25/07/2026
Do this in my Rememberance.
Fundamental Belief #16: The Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper, also known as Holy Communion, is one of the most sacred services of the Christian church. Instituted by Jesus Christ on the night before His crucifixion, it is a memorial of His sacrifice, an expression of faith in His saving grace, and a celebration of the hope of His soon return. Through this service, believers remember what Christ accomplished on Calvary and renew their commitment to live in fellowship with Him and with one another.
On the evening of the Passover, Jesus gathered with His disciples and established a new memorial centered upon Himself. Taking bread, He gave thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24). He then took the cup and declared it to be the new covenant in His blood. Through these simple emblems, Jesus directed the attention of His followers to His coming sacrifice.
The bread and the cup are symbols of Christ's body and blood. The unleavened bread represents His sinless body, which was broken for humanity's redemption. The fruit of the vine symbolizes His blood that was shed for the forgiveness of sins. These emblems are not transformed into the literal body and blood of Christ but serve as powerful reminders of His atoning sacrifice and infinite love.
Participation in the Lord's Supper is therefore an expression of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. As believers partake of the emblems, they declare their dependence upon His sacrifice and their acceptance of the salvation He freely offers. Communion points every participant back to the cross and reminds them that forgiveness, peace, and eternal life are possible only through Christ.
The Lord's Supper is also a profound experience of communion with Christ. Although Jesus is not physically present in the emblems, He is spiritually present through the Holy Spirit to meet, comfort, and strengthen His people. The communion service becomes a sacred encounter in which believers renew their relationship with their Savior and receive fresh assurance of His grace and love.
The apostle Paul taught that whenever believers partake of the bread and the cup, they “shew the Lord's death till he come” (1 Corinthians 11:26). Thus, the Lord's Supper looks both backward and forward. It looks back to Calvary and remembers the sacrifice of Jesus. It also looks forward with hope to His glorious second coming when the redeemed will gather with Him in His everlasting kingdom.
Preparation for the Lord's Supper is an important part of the service. Scripture encourages believers to examine themselves before participating. Self-examination is a prayerful reflection upon one's relationship with God and with others. It involves asking whether there is unconfessed sin, unresolved conflict, bitterness, or disobedience that needs to be surrendered to Christ.
Preparation also includes repentance and confession. Communion should never be approached casually or carelessly. It is an opportunity to experience renewed cleansing and deeper fellowship with God. Through sincere repentance and confession, believers receive afresh the assurance of God's forgiveness and restoring grace.
One of the distinctive features of the Lord's Supper is the ordinance of humility, commonly known as foot washing. Before instituting Communion, Jesus washed His disciples' feet. This act astonished His followers because foot washing was ordinarily performed by servants. Yet the Lord of heaven humbled Himself and performed this lowly service.
Through His example, Jesus taught that true greatness is found in humble service. Foot washing symbolizes renewed cleansing from the defilement of sin and serves as a reminder that believers continually depend upon God's grace. It also calls Christians to put aside pride, seek reconciliation, forgive one another, and serve each other with humility and love.
The ordinance of humility unites believers and prepares their hearts for Communion. By kneeling before one another in service, barriers of pride and division are broken down. Hearts are softened, relationships are restored, and the spirit of Christ is manifested within the church.
The Lord's Supper also expresses the unity of believers in Christ. The apostle Paul wrote, “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:17). Though believers come from different nations, cultures, and backgrounds, they share one Savior and one faith. Communion reminds the church that all stand equally dependent upon the grace of God.
The communion service is open to all believing Christians who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is not restricted by nationality, social status, or denominational background. All who come with faith in Christ, a repentant heart, and a desire to walk in obedience to Him are invited to participate in this sacred remembrance.
The doctrine of the Lord's Supper reminds us that Christianity is centered upon the person and work of Jesus Christ. Every Communion service proclaims His death, celebrates His grace, strengthens our fellowship with Him and one another, and renews our hope in His promised return.
As we partake of the bread and the cup, we remember that salvation was purchased at an immeasurable cost. We remember the broken body and shed blood of our Savior. We recommit ourselves to humble service, deeper love, and faithful discipleship. And we look forward with joyful anticipation to the day when Christ will come again and share with His redeemed the great supper in His eternal kingdom.
May every celebration of the Lord's Supper lead us to the foot of the cross, deepen our appreciation for Christ's sacrifice, and strengthen our determination to live lives that honor the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.
"This do in remembrance of me." — Luke 22:19
By Elder Blessed Scriptures. Blessing Moyo
