Lord's Supper

"Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He brake it and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat; this is my body, which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me.

"After the same manner, also, when He had supped, He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; this cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins; this do, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me."

In the night in which He was betrayed to death; it is therefore called the Lord's Supper.

Yes; for it shows the loving care of our Savior, who just before His suffering and death thought more of us than of Himself.

In and with the bread and the wine we receive the body and blood of Christ, which He gave up in death for us.

Christ says concerning the bread: "Take, eat; this is my body."

Concerning the wine He says: "Drink ye all of it; this cup is the New Testament in my blood."

Thereby is meant the new covenant which God has made and sealed with the blood of Jesus.

It is the Word of God, joined with the bread and wine, that makes them a sacrament wherein we receive the true body and blood of Christ.

The Lord's Supper is intended for true Christians, who are of age and understanding to prove themselves.

It is shown by these words: "Given and shed for you, for the remission of sins;" namely, that in the sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

Yes; the believer has the forgiveness of sins through Baptism and the Word.

Because in the Lord's Supper we receive the body and blood of Christ, which were offered up for us, as a sure pledge of the forgiveness of sins.

Through this sacrament the believer is brought into spiritual fellowship with his Lord and Savior, who imparts Himself to him and thus preserves and strengthens him in faith, hope, and love unto eternal life.

Yes; believers are united in a closer fellowship through partaking in common of the Lord Jesus and eternal life in Him.

It is not the eating and drinking, indeed, that does it, but the words which stand here: "Given and shed for you, for the remission of sins." These words, together with the bodily eating and drinking, are the chief thing in the sacrament; and He that believes these words, has what they say and mean, namely, the forgiveness of sins.

No; we must receive it with reverence and faith, for whoever eats and drinks unworthily brings judgment upon himself.

Fasting and bodily preparation are indeed a good outward practise;

But he alone is truly worthy and well prepared, who believes these words: "Given and shed for you, for the remission of sins."

But he who believes not these words is unworthy and unprepared. The words, "for you" require truly believing hearts.

He who believes these words: "Given and shed for you, for the remission of sins."

Thereby is meant that we heartily feel our sin and unworthiness before God, but also that we confidently accept for ourselves the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

They who do not feel nor repent their sins, and who do not from their heart believe in Jesus.

They do so either from custom or habit, or because they are ashamed to neglect the Lord's Supper, or again because they mean to please God by this outward obedience.

No.

We must prayerfully search our own hearts as in the presence of God, whether we repent our sins and believe in Jesus Christ, and whether we have an honest purpose to abstain from even our bosom sins.

Christ has not told us how often we should partake, but He has said, "This do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me".

Christ's command and loving invitation, our great spiritual need, and the precious benefits we receive should move us to partake often.

Spiritual dullness and indifference, a worldly mind, pride, and disregard for God's grace and ordinance.

No; the more we feel our own unworthiness, and the more we sincerely long for God's forgiveness, the more worthy are we to receive His grace.

We must remember our Savior and His death.

We should earnestly fix our mind upon the suffering and death of Christ, so that we may be strengthened in faith and in love to Him, who loved us unto death.

We should quietly think of the great love which God has shown us, and heartily thank Him for it; not only for a few days, but always, keep near to Jesus, show His death in word and act, and in a sanctified life prove that the body and blood of Christ have power to cleanse from sin.

Yes; when he continues steadfast in faith until death.