The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1919-07-17

i1:23-34
GOLDEN TExT-For as often as ye
eat this bread. and drink this cup. We do
show the Lords death TIL he come.-I Cor
II: 26.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAI.-Mark H:22-
&c; Luke 22:14-2O; Cor. 10:l4-H
PRIMARY TOPIC-Remembering Jesus
duke 22:19).
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Lords Supper re.
minds us OF Jesus.
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC-The meaning
of the Lords Supper.
SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-Com-
munion with Christ and with one another.
.. The Institution Of the Lords Sup
per Matt. 90 20; Cor. IL :23).
1. Time: II was on the night OF the
betrayal OF Jesus, just after the be-
trayer had been announced.
2. The circumstances In connection
with the eating of the Passover. At the
command Of Jesus the disciples made
ready the Passover, and while they
were eating. Jesus took bread, blessed
IL and gave 1t to the disciples.
B. Elements: (1) The bread. This
doubtless was the common bread OF
the Passover feast. (2) The cup. This
cup consisted of the fruit OF the vine.
u. The Significance Of the Lords
Supper Matt. 20 :26-2S; / Co. IL "a
26).
Jesus took natural and literal ele
ments and made them to be symbols Of
his own body and blood. Just as our
bread and drink are assimilated into
brain and Drawn, becoming an integral
part Of our body. so by means of these
symbols the COMMUNICATE partakes Of
Christ. He becomes part Of us and
we are in him. 1t Is both memorial
and a prophecy.
l. A memorial OF the Lord duke
2:19). When ne went away he left
the bread and the cup for the disciples
by which TO remember him. Those
who love him will desire to keep sa-
cred this memorial.
.. To show the Lords sacriflciai
death q Cor. IL :26). He did not die
as hero or as an example Of unself-
ish devotion, but as a substitutionary
ransom. On the cross he made expi.
alton for our sins.
3. 1t is a guaranty that our sins are
forgiven (Rom. 4 :25). When the be-
lever partakes Of these elements his
faith Is confirmed. 1T Is a signet Of
the Son of God attached to redemp-
tlon."
4. Through them the believer re-
ceived Christ q Cor. 10 Joy. He there
by participates in the body and blood
of Christ. becoming member of his
body. Christ 1iveth in the believer
(Gal. . :26). The Holy Spirit com.
municates the life Of Christ TO believ.
ers, making them one body, joined to
gether (Eph. 4:16). This union is H.
Illustrated by the figure Of the human
organism q Cor. 12:12-27); the vine
and branches (John - 1-S); the hus-
band and wife (Eph. 3 90, 26); we are
one bread and one body q Cor. 10;1O.
8. A forward look to completed re-
demption q Cor. 10 :26). When faith
is exercised in Christ, redemption be-
gins, and its completion viii take place
at the coming of Jesus Christ Il Thess.
lie, ~. The bread and the cup con-
stitute the keepsake of the Lord until
he returns. These elements possess
an immense psychological value both
as memorial and prospect.
~. Qualifications for Participation
In the Lords Supper q Tor. IL :27-34).
1. A proper apprehension of its
meaning ". %. Eating and drinking
"unworthily" does not refer to the de-
merit Of the communicant, but to the
failure OF the communicate to grasp
its meaning and Importance. There
fore, to tboughtlessly engage In this
service is to do II "unworthily." Only
regenerated person can discern the
Lords body ". 20, CT. 2:14). Faith
in the integrity of Christ's person and
work Is essential. Anyone who does
not believe In the absolute deity OF
Christ and his vlcarious atonement Is
an unworthy commitment.
2. Church membership Il Cor. IL:
1927. The Lords body Is the church
which is composed Of regenerated men
and women, united TO Jesus Christ as
head and to each other as members of
that body by the Holy Spirit. III.
3. Orderly walk. The disorderly
should be debarred from the Lords
table, examples OF which are the fol-
lowing: (D Immoral conduct q Cor.
5:1-13). 1t is perilous to the individ-
ual who is guilty Of immortality to APP
proach the Lords table ". 30). Sick
ness and death are oftentimes visited
upon such. This explains why some
are mysteriously taken away In death.
(2) Heresy (Titus $40; John Al, ~.
(3) Schismatics (Rom. 16:17). Tho e
who are causing divisions IN the church
a. ~.