What's Off Limits to Christ? (Lord's Supper)

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How are you participating in Christ’s sacrifice? What part of your life is off limits to Christ’s sacrifice? The Lord’s supper is about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The only reason you and I know about the Lord’s supper is when Paul scolded a church for being selfish.

Matthew 26:26-29 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

Mark 14:22-25 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. 23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. 24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. 25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

Luke 22:18-20 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Some of the words associated with the Lord’s supper are brake, gave, my blood shed for you, my blood shed for many. We’re given a little more detail about the night of the Lord’s supper in John 13.

Jesus washing others’ feet (John 13:12-17) example to you, happy if you do them (God’s order is not God’s chastisement)
Not everyone here is participating in this sacrifice (John 13:18-30)
Love one another (John 13:31-35)
Some think they’re following but will be proven otherwise (John 13:36-38)

Now, let’s move to 1 Corinthians 11.

With this sacrificial illustration in mind, Paul criticizes the Corinthians for how selfish they are. And it serves as a rebuke and time of self-examination for anyone who would call themselves Christian.

Divisions (1 Corinthians 11:17-22)

Heretical divisions
Selfish divisions

Direction for the memorial service (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Worship is not “to each his own.” Paul said I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you. Meaning this didn’t start with you or me and it isn’t yours or mine to change. In fact, Paul started the chapter this way, Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
This is done in remembrance; it is remembering Jesus Christ’s selfless sacrifice and how it relates to my life. So it is NOT the sacrifice itself; it’s not a mass.
The bread and juice are not physically Christ’s blood and body. If you cannibalized his body and blood it wouldn’t give you a charitable and sacrificial mind anyway.

Duty for the participants (1 Corinthians 11:27-30)

When you consider Christ’s selfless sacrifice on the cross you have to consider your own selfishness. Unworthy partaking comes from an unexamined life in light of the body and blood of the Lord.
How are you participating in Christ’s sacrifice?
What part of your life is off limits to Christ’s sacrifice?
Latter days men become lovers of their own selves.

Desirable motives for the memorial (1 Corinthians 11:31-34)

Practice self-examination in light of the cross of Christ.
- Not all participants in the supper before the cross were clean. Judas Iscariot was unclean and knew it.
- Peter said he’d die for Christ, but Jesus said he’d deny him before the night was over. Peter spoke out but was unproven.
The unexamined life in light of Christ’s cross brings sorrow and torment.
So this CAN’T be a mass where partakers are saved by the bread and juice.