The Lord’s Supper is a precious memorial to remind people about Jesus’ sacrificial death. But it is not merely a memorial. It conveys special sanctifying grace to Christians who eat and drink in faith because Jesus is spiritually present as his people fellowship with him and each other

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23For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

The Bread and Wine

Paul explains what the Lord’s Supper is all about by repeating what Jesus said at the meal’s institution. He reminds the Corinthians of the tradition or doctrine that he has already passed on to them from the Lord (cf. 1 Cor. 15:3) but that they have failed to maintain (contrast 1 Cor. 11:2).1 This section begins with “For” because it supports verse 22b—the reason Paul cannot commend the church is because the way they are abusing the Lord’s Supper is antithetical to what the Lord himself announced that the Lord’s Supper is supposed to symbolize. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. No Christian is inherently better than another. So how can a Christian celebrate Jesus’ cross-work in a way that snubs fellow Christians?

“This is my body. . . . This cup is the new covenant.” Professing Christians have understood Jesus’ words in several different ways.2 Contrary to Roman Catholicism, the bread and wine are not repeated sacrifices that become Jesus’ actual body and blood, nor do they convey justifying grace.

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