The Lord’s supper, what we most commonly today call, Communion, is not something that one must earn. Communion is not a reward. Communion was a gift given by God; left to us by Jesus himself. Every Christian believer is to take part in this. It is one of the ways that Christians commune with our God.

    Do you belong to a church that makes you believe that you are not worthy to participate in communion? You might want to consider finding another church to attend. No earthly person has the right to set anyone apart from communion.

    It was Jesus himself, whom left believers this legacy. (Mat 26:26-28) In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes, “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” (1 Cor 11:28)

    Christ said that He was “the living bread that came down from Heaven.” He told us that if “anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.”

    First, when I say, “every Christian believer,” I must clarify that the believer must first and foremost have an honest and sincere faith in Jesus Christ, and believe that he is our one and only savior.

    Second, believers participating in communion are to have already been baptized in the Christian faith. Third, the believer must know what the bread and cup represent. And finally, the believer is seeking to separate themselves from evil.

    Paul wants to be sure that believers understand the true meaning and purpose of partaking in the Lord’s supper. Paul writes, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (1 Cor 11:26) The cup, “which we bless,” is “a sharing in the blood of Christ.” The bread is “a sharing in the body of Christ.” (1 Cor 10:16)

    Also in 1^st Corinthians, Paul tells us that we must examine ourselves, before we seek to participate in the Lord’s supper (1 Cor 11:28). We must examine our own hearts. We must come to the Lord’s supper in humility and sincerity.

    We must have a true desire to fellowship with God. We must be sincere in our hearts, that we have confessed our sins to the Lord, repented, and have sought forgiveness.

    Participating in the Lord’s supper is a very serious undertaking.  If we approach it with a faint heart and with insincerity, we will be judged.  Paul tells us, “For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgement to himself (if) he does not judge the body rightly.” (1 Cor 11:29)

    In other words, we are given this opportunity to examine our own hearts and judge ourselves rightly. If we deceive ourselves and lie, we will suffer the consequences. Paul continues, “For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.” (1 Cor 11:30)

    The Lord will judge us in all things. But here, according to Paul, there are different forms of judgement. Paul says that if we judge ourselves truthfully (rightly), that when the Lord does judge us and disciplines us, we will not be condemned along with the world. (1 Cor 11:31-32)

    Therefore, it is only we ourselves, who are to decide if we are worthy to commune and fellowship with God through Christ, or not. There is no long list of sins, given us in the bible, which require one to abstain from participating is communion.

    Jesus said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Jesus then said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” Jesus in no manner exclaimed that you must have the permission of another to participate in “His Supper.” (Only that we are to examine ourselves, and judge ourselves rightly, 1 Cor 11:29)

    The Lord’s supper is not something that was invented by any church or religious organization. It was instituted by Jesus Himself, and He instructed us to do this in remembrance of Him.

    When we unrightfully exclude ourselves from the Lord’s supper, we are not enjoying the full experience of fellowship with God, through Christ. As long as one partakes with a humble, honest, and sincere heart, having been baptized in the names of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we follow an ordinance not founded by any church, but by Christ Himself. And therefore we allow ourselves to proclaim remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice.