Why We Observe the Lord’s Supper
Colossians 2:6-23
Our text this morning may seem an odd one for a day that we observe the Lord’s Supper.
The reason I am using this text is because it fits well many of the ideas I want to discuss.
I do not know exactly when Paul visited this town as it is not mentioned in the Book of Acts.
But we do know Paul was preaching in the region, called Phrygia,
In Acts 16:6 says “they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia”
In Acts 18:23 says he “went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.”
We know there is a church there, one that meant enough to Paul that he took the time to write them a letter to help them.
They were under attack, not by an army but by false doctrine.
There are various opinions of exactly what this heresy was that had taken root, but Paul is careful to counter it.
In chapter 1 he exalts the Preeminence of Christ.
Vs. 15-23 are worth reading any chance you have to read them:
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Col 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
We discern from here that the false teaching had degraded the person and work of Christ.
They probably doubted His divinity or the sufficiency of His sacrifice for our sins.
Paul continues in Chapter 2 telling them of the power of their salvation in Christ and the need to hold fast to the truth of Christ.
Paul says they are to walk IN HIM and be rooted and built up IN HIM.
He says in vs. 11-12 that what they have is greater than the Jewish ritual of circumcision, that baptism is a figure of regeneration from death to life.
He says in vs. 14 that the Law that condemned us blotted out through the cross.
Read and dissect vs. 6-15 carefully – I don’t have time to do it today – it eradicates the possibility that man could be saved or spiritual without Christ.
Now that Paul has established this doctrinal fact, he shifts in vs. 16 to a practical application.
It is a broadside blast against those that try to add traditions and rituals to faith in Christ:
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Col 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Col 2:19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
Now Paul is writing largely about those that are trying to enforce aspects of Judaism on the Christians at Colosse.
Somebody was telling them that if they really wanted to be spiritual, they needed to keep the customs of the Law.
Paul says that those things are shadows – they are merely evidence that Christ would come and what He would do.
He says that anyone who lifts anything above Christ in the Christian Life is wrong.
No angel, no holiday, no feast, no custom, no ritual – Christ and Christ alone.
By the way, the root cause is there too – “vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind” – PRIDE
He says in vs. 23 that such things look smart in man-created and man-centered worship – what he calls “will worship”.
Those things have no effect on a person spiritually.
Go live like a hermit somewhere – you are not closer to God because of it, you are still a sinner.
Go lock yourself in a room with a Bible – you are not closer to God because of it, you are still a sinner.
The answer is Christ and Christ alone.
Now, that was all introduction.
Paul destroys the notion that by keeping traditions and rituals we become more spiritual.
Frankly, I believe in a simple faith.
The gospel is simple – you are sinner doomed for hell, Christ died for you and offers salvation, so claim that free gift through faith.
I do not believe there are mystical secrets to the Christian faith.
We all know what to do – be faithful, flee sin, read our Bibles, pray, love one another, give, and so on.
I believe that everything we need to know God tells us in His Word.
I further believe that we get in trouble when we start walking in our own wisdom and not following God’s instructions.
Sometimes we are not satisfied with that simplicity.
We think there must be more.
Nope, it is all about Christ.
Well, then there must be more to living for Him.
Nope, that’s all about Him too.
It really is that simple – so simple it is hard to accept.
We complicate that simplicity.
We hear the command to pray in Scripture, and we come up with written prayers, formulas, journals, and apps to do it better.
We lose that wonderful simplicity.
Quickly, I want to address something I get asked about from time to time.
I get questions all the time about what we do and how we do it as a church.
Why don’t you pass an offering plate? – Because we stopped in COVID and I kinda like using the box – the service flows better and it allows for less pressure and more anonymity in giving.
Why do you wear a suit and tie on Sunday morning? Because I greatly respect the office and role of pastor and the seriousness of serving God in a church. I believe I should dress as best I can to reflect that honor.
Why do you still sing hymns? – Have you got a few hours to talk about that one?
But sometimes I get asked, “why don’t you do so-and-so”.
Often it is a tradition from another denomination.
This time of year, a few things come up:
Lent – 40 days of fasting/self-deprivation that are supposed to prepare you for Easter.
That one is easy – there is no Biblical command to do it.
In fact, I think its modern observance is quite counter to what fasting truly is.
Palm Sunday – some churches wave palm branches on the Sunday before Easter.
That one is easy, too – there is no Biblical command to do it.
It reflects a historical event, but I don’t see why it should be reenacted.
That is the way I feel about most of what is called the liturgical or church calendar.
There is no command to observe those days and it complicates the purity and simplicity of the Christian life.
Somebody may grumble there: “Well, you DO Easter and Christmas so you are a hypocrite”
It I be a sinner or a hypocrite for celebrating the birth of Christ and His resurrection – I will gladly take those titles.
Frankly, the two main reasons I do not like the church calendar is that it:
- Is not commanded in Scripture – Regulative Principle, not Normative Principle
- It adds unnecessary burdens
- Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders;
So why the Lord’s Supper?
Why do we observe this memorial act when we refuse so many others?
- It is commanded in Scripture – Luke 22:19 – “this do in remembrance of me”
- The example of the early church observing it – Corinth.
- It is important enough that the devil tried to corrupt it – at Corinth
- It anticipates the return of the Lord
- 1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
- Mat 26:29 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.
- It directly honors Christ
- There is nothing lost in its symbolism – the blood and broken body.
- To thank Christ
- 1Co 11:24 And when he had given thanks,…
- To proclaim Christ
- 1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
- To remember the new covenant
- Passover remembered the deliverance of the Jews from Egypt
- I Corinthians 11:25 – This cup is the new testament in my blood:
- It is a unifying act for the church
- 1Co 10:16 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?
- 1Co 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
- It is a unifying act for the believer and His Savior
- 1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
- We check our hearts and recenter them on Christ.