The Sacrament Of The Altar: The Worthy Dinner Guest
Sermon
What's That Supposed To Mean?
Using The Catechism In The 21st Century
Object:
The Sacrament Of The Altar -- The Salutary Use Of The Lord's Supper
Who, then, receives [the Lord's Supper] worthily? Fasting and bodily preparation are indeed a fine outward training; but he is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, "Given and shed for you for the remission of sins." But he that does not believe these words, or doubts, is unworthy and unprepared; for the words "for you" require all hearts to believe.
When it comes to making disciples, we will baptize just about anybody, and we will take time to teach anyone about Jesus who is willing to listen. But we don't allow just anyone to come to the Lord's Supper. Many Christians from other churches are bothered by that. A friend of mine was at a church once where a non-Lutheran visitor went up for Communion and the pastor did not give it to him. A few days later, the pastor received a letter from the man's mother blasting him for being unchristian. Many church members have been a bit embarrassed because they brought a friend to church with them on a Communion Sunday and then had to leave the friend behind while the members came forward. Yet there is something wonderful and special about the Lord's Supper that helps us understand why we must be careful about whom we serve it to.
We get our practice from what the Apostle Paul told the church at Corinth. First, he reminded them why the Lord's Supper is celebrated, that Jesus Christ set it up as a way to proclaim the benefits of His death. Saint Paul taught that the Lord's Supper told the message of salvation by showing the death of Jesus in a special way: "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." Then he added this warning: "Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord." The Romans and Jews who crucified Jesus were guilty of sinning against the body and blood of Jesus. To go to Communion in an unworthy manner puts one in the same group as those murderers of our Lord! That is why the apostle adds this advice: "A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment."
Notice, the apostle warns that it is possible to get hurt by eating the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner. It's that warning that makes us sit up and take notice. He warns that those who do not discern that the body of Jesus is present, that those who eat the bread as though it were nothing more than bread, would be found liable for the suffering and death of Jesus. He pointed out that many in that church had gotten sick and some had died because they abused the Lord's Supper.
What is it that makes a person worthy to come to the Lord's Supper? The main requirement is a proper faith. It is not confirmation that makes one worthy -- though we do have a good reason for doing this. It is also not enough to believe in Jesus. It's also not enough that we share a common faith in the teachings of Jesus, though that is necessary before we can join at the same altar. That kind of faith is enough to qualify as a disciple. It is enough to make one fit for heaven. Worthiness is not based on behavior, either. Jesus doesn't expect us to quit sinning before we come to His Supper. The Lord's Supper is meant for sinners! Remember, it offers forgiveness of sins.
Worthiness is based on faith in the words, "given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." The faith Jesus wants us to have to receive the blessings offered in the Lord's Supper in a worthy manner is to believe that when we eat the bread and wine He serves, it carries to us his body and blood, and along with them the forgiveness of sins. Saint Paul warns that it is dangerous, even fatal, to forget what is in and with the bread and wine.
So, all through the ages, the church has been careful to give the Lord's Supper only to those who confess that they are sinners and who believe that Jesus forgives them when they eat His body and blood as offered in the Lord's Supper. Since the pastors are placed in congregations by Jesus Christ to make sure the secret things of God are used properly, churches have always allowed pastors to determine who is ready to receive the body and blood of Jesus in a worthy manner. The test pastors have always used is based on the words of Paul: "A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup." Confirmation classes and ceremonies are one way pastors have announced that they believe a person can examine himself, but confirmations are not necessary. Some churches only find out if a person can examine himself properly before allowing him to come to the Lord's Supper. When a person can accurately confess what Jesus wants him to believe about sin and forgiveness as offered in the Lord's Supper, then the pastor can allow the person to come to the Lord's Supper.
Remember, the whole purpose of the Lord's Supper is for Jesus to give you forgiveness. Those who don't believe forgiveness is offered, or who think that the meal is only a memorial, would be rejecting the very forgiveness they need -- and that's not safe. But instead of focusing on the warning, focus on the miracle that lies behind the warning. Jesus wants people to come to His Supper. "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," Jesus tells us, and his Supper is one of the ways He gives rest to us. The warning is there to show us how serious and wonderful that Supper is. If you have sin in your life and believe that Jesus offers you His body and blood in that Supper to forgive you, you may eat of it in a worthy manner. Worthiness is not based on how well we behave, but on how much we believe Jesus and His testament.
One last point: Jesus makes us worthy to come to His Supper. He gives us the faith we need as we learn from Him -- another reason why many churches have a long teaching and training program before allowing people to come to the Supper. He gives us His Holy Spirit to help us believe His promises. Those who take Jesus at His Word will find they are worthy to come to His holy meal.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give us the faith that enables us to come as worthy guests to Your Supper of forgiveness. Help us to believe all You have taught, especially that You offer Your body and blood in that Supper to forgive the sins of those who eat them in the bread and wine. We are not worthy by our own merits, but only by what You work in us. Make us worthy so we can be blessed by this meal when we come to it. Help us teach this truth to those Christians who do not yet discern Your body in that meal, starting with those in our congregation, as well as our Christian neighbors from other churches, so that we may all be able to come to Your Supper together in this life instead of waiting until the next. For Your name's sake we pray. Amen.
