We believe the Scriptures teach that the Lord’s Supper is a provision of bread and wine, representing Christ’s body and blood, partaken of by the members of the church assembled for that purpose,[1] in commemoration of the death of their Lord,[2] showing their faith and participation in the merits of His sacrifice, their dependence on Him for spiritual life and nourishment,[3] and their hope of life eternal through His resurrection from the dead; its observance to be preceded by faithful self-examination.[4]
[1] Luke 22:19, 20. And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body, which is given for you; this do in remembrance of Me. Likewise the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you. Mark 14:26–28; Matt. 26:27–30; 1 Cor. 11:22–30; 1 Cor. 10:16.
[2] 1 Cor. 11:26. For as oft as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death until He come. Matt. 28:20.
[3] John 6:35, 54, 56. Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life. Whoso eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood hath eternal life. He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood dwelleth in Me, and I in him.
[4] 1 Cor. 11:28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. Acts 2:42, 46; 20:7, 11.
xvi. the lord’s day
We believe the Scriptures teach that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day,[1] and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes[2] by abstaining from all secular labor, except works of mercy and necessity;[3] by the devout observance of all the means of grace, both private and public;[4] and by preparation for that rest that remaineth for the people of God.
[1] Acts 20:7. On the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them.
[2] Exod. 20:8. Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. Rev. 1:10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. Ps. 113:2–4.
[3] Isa. 58:13, 14. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day: and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob. Isa. 56:2–8.