Matthew 26:26-27 (NKJV) And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
The Holy Communion was instituted by Jesus on Passover, the night before the crucifixion. The bread represents His body and the wine His blood. It is a powerful reminder of the work of Christ and a celebration of God’s salvation plan for the world. To appreciate the Holy Communion, we must be a believer of Jesus Christ, whether we have been baptised or not.
The Holy Communion is such a central focus of the church because it speaks of Jesus’ presence, His victory, what He’s done and can do, His ministry, His suffering, His work of atonement, His resurrection, His ascension to heaven, the new covenant in His blood, His body, and the church. We always approach the table with praise and thanksgiving because it reminds us of His perfect work for us.
During the Holy Communion, we remember and celebrate:
The Lord’s presence in our midst. (Matthew 18:20 NKJV For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”)
The reason Jesus came for the work of atonement or redemption. (1 Corinthians 11:24-25 NKJV 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.” 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.”)
God honoured His covenant and He established a new covenant through the blood of Jesus. (Matthew 26:28 NKJV For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.)
The grace of God, because it is all done by Christ, and we have no part in the work of salvation.
(Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast)
To bring us to intimacy with Christ. (John 6:53,58b NKJV Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you…He who eats this bread will live forever.”)
The Unity and Oneness of the Body of Believers. (1 Corinthians 10:16-17 NKJV The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.)
Sermon Series: The Holy Communion
庆祝和记念的时刻
【马太福音26:26-27】他们吃的时候，耶稣拿起饼来，祝福，就擘开，递给门徒，说：“你们拿着吃，这是我的身体。”又拿起杯来，祝谢了，递给他们，说：“你们都喝这个“
圣餐是耶稣在受难前夜的逾越节设立的。饼代表了祂的身体，酒代表了祂的宝血。圣餐是对基督为我们所做的事的有力提醒，也是对神为世界制定的拯救计划的庆典。无论我们是否受洗，我们必须相信耶稣基督才能领受圣餐。
圣餐在教会中占据如此核心的地位，因为它讲述了耶稣的存在、祂的得胜、祂所做的和能够做的事、祂的事工、祂的受难、祂的救赎工作、祂的复活、祂的升天，并用祂的宝血、身体以及教会所立的新约。我们总是带着赞美和感恩走向圣餐的桌前，因为它提醒我们神为我们所完成的善工。
在圣餐中，我们记念与庆祝：上帝与我们同在（马太福音18:20 ，因为无论在哪里，有两三个人奉我的名聚会，那里就有我在他们中间。）
耶稣来是为完成赎罪或救赎的使命。（哥林多前书11:24-25 ，耶稣拿起饼，祝谢了，就擘开，说：“你们拿，吃，这是我的身体，为你们舍的。你们要如此行，为的是记念我。” 饭后，也照样拿起杯，说：“这杯是用我的血所立的新约，你们每逢喝的时候，要如此行，为的是记念我。”
神尊重祂的约，并藉着耶稣的宝血立了新约。（马太福音26:28 ，因为这是我立约的血，为多人流出来，使罪得赦免。）
神的恩典，因为这一切都是基督所完成的，我们与救恩的工作无份。（以弗所书2:8-9 你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信，这并不是出于自己，乃是神所赐的；也不是出于行为，免得有人自夸。）
带领我们与基督亲近。（约翰福音6:53，58b耶稣说，我实实在在地告诉你们，你们若不吃人子的肉，不喝人子的血，就没有生命在你们里面… 吃这粮的人，就永远活着.”
与其他的信徒合一成为一体。(哥林多前书10:16-17 ，我们所祝福的杯，岂不是同领基督的血吗？我们所擘开的饼，岂不是同领基督的身体吗？ 我们虽多，仍是一个饼、一个身体，因为我们众人共同领受这一个饼)
讲章系列：圣餐
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