Who, then, receives [the Lord's Supper] worthily? Fasting and bodily preparation are indeed a fine outward training; but he is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, "Given and shed for you for the remission of sins." But he that does not believe these words, or doubts, is unworthy and unprepared; for the words "for you" require all hearts to believe.
When it comes to making disciples, we will baptize just about anybody, and we will take time to teach anyone about Jesus who is willing to listen. But we don't allow just anyone to come to the Lord's Supper. Many Christians from other churches are bothered by that. A friend of mine was at a church once where a non-Lutheran visitor went up for Communion and the pastor did not give it to him. A few days later, the pastor received a letter from the man's mother blasting him for being unchristian. Many church members have been a bit embarrassed because they brought a friend to church with them on a Communion Sunday and then had to leave the friend behind while the members came forward. Yet there is something wonderful and special about the Lord's Supper that helps us understand why we must be careful about whom we serve it to.
We get our practice from what the Apostle Paul told the church at Corinth. First, he reminded them why the Lord's Supper is celebrated, that Jesus Christ set it up as a way to proclaim the benefits of His death. Saint Paul taught that the Lord's Supper told the message of salvation by showing the death of Jesus in a special way: "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." Then he added this warning: "Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord." The Romans and Jews who crucified Jesus were guilty of sinning against the body and blood of Jesus. To go to Communion in an unworthy manner puts one in the same group as those murderers of our Lord! That is why the apostle adds this advice: "A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment."
Notice, the apostle warns that it is possible to get hurt by eating the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner. It's that warning that makes us sit up and take notice. He warns that those who do not discern that the body of Jesus is present, that those who eat the bread as though it were nothing more than bread, would be found liable for the suffering and death of Jesus. He pointed out that many in that church had gotten sick and some had died because they abused the Lord's Supper.
What is it that makes a person worthy to come to the Lord's Supper? The main requirement is a proper faith. It is not confirmation that makes one worthy -- though we do have a good reason for doing this. It is also not enough to believe in Jesus. It's also not enough that we share a common faith in the teachings of Jesus, though that is necessary before we can join at the same altar. That kind of faith is enough to qualify as a disciple. It is enough to make one fit for heaven. Worthiness is not based on behavior, either. Jesus doesn't expect us to quit sinning before we come to His Supper. The Lord's Supper is meant for sinners! Remember, it offers forgiveness of sins.
Worthiness is based on faith in the words, "given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." The faith Jesus wants us to have to receive the blessings offered in the Lord's Supper in a worthy manner is to believe that when we eat the bread and wine He serves, it carries to us his body and blood, and along with them the forgiveness of sins. Saint Paul warns that it is dangerous, even fatal, to forget what is in and with the bread and wine.
So, all through the ages, the church has been careful to give the Lord's Supper only to those who confess that they are sinners and who believe that Jesus forgives them when they eat His body and blood as offered in the Lord's Supper. Since the pastors are placed in congregations by Jesus Christ to make sure the secret things of God are used properly, churches have always allowed pastors to determine who is ready to receive the body and blood of Jesus in a worthy manner. The test pastors have always used is based on the words of Paul: "A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup." Confirmation classes and ceremonies are one way pastors have announced that they believe a person can examine himself, but confirmations are not necessary. Some churches only find out if a person can examine himself properly before allowing him to come to the Lord's Supper. When a person can accurately confess what Jesus wants him to believe about sin and forgiveness as offered in the Lord's Supper, then the pastor can allow the person to come to the Lord's Supper.
Remember, the whole purpose of the Lord's Supper is for Jesus to give you forgiveness. Those who don't believe forgiveness is offered, or who think that the meal is only a memorial, would be rejecting the very forgiveness they need -- and that's not safe. But instead of focusing on the warning, focus on the miracle that lies behind the warning. Jesus wants people to come to His Supper. "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," Jesus tells us, and his Supper is one of the ways He gives rest to us. The warning is there to show us how serious and wonderful that Supper is. If you have sin in your life and believe that Jesus offers you His body and blood in that Supper to forgive you, you may eat of it in a worthy manner. Worthiness is not based on how well we behave, but on how much we believe Jesus and His testament.
One last point: Jesus makes us worthy to come to His Supper. He gives us the faith we need as we learn from Him -- another reason why many churches have a long teaching and training program before allowing people to come to the Supper. He gives us His Holy Spirit to help us believe His promises. Those who take Jesus at His Word will find they are worthy to come to His holy meal.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give us the faith that enables us to come as worthy guests to Your Supper of forgiveness. Help us to believe all You have taught, especially that You offer Your body and blood in that Supper to forgive the sins of those who eat them in the bread and wine. We are not worthy by our own merits, but only by what You work in us. Make us worthy so we can be blessed by this meal when we come to it. Help us teach this truth to those Christians who do not yet discern Your body in that meal, starting with those in our congregation, as well as our Christian neighbors from other churches, so that we may all be able to come to Your Supper together in this life instead of waiting until the next. For Your name's sake we pray. Amen.
