A comprehensive biblical guide for understanding, testing, and responding to teachings about the Lord’s Supper.
“Do this in remembrance of Me.” — Luke 22:19 (ESV)
Sections:
- The Biblical Definition and Purpose
- The Foundation of Communion in God’s Covenant
- The Meaning of the Symbols
- How False Teachings Twist the Truth
- Why Some Teach This Way
- The Questions of Discernment
- The Harm These Teachings Cause
- The Biblical Evidence of True Communion
- The Healthy Way to Respond
- The Unifying Message
- Our Desire: Reverence, Not Ritual
- A Final Note: Grace Remembered, Not Earned
1. The Biblical Definition and Purpose
Communion, also called the Lord’s Supper, is the symbolic meal Jesus instituted before His crucifixion.
Its purpose is not mystical, magical, or mechanical — it’s memorial.
Luke 22:19 — “He took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.’”
Purpose of Communion
- To remember Christ’s sacrifice (1 Corinthians 11:24–25).
- To proclaim His death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26).
- To examine ourselves in repentance and gratitude (1 Corinthians 11:28).
- To celebrate unity as one body under one Savior (1 Corinthians 10:17).
Communion doesn’t create grace — it celebrates grace already received.
2. The Foundation of Communion in God’s Covenant
Communion is rooted in the Passover meal, when God delivered Israel from Egypt through the blood of the lamb (Exodus 12).
That lamb foreshadowed Christ — “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Jesus transformed the Passover into a new covenant meal:
- The bread represents His body broken for us.
- The cup represents His blood shed for the forgiveness of sins.
Hebrews 9:15 explains, “He is the mediator of a new covenant… since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.”
The old covenant required repeated sacrifices.
The new covenant rests on one perfect, finished sacrifice — Jesus.
3. The Meaning of the Symbols
The Bread:
Represents Christ’s body, given for us. It reminds us of His suffering, His humanity, and His substitution in our place (Isaiah 53:5).
The Cup:
Represents Christ’s blood, which sealed the new covenant and purchased our redemption (Matthew 26:28).
The elements are symbols, not substances of salvation.
They remind us that forgiveness is finished, not repeated.
Communion is not about consuming holiness but about remembering mercy.
4. How False Teachings Twist the Truth
| False Claim | Twisted Logic | What Scripture Actually Says |
|---|---|---|
| “The bread and wine literally become Jesus’ body and blood.” | Makes communion a re-sacrifice of Christ. | Christ died once for all (Hebrews 10:10). |
| “Communion is required for forgiveness of sins.” | Turns a symbol into a sacrament of salvation. | Forgiveness comes through faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 1:7). |
| “Only priests can administer or mediate communion.” | Creates hierarchy between believer and Christ. | All believers are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). |
| “Grace is dispensed through the elements.” | Treats communion as spiritual currency. | Grace is received through faith, not ritual (Romans 5:1–2). |
| “Children or unbelievers may partake without understanding.” | Diminishes the holiness of remembrance. | “Let a person examine himself” (1 Corinthians 11:28). |
Communion points back to the cross — it does not repeat it.
5. Why Some Teach This Way
A. Desire for Control
Religious institutions maintain influence by making grace dependent on rituals.
B. Tradition Over Scripture
Centuries of church practice replaced biblical simplicity with ceremonial complexity.
C. Misinterpretation of John 6
Jesus’ statement “eat My flesh and drink My blood” is figurative — about belief, not literal consumption.
D. Emotional Appeal
Mysticism gives people a sense of connection, even without repentance.
E. Fear of Simplicity
Many feel that “remembrance” alone is too ordinary, forgetting that grace itself is extraordinary.
The danger is when reverence turns into ritual — and relationship into religion.
6. The Questions of Discernment
- Does this teaching emphasize remembrance or repetition?
- Does it treat the bread and cup as symbols or as sources of grace?
- Does it uphold Christ’s finished work or imply continual sacrifice?
- Does it invite believers to examine themselves biblically or manipulate guilt emotionally?
- Does it include or exclude based on human authority rather than faith in Christ?
- Does it point to Jesus’ sufficiency or to man’s ceremony?
- Does it unite believers under grace or divide them under tradition?
Truth is not measured by emotion — it’s confirmed by Scripture.
7. The Harm These Teachings Cause
A. Confusion About Salvation
Many assume participation equals redemption.
B. Religious Superstition
People begin to fear missing communion as though it affects their standing with God.
C. Clerical Control
The idea that only certain people can administer communion undermines the priesthood of all believers.
D. Diminished View of the Cross
If communion repeats or continues Christ’s sacrifice, the finality of His death is denied.
E. Lost Reverence
When treated casually, communion becomes routine — a snack instead of a sacred remembrance.
The cross was enough — communion is about remembering that it was enough.
8. The Biblical Evidence of True Communion
| Mark of Genuine Communion | Scripture Reference |
|---|---|
| Centered on remembrance of Christ | Luke 22:19 |
| Reserved for believers | 1 Corinthians 11:28–29 |
| Conducted in unity and humility | 1 Corinthians 10:16–17 |
| Reflects repentance and gratitude | 1 Corinthians 11:28 |
| Declares Christ’s finished work | Hebrews 10:10–14 |
| Done in expectation of His return | 1 Corinthians 11:26 |
True communion doesn’t add to salvation — it proclaims the One who already accomplished it.
9. The Healthy Way to Respond
- Teach clearly — communion is symbolic, not salvific.
- Approach reverently — it’s sacred, not casual.
- Examine humbly — confess sin, not to earn forgiveness, but to renew fellowship.
- Participate joyfully — it’s a celebration of victory, not a funeral of guilt.
- Remember faithfully — communion is a proclamation: “Jesus paid it all.”
The right heart at the table matters more than the right form on the table.
10. The Unifying Message
Communion unites believers around one cross, one Savior, and one promise: “He is coming again.”
1 Corinthians 11:26 — “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”
At the table, we are all equal — sinners saved by grace, remembering a Savior who died once for all.
Communion bridges generations and denominations under one banner: It is finished.
11. Our Desire: Reverence, Not Ritual
Religion makes communion a performance; relationship makes it personal.
The Lord’s table should never be approached lightly, nor feared superstitiously.
When believers come with gratitude and reverence:
- The cross becomes clearer.
- Grace becomes greater.
- Unity becomes stronger.
- Worship becomes deeper.
Communion is not a monthly ceremony — it’s a living reminder that our salvation was bought in full.
12. A Final Note: Grace Remembered, Not Earned
Communion doesn’t extend grace; it expresses gratitude.
It’s not a repeat performance of Calvary — it’s a reminder that Calvary was enough.
Hebrews 10:14 — “By a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”
Every time we break bread and drink the cup, we declare this truth:
- The debt is paid.
- The blood still speaks.
- The Savior still reigns.
- The church still remembers.
Final Reflection
- The cross was a one-time payment.
- Communion is a lifetime remembrance.
- Grace is not tasted through the elements — it’s received through faith.
- The table is not where we get forgiveness — it’s where we give thanks for it.
We don’t come to the table to be made right with God —
We come because, through Christ, we already are.