"LORD SUPPER SERVICE"
It's that time of the year. A very important service is coming up on Tuseday April 7, 2009. It is time for Christians to take part in the Lord Supper Service. I am sure many of you know what I am talking about. But I know a few more are probably confused.
This service is one that the Church of God (7th Day) believes is very important to Christians today. We do not believe in celebrating or commendorating Christ birth or resurrection. We believe God taught us from His Word to commendorate Christ death. In our doctrinal beliefs the Lord's Supper service is a memorial of our deliverance from slavery to sin by the death of God's Son. Read Paul's writings in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Paul says he received from the Lord these words to pass on to us. "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."
The church has chosen to observe the Lord's Supper on Nisan fourteen on the Hebrew calender because the first Lord's Supper was at Passover. At the supper unleaven bread and fruit of the vine, unfermented grape juice, are received as symbols of our Lord's body and blood. The church follows Christ's example and command by washing one antother's feet in service of humility. Matthew 26:17-19, 26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 17; 11:23-26; John 13:1-17. Christ perscribed this ordiance to be observed reguarly trhoughout the lifetime of a believer.
When properly and faithfully observed, the Lord's Supper illustrates the basic doctrine of salvation. The Lord's Supper is first and foremost a rememberance of the price paid for our redemption, an expression of God's love: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
John 3:16.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke relate that at passover time, Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare for the festival. That evening, while Jesus and His twelve disciples were eating the Passover meal, Christ established the Lord's Supper. Read Matthew 26:26-28. Chist established it on the night he was betrayed preceding His death on the cross. Although it was on the same night as the Jewish Passover, the Supper was a new and different service. The Passover was established in Egypt, while the people of Israel were slaves (Exodus 12). After Israel left Egypt, they observed the Passover as a memorial of Israel's deliverance from Egyptian slavery by the death of Egypt's firstborn sons.
The Lord's Supper on the other hand is a memorial of our deliverance from slavery to sin by the death of God's Son. Christ said to his desciples "Do this in rememberance of me" (Luke 22:19). Years later, Paul the apostle, confirmed that the Lord's Supper is a memorial to the death of Jesus Christ and should be observed yearly until the Lord's Return.
When we particiate in the communion of Jesus' body, we ought to be concious of our oneness with all other believers partaking of the bread and cup with us. It is a time to appreciate our mutual need of each other. All believers share the same wonderful benefits of our Savior's atoning work on Calvary's cross. Particiapting in communion requires a decision. We must decide which community we are in fellowship with: the body of Christ's followers or those who oppose our Lord and His Church. To do this weekly, to me, does not give it the significance I feel it should have. Oberving it once a year on the night of Christ betrayl means a lot more to me than if I was to do it weekly.
Christ's example and instructions for foot washing is: "I have set you an example, you also should wash one another's feet" (John 13:14). Jesus promised that foot wasing would bring a blessing to communicants who practice it. "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them" (v.17). The Church of God participates in the foot washing after the partaking of the emblems of Christ Body and Blood, because that is how Christ did it to his desciples. Some do the foot washing first or not at all. I have never researched to see why. I guess I should some time soon.
More important than the time and frequency of the service is the perpetual nature of the Lord's Supper. At its institution, Jesus said "Do this in rememberance of me" (Luke 22:19). Paul's instruction to the Corinthian church directly implied that the Lord's Supper be practiced in an ongoing manner. He wrote, "Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (I Corinthians 11:26).
It is imperative that those who confess faith in Jesus Christ and claim the saving benefit of His sacrifice participate in this service. Since it is a solemn memorial service, Paul advised that every communicant examine himself/herself before eating the bread and drinking the cup (I Corinthians 11:28). This caution is not intended to scare anyone away from the Lord's Supper. Paul was critizing the Corinthian church for improperly oberving the Lord's Supper (vv.17-22). He pointed out several of their faults that identify this unworthy manner: divisions v.18; partiality v.19; excessive eting and drinking v.20; disregard for the poor v.21; disregard for the sacredness of the Supper v.17.
The Lord's Supper service was established by Jesus Christ. It is a memorial service to remind us of the great sacrifice He made for our eternal salvation. We are to continue our rememberance of Christ's death until He comes again. It is a communion or fellowship with Jesus. The service, including foot washing, provides a most significant opportunity for members of the church to interact with each other as one body. When we incorporate all three elements of the Lord's Supper, observing it is a life-transforming reminder of our Lord Jesus' love and sacrifice for us.
The Church of God (7th Day) observes the Lord's Supper on the night beginning the 14th of Nisan as determined by the Hebrew calender, which is after sundown following the 13th of Nisan. Study this for yourselves, see if you should be observing this very important ordinance given by Jesus Christ himself. This year it will be observed at the Claremore, Oklahoma church at 512 East 10th Street, Tuesday April 7th at 8:00 p.m. Our pastor tells us it will be observed a little different that what we have done in the past. Come and find out what he is talking about. My grandpa Elder Ross Johnston, a 65 year minister in the church, started observing it at the Claremore church around a table, as Christ did with his desciples. It has always meant very much to me to be at a table as Christ was. But that doesn't mean it will mean any less, if observed a different way. As long as it is conducted properly as Christ instituted it, I am all for change.
