The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, represents one of the two ordinances of the Church, the other is Water Baptism. (Acts 2:38) Both of these practices are required by Believers as symbol of identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul describes this relationship to the church at Rome in this way: 1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. 6 Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also share his new life. 9 We are sure of this because Christ rose from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. Rom. 6:1 -11 (NLT)

Obedience to these Ordinances of Communion and Water Baptism is necessary for any believer who wants to walk in harmony with the Lord and enjoy the rich blessings of fellowship with Him. The Lord’s Supper is an act of worship that takes the form of a ceremonial meal in which we, Christ’s servants, share bread and wine to commemorate Christ’s death and to celebrate the new covenant relationship we enjoy with God.

1 Corinthians 11:17;23-30 (NKJV) 17Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

Whenever you participate in taking the Lord’s Supper you should always be aware of the following very critical facts:

    * This is an act of worship and, therefore, should be taken very seriously and with great respect and reverence for God and His House. (1 Corinthians 10:16-21)

    * Examine yourself! Make sure you have no unconfessed sins in your life. Communion is strictly for Believers. Unsaved individuals should not take it. ( 1 Corinthians 11:29-30)

    * Forgive all of those who have hurt you or offended you. Don’t allow hurt to turn into hatred. Be merciful to those who have mistreated you, just as you want the Lord to be merciful to you for your transgressions towards Him.

(Matthew 5:23-25)