1. What is the Lord's Supper?

 "When He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this My body, which is broden for you: this do in remembrance of Me.  After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me." - 1 Corinthians 11, 24-25.

 It is the Sacrament of the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, for us Christians to eat and to drink.

2. Who instituted this Sacrament?

 "When He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: This is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.  After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me." - 1 Corinthians 11, 24-25.

 Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the almighty God-man, has instituted the Sacrament.

3. What are the visible means or elements in the Sacrament?

 "As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body.  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." - Saint Matthew 26, 26 and 19.

 The visible means are bread, prepared of flour, and wine, the fruit of the vine.

4. What blessings does the Lord's Supper impart in, with and under these visible means?

 "As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body.  And he took the cup, and gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." - Saint Matthew 26, 26-28.

 In, with and under the bread Christ gives us His true body.  In, with and under the wine Christ gives us His true blood.

 We believe in the presence of Christ's body and blood for the following reasons:
 
 A. Because Jesus said, "This is My body which is given for you." "This is My blood which is shed for you."

 B. Because the Bible states that the cup is the communion of the blood of Christ, and that the bread is the communion of the body of Christ." - 1 Corinthians 10, 16.

 C. Because the Bible states that unworthy communicants are guilty, not of bread and wine, but of the body and blood of Christ.

 D. Because no man has the right to change the meaning of a divine institution and testament.

5. Are bread and wine changed into the body and blood of Christ?

 "As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come.  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." - 1 Corinthians 11, 26-28.

 Bread and wine are not changed into the body and blood of Christ, for the Bible expressly declares that bread and wine are still present in the Sacrament.

6. What is the benefit of the Lord's Supper?

 " He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them saying.  This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me.  Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you." - Saint Luke 22, 19- 20.

 The first benefit gives us forgiveness of sins and thus strengthens us in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 "He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." - 2 Corinthians 5, 15 and 17.

 The second benefits gives us strength to lead a holier walk of life.

7. Wherein does the power of the Lord's Supper lie?

 "As they did eat, Jesus took, bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is My body.  And he took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gavie it to them: and they all drank of it.  And He said unto them, This is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many." - Saint Mark 14, 22-24.

 Not the eating and drinking imparts the forgiveness of sins, but Christ's Word, "given and shed for you the remission of sins." Christ has placed forgiveness of sins into the Sacrament, and in these words He offers, gives and seals such forgiveness to all the communicants.  Besides, His body and blood are a means of assuring us of His love.

8. Who receives the Sacrament worthily?

 "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body." - 1 Corinthians 11, 27 and 29.

 No fasting or outward bodily preparation is required.  True worthiness consists in faith in these words, "given and shed for you for the remission of sins."

 A person who does not believe these words, or doubts, is unworthy and unprepared.

9. Why should we receive the Lord's Supper frequently?

 "After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament is My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come." - 1 Corinthians 11, 25-26.

 (a) Because Christ commands, or urgently invites us to celebrate the Lord's Supper in remembrance of Him.

 "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." - Saint Matthew 11, 28.

 (b) Because Christ promises to bestow His rich spiritual blessings.

 "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." - 1 Corinthians 11, 28.

 (c) We need the forgiveness of sins and the strength to resist the devil, the world and our flesh.

10, To whom must the Lord's Supper be denied?

 "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eatheth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body." - 1 Corinthians 11, 29.

 (a) To those who are known to be ungodly and impenitent.

 "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and to thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." - Saint Matthew 5, 23-24.

 (b) To those who have given offense and have not removed it.

 "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." - 1 Corinthians 11, 28.

 (c) To those who are not able to examine themselves, such as children, unconscious persons and those insufficiently instructed.

 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2, 42.

 (d) To those of a different faith, since the Lord's Supper is a testimony of the unity of faith.
 

Test Paper - Lesson 21

1. Please describe in your own words what the Lord's Supper is ...................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

2. Please give a Bible passage in which our Savior institutes the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper?
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

3. What are the two visible means, or elements, in the Lord's Supper?
a. ......................................................................................................
b. ......................................................................................................

4. What are the spiritual blessing which the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper confers in, with and under the bread and wine?
a. ..................................................................................................................................................
b. ..................................................................................................................................................

5. Give any two reasons why we believe in the real presence of Christ's body and blood in the Sacrament.
a. ..................................................................................................................................................
b. ..................................................................................................................................................

6. Check the following statements which are false.
a. The visible means, bread and wine, are miraculously transformed into Christ's body and blood.
b. Christ's body and blood are not present in the Sacrament.
c. Christ's true body and blood are received in, with and under the bread and wine.

7. Is the following statement true or false: The power of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper lies not in the bread and wine, but in the Savior's words of institution which accompany these visible elements. ....................................................

8. Tell in your own words wherein true worthiness to receive the Sacrament lies? .........................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

9. List any two groups to whom the Sacrament must be denied.
a. ..................................................................................................................................................
b. ..................................................................................................................................................

10. Give two reasons why we should receive the Lord's Supper frequently?
a. ..................................................................................................................................................
b. ..................................................................................................................................................

Make every effort to fill in the answers from memory.  If you are not sure of certain answers, you may look them up in the lesson.  Your paper will be graded according to the following standard: 10 correct: perfect; 9 correct: excellent; 8 correct: very good; 7 correct: good.