God Bless all of you as this time of the year approaches.
Starlight*
This service is one that the Church of God (7th Day) believes is very important to Christians today. We do not believe in celebrating or commendorating Christ birth or resurrection. We believe God taught us from His Word to commendorate Christ death. In our doctrinal beliefs the Lord's Supper service is a memorial of our deliverance from slavery to sin by the death of God's Son. Read Paul's writings in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Paul says he received from the Lord these words to pass on to us. "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."
The church has chosen to observe the Lord's Supper on Nisan fourteen on the Hebrew calender because the first Lord's Supper was at Passover. At the supper unleaven bread and fruit of the vine, unfermented grape juice, are received as symbols of our Lord's body and blood. The church follows Christ's example and command by washing one antother's feet in service of humility. Matthew 26:17-19, 26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 17; 11:23-26; John 13:1-17. Christ perscribed this ordiance to be observed reguarly trhoughout the lifetime of a believer.
When properly and faithfully observed, the Lord's Supper illustrates the basic doctrine of salvation. The Lord's Supper is first and foremost a rememberance of the price paid for our redemption, an expression of God's love: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
John 3:16.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke relate that at passover time, Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare for the festival. That evening, while Jesus and His twelve disciples were eating the Passover meal, Christ established the Lord's Supper. Read Matthew 26:26-28. Chist established it on the night he was betrayed preceding His death on the cross. Although it was on the same night as the Jewish Passover, the Supper was a new and different service. The Passover was established in Egypt, while the people of Israel were slaves (Exodus 12). After Israel left Egypt, they observed the Passover as a memorial of Israel's deliverance from Egyptian slavery by the death of Egypt's firstborn sons.
The Lord's Supper on the other hand is a memorial of our deliverance from slavery to sin by the death of God's Son. Christ said to his desciples "Do this in rememberance of me" (Luke 22:19). Years later, Paul the apostle, confirmed that the Lord's Supper is a memorial to the death of Jesus Christ and should be observed yearly until the Lord's Return.
When we particiate in the communion of Jesus' body, we ought to be concious of our oneness with all other believers partaking of the bread and cup with us. It is a time to appreciate our mutual need of each other. All believers share the same wonderful benefits of our Savior's atoning work on Calvary's cross. Particiapting in communion requires a decision. We must decide which community we are in fellowship with: the body of Christ's followers or those who oppose our Lord and His Church. To do this weekly, to me, does not give it the significance I feel it should have. Oberving it once a year on the night of Christ betrayl means a lot more to me than if I was to do it weekly.
Christ's example and instructions for foot washing is: "I have set you an example, you also should wash one another's feet" (John 13:14). Jesus promised that foot wasing would bring a blessing to communicants who practice it. "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them" (v.17). The Church of God participates in the foot washing after the partaking of the emblems of Christ Body and Blood, because that is how Christ did it to his desciples. Some do the foot washing first or not at all. I have never researched to see why. I guess I should some time soon.
More important than the time and frequency of the service is the perpetual nature of the Lord's Supper. At its institution, Jesus said "Do this in rememberance of me" (Luke 22:19). Paul's instruction to the Corinthian church directly implied that the Lord's Supper be practiced in an ongoing manner. He wrote, "Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (I Corinthians 11:26).
It is imperative that those who confess faith in Jesus Christ and claim the saving benefit of His sacrifice participate in this service. Since it is a solemn memorial service, Paul advised that every communicant examine himself/herself before eating the bread and drinking the cup (I Corinthians 11:28). This caution is not intended to scare anyone away from the Lord's Supper. Paul was critizing the Corinthian church for improperly oberving the Lord's Supper (vv.17-22). He pointed out several of their faults that identify this unworthy manner: divisions v.18; partiality v.19; excessive eting and drinking v.20; disregard for the poor v.21; disregard for the sacredness of the Supper v.17.
The Lord's Supper service was established by Jesus Christ. It is a memorial service to remind us of the great sacrifice He made for our eternal salvation. We are to continue our rememberance of Christ's death until He comes again. It is a communion or fellowship with Jesus. The service, including foot washing, provides a most significant opportunity for members of the church to interact with each other as one body. When we incorporate all three elements of the Lord's Supper, observing it is a life-transforming reminder of our Lord Jesus' love and sacrifice for us.
The Church of God (7th Day) observes the Lord's Supper on the night beginning the 14th of Nisan as determined by the Hebrew calender, which is after sundown following the 13th of Nisan. Study this for yourselves, see if you should be observing this very important ordinance given by Jesus Christ himself. This year it will be observed at the Claremore, Oklahoma church at 512 East 10th Street, Tuesday April 7th at 8:00 p.m. Our pastor tells us it will be observed a little different that what we have done in the past. Come and find out what he is talking about. My grandpa Elder Ross Johnston, a 65 year minister in the church, started observing it at the Claremore church around a table, as Christ did with his desciples. It has always meant very much to me to be at a table as Christ was. But that doesn't mean it will mean any less, if observed a different way. As long as it is conducted properly as Christ instituted it, I am all for change.
God Bless all of you as this time of the year approaches.
Starlight*
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