Receiving Communion helps us remember the price that was paid for our sins on the cross
The table is set. The bread and the wine (or grape juice) is ready, however some of us feel that we are not qualified to take part in communion. Some of us feel as though because we’ve sinned or because we haven’t yet been baptized, that we aren’t worthy. Both communion and baptism are ordinances of the church. It is true that baptism is involved with the forgiveness of sins, but it must be stressed that what saves us is not the baptism, but the forgiveness of sin, which is a gift from God. This gift was purchased for us by the blood of Jesus when he died on the cross. To show our appreciation for the finished work of Christ (and to show obedience to his direct command: ”Do this in remembrance of me,) we receive Holy Communion as a participation in, and as a proclamation of, his death. Don’t feel as though you are unworthy to take communion. Communion is for all of us. When Christ died on the cross, he died for us all. He changed us from “unworthy” to “worthy.” He changed us from “unqualified” to “qualified.” In I Corinthians 11, Paul writes that some eat and drink judgement to themselves when they partake in a manner that is unworthy, specifically when they do not discern the Lord’s body that was broken for us. When we eat the wafer and drink from the cup, we are to recall how his body was broken and how his blood was shed to pay the penalty for sin. Our penalty has been paid!! As long as we believe that Christ died for us and that He rose again on the third day, and that He is alive today, seated at the right hand of the Father, we are qualified to receive communion. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Holy Communion
Matt. 26:26-28 Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed[b] and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new[c] covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Mark 14:22-24 Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper
22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat;[b] this is My body.”23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new[c] covenant, which is shed for many.
Luke 22: 19-20 Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper
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.”20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
I Cor. 11:23-26 Institution of the Lord’s Supper
23 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; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat;[b] this is My body which is broken[c] for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 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.”26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
