally worthy to eat the bread or drink of the cup. But worthiness here refers to the manner in which we partake of the Holy Communion. It is my view that at least two groups of people fall into the category of "drinking unworthily."

One is those who attend church but have chosen to reject Christ as their Savior. Some churchgoers refer to Holy Communion as communion service. But more correctly, it is the communion of the Lord’s body. And unbelievers do not belong to the body of Christ.

Another group that drinks unworthily are those believers who fail to examine themselves in light of the sanctity of the Lord’s Supper. Paul writes, “Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup” (verse 28).

It's About Calvary

The Holy Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is more than a religious act for us. It was occasioned by the impending death of Christ on Calvary. He instituted it during the last moments He spent with His disciples before being apprehended to die for the sins of the world. He specifically told them to do it to remember Him.

Every time we partake of the Lord’s Supper, it points us to the barbaric cross of Calvary. The One who knew no sin was made sin for us.

Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church underscores a lack of a fear of God in the body. The same can be said for us today. People used to have more respect for the local church. Even when they walked by the church building. But now, a man will walk into the house of God and gun a pastor down. Or he will walk in the house of God and mass murder the people of God. This while they pray and study the Word of God. Sad but true, many believers today regard the Holy Communion as a common or unholy thing.