Doctrinal Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper (Communion/Eucharist)
Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical Authority Ministries, May 5, 2026 (Donate)
The two primary ordinances recognized by most churches that
came out of the Reformation are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Lutherans
historically added an unofficial third category involving confession and
absolution through the ministry of the church.
The Lord’s Supper, also called Communion or by some the
Eucharist, is one of the most important practices instituted by Jesus Christ
for His church. It is both a memorial and proclamation of Christ’s sacrificial
death and victorious salvation.
What Is The Lord’s Supper?
The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus on the night
before His crucifixion during the Passover meal with His disciples. Scripture
records:
“And as they were eating, Jesus
took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take,
eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to
them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new
covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’” (Matthew 26:26–28,
NKJV)
The Lord’s Supper is a church ordinance commanded by Christ
in remembrance of Him. Paul explained:
“For as often as you eat this bread
and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” (1
Corinthians 11:26, NKJV)
Communion is therefore both backward-looking and
forward-looking. Believers look back to Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross
and forward to His future return.
The term “communion” comes from the fellowship believers
share with Christ and with one another. The word “eucharist” comes from a Greek
word meaning “thanksgiving,” which means gratitude of thanks to God for
salvation through Christ.
How Does The Lord’s Supper Relate To Passover?
The Lord’s Supper was instituted during the Jewish
Passover meal. Passover commemorated Israel’s deliverance from Egypt when God
spared the Israelites through the blood of the lamb placed upon the doorposts.
“Now the blood shall be a sign for
you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over
you.” (Exodus 12:13, NKJV)
The Passover lamb pointed forward to Jesus Christ. Just as
the lamb died so judgment would pass over Israel, Christ died so sinners could
be spared from God’s wrath.
Jesus intentionally instituted the Lord’s Supper during
Passover because He was fulfilling what Passover symbolized. The old covenant
shadows were finding fulfillment in the true Lamb sent by God.
The bread and wine are both unique as well—elements of Passover.
This is also why bread for communion is unleavened—without yeast—so it more
like a wafer or cracker as opposed to fluffy bread. The wine is the completed
action of yeast. One element is prior to yeast’s action and the other the final
outcome after yeast’s action.
And interestingly, the Kingdom of God built on Christ, is
likened unto the action of yeast/leaven (Matthew 13:33). But of course, one
must beware the leaven of evil as well (e.g., Matthew 16:12, Mark 8:15). Hence,
we must take communion with the right heart looking back to Christ and His work
on the Cross with His broken body and shed blood and looking forward to the maturing
of time when Christ returns.
How Is Christ Our “Passover Lamb”?
The Apostle Paul directly connected Christ to Passover:
“For indeed Christ, our Passover,
was sacrificed for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:7, NKJV)
Jesus fulfilled the symbolism of the Passover lamb in
several ways. The Passover lamb was without blemish, and Christ was sinless.
The lamb died in the place of the firstborn, and Christ died in the place of
sinners. The blood of the lamb protected Israel from judgment, and the blood of
Christ cleanses believers from sin and makes them pure and righteous before God.
John the Baptist declared:
“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, NKJV)
Christ’s crucifixion during Passover was not accidental. God
sovereignly orchestrated history so that Jesus, the true Passover Lamb, would
die at the very season commemorating redemption through sacrifice.
Christ was sufficient—as the one capable of taking the
punishment we deserve for sin—being that He is God! Since the punishment for
sin was death (Genesis 2:17) and substitutional sacrifice was instituted by God
(Genesis 3:21 when God sacrificed animals to cover Adam and Eve’s sin. These
give a foundational meaning as to why Christ went to the Cross. He was our
ultimate substitutional sacrifice. The bread and the wine are representative of
Christ’s body and blood.
What Does The Bread Signify?
Jesus broke the bread and said:
“Take, eat; this is My body.”
(Matthew 26:26, NKJV)
The bread signifies Christ’s body given in sacrifice for
believers. His physical suffering and death upon the cross paid the penalty for
sin. The broken bread symbolizes the sacrificial offering of Christ Himself.
The bread also reminds believers of spiritual nourishment.
Just as bread sustains physical life, Christ sustains spiritual life. Jesus
said:
“I am the bread of life. He who
comes to Me shall never hunger.” (John 6:35, NKJV)
Most Protestants understand the bread symbolically as
representing Christ’s body rather than literally becoming His flesh.
What Does The Wine Signify?
Jesus declared concerning the cup:
“For this is My blood of the new
covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28,
NKJV)
The wine symbolizes the blood of Christ shed on the cross.
Under the Old Testament sacrificial system, blood was required for atonement.
“And according to the law almost
all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no
remission.” (Hebrews 9:22, NKJV)
Christ’s blood established the New Covenant promised in
Jeremiah (vv. 31:31-33; 34:40). Through His death, salvation, redemption, reconciliation,
and forgiveness of sins was fully accomplished for those who believe in His
death, burial and resurrection.
The cup therefore represents salvation as well as redemption,
forgiveness, reconciliation, and the sealing of the New Covenant through
Christ’s sacrifice.
