What Is the Scriptural Teaching on the Lord's Supper or Communion?
1) Direct answer
The Lord’s Supper is a simple, holy ordinance given by Jesus for born‑again believers to remember His death until He comes. It is not a saving act, not a ritual that changes the elements, but a memorial and a fellowship of the Body. It is to be observed with unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, in self‑examination, with feet‑washing as a companion ordinance of humility and cleansing.
2) Scriptural explanation
- Instituted by the Lord: “This do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23‑26). We “show the Lord’s death till He come.”
- The elements: bread and the cup—“the bread…His body,” “the cup…New Testament in His blood” (Matthew 26:26‑29; 1 Corinthians 10:16‑17; 11:23‑25). Leaven typifies sin, so the figure is unleavened—“Purge out therefore the old leaven…let us keep the feast…with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:7‑8).
- Who may partake: believers who judge themselves in the light of the Word (1 Corinthians 11:27‑32). The pattern is: repent, believe, be baptized, then continue in the apostles’ fellowship and breaking of bread (Acts 2:41‑42).
- How to approach: in unity and discernment of the Body—making wrongs right first (Matthew 5:23‑24; 1 Corinthians 10:17; 11:29).
- Feet‑washing: joined to the Supper as an example and command—“Ye also ought to wash one another’s feet… I have given you an example… If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:14‑17).
3) Simple clarifying logic
- It’s a memorial, not a re‑sacrifice. The Bible says, “Do this in remembrance.” He died once for all; we do not repeat His sacrifice—we remember it.
- The bread remains bread and the cup remains the fruit of the vine. The Bible says they are “symbols” or “communion” of His body and blood (1 Corinthians 10:16). If it literally became His body, why would we still be “remembering” instead of re‑crucifying? The Scripture never says it turns into His flesh.
- Unleavened bread fits the symbol because Jesus was sinless. Leaven marks corruption; Christ had none. You see, the type must match the antitype.
- The table belongs to the Lord, not to a denomination. “Let a man examine himself” (1 Corinthians 11:28). The door is not “closed” by men; it is guarded by the Word in each conscience—walk in the light, judge yourself, and come reverently.
- Frequency is “as oft as ye do it” (1 Corinthians 11:25‑26). The Bible sets no fixed schedule; it sets a right heart.
- Feet‑washing is not optional tradition but a commanded example tied to the Supper. It keeps us small, cleansed, and in brotherly equality.
4) Reinforcing statement
Now notice: the Lord’s Supper is the Gospel in simple tokens—His body broken for us, His blood shed for us—and our lives must match what we take. Come clean, come believing, come discerning the Body, and “show the Lord’s death till He come.”
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What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Respects
61-1015E §44
I know of three boys one time that mocked communion in the church, know of them. And they went up in the hotel room and got some ham sandwiches and a bottle of whiskey, and had their communion up there, making fun of the communion they had in a Pentecostal church. Less than three months from then, all three was ... one of them was dead, and two was in the insane institution. You can't disrespect God! You've got to respect God. If you don't believe it, just keep still, keep away from it. Or, either do that, or come...
Questions and Answers
61-0112 §177
Look, when Elijah said to Gehazi, "Take my staff (he had blessed that staff)," he said, "Go on your road. And if anybody speaks, don't speak back. If anybody salutes you, don't salute back. Go on, and lay that staff on the baby." Is that right? "Stay with that staff!" And that's what I was doing. Now, if there had not been an associate pastor here, standing there... I had got through preaching. I remember when it was. And if Brother Neville hadn't have been standing here, or somebody to help that man at the altar.....
The Faith Of Abraham
59-0415E §59
...ham after the battle was over. When the battle was over, He blessed Abraham. And notice what He did. He brought out wine and bread and give it to him. Wine and bread is the communion. They took communion after the battle was over! Sure, one of these days we're going to take communion again when the battle is over. When we brought back the lost children, the lost sheep of the fold, have brought them back into reconciliation and life is finished, then we will have communion again with the Melchisedec of heaven, Chris...
Discerning the Body of the Lord
59-0812 §12
Now, our eternal destination is not altogether determined by what we see and what we hear, but it's determined on what discernment we have of what we see and what we hear. Paul was not disputing with them for taking the communion. Their act was right, but their discernment was wrong. For taking the Lord's Supper is the commandment of the Lord, but to take it unworthily, not discerning the Lord's body, is where the wrong lays.
The Communion
57-0418 §47
We are very happy to have you here tonight, and we are glad that you came. And tomorrow night our message is (tomorrow night) on: The Perfection Of The Believer. And now come, bring someone with you if your own church doesn't have services. And now we are going to have the communion. Maybe some of you... I'm just a little teeny bit late a few minutes, and we're going to dismiss those who have to go. And those who wish to stay to take the communion and foot-washing with us... We believe in absolutely doing every art...