What Is The Debate Over Wine Vs. Grape Juice?
One debate surrounding the Lord’s Supper concerns whether
the cup should contain fermented wine or unfermented grape juice.
Historically, churches for many centuries primarily used
wine because the Passover meal included fruit of the vine that was universally
fermented in the ancient world. As a Spring festival, grapes hadn’t produced
their harvest to make fresh juice, which turns quickly into wine naturally. Jesus
Himself referred to it as “the fruit of the vine” (Matthew 26:29).
In the 1800s, many churches—especially in America—began
using grape juice during the temperance movement (think abstinence and
prohibition movements that came out of this) to avoid association with
drunkenness and alcohol abuse which was occurring with many new refined “hard
liquors” that were very high in alcohol.
Those favoring wine argue that it best reflects the
historical Passover context and church history particularly in the New Testament
where wine was used (since people were able to have too much and get drunk per
1 Corinthians 11:21).
Those favoring grape juice want to avoid temptation for
recovering alcoholics in their local church and maintaining sobriety among its
members. After Louis Pasteur invented pasteurization, it was finally possible
in the 1800s to preserve grape juice and not let it ferment. Prior to Pasteur’s
process, fresh, unfermented grape juice was largely non-existent in Spring.
Although there is always a minute traces of alcohol in
natural fruit and juice. Grapes have natural yeast on the skins and it is used as
an alcoholic barrier to keep bacteria from ruining the grape. The moment the
grape is broken, fermentation begins.
Nevertheless, the emphasis in Scripture is on honoring
Christ rightly rather than the exact amount of alcohol (trace amounts
verses completed fermentation).
Why Did Luther And Zwingli Disagree Over The Bread And Wine?
One of the great debates of the Reformation concerned the
meaning of Christ’s words, “This is My body.”
Marburg Colloquy in 1529, Public Domain
Martin Luther believed Christ was truly present “in, with,
and under” the bread and wine. Luther rejected the Roman Catholic doctrine
of transubstantiation, which taught the elements literally changed
substance into Christ’s body and blood. However, Luther still believed Christ
was genuinely present in the sacrament in a mysterious way.
Ulrich Zwingli argued the elements were symbolic memorials
representing Christ’s body and blood. Zwingli emphasized Christ’s command: “Do
this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19 NKJV). Since Christ’s physical body had
ascended into heaven, Zwingli reasoned it could not physically exist in
multiple places simultaneously within the bread.
Their disagreement became especially visible at the Marburg
Colloquy in 1529. Although both reformers agreed on many doctrines, they could
not fully reconcile their understanding of the Lord’s Supper.
Most Baptists and many Reformed churches today generally
follow Zwingli’s symbolic understanding, while Lutherans maintain a real
presence view.
How Often Should The Lord’s Supper Be Taken According To
The Bible Alone?
The Bible does not command a precise schedule for communion
observance. Some churches observe it weekly, others monthly, quarterly, or at
special occasions.
Acts records that early believers regularly gathered to
break bread:
“And they continued steadfastly in
the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in
prayers.” (Acts 2:42, NKJV)
Paul wrote:
“For as often as you eat this bread
and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” (1
Corinthians 11:26, NKJV)
The phrase “as often as” suggests flexibility rather than a
mandated frequency. Nevertheless, God also records in Acts that the disciples
came together to break bread (taking communion) on the first day of the week.:
Now on the first day of the
week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart
the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. (Acts
20:7, NKJV)
Was it a weekly observance in the New Testament? Some take
it this way, other don’t. Even so, the key is faithful observance taken on the
first day of the week if one emulates the disciples—whether that is every
first day of the week or not is debated among the churches—I encourage you to
chat with family, pastor, and elders and to what your local church exercises
and why biblically. Even so, churches throughout history have practiced
different frequencies while seeking to honor Christ biblically.
Taking Communion With The Right Heart
Scripture warns believers not to approach the Lord’s Supper
carelessly or hypocritically. In other words, beware false leaven in your own
heart.
“But let a man examine himself, and
so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” (1 Corinthians 11:28, NKJV)
The Corinthians were rebuked because they treated communion
selfishly and irreverently. Some were even disciplined by God because they
partook in an unworthy manner, some were drinking so much communion wine, they
were getting drunk (1 Corinthians 11:21).
Communion should therefore involve self-examination,
repentance, gratitude, humility, and worship. Believers are not required to be
sinless before taking communion, but they should honestly confess one’s sin to
Christ and seek fellowship with Christ.
The Lord’s Supper is a solemn Church ordinance, and should
be a joyful, reminder that salvation comes through the broken body and shed
blood of Jesus Christ, the true Passover Lamb who died and rose again.
Bodie Hodge, Ken
Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending 6-day creation and opposing
evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as
a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers
News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.
Bodie
launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal
website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken
on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and
universities. He is married with four children.
Mr. Hodge earned a
Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at
Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a
Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and
running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic
materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a
grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar,
Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.
His love of science
was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one
year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and
scientific dictionary/encyclopedia for AI use and training. Mr. Hodge has over
25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields.
*Images requested through ChatGPT
