Page 370 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

LONG HOME - LORD’S SUPPER

LONG HOME. A reference to eternity (Ec. 12:5). At are not merely individuals. (3) The forward look (1 Co.
death man goes to his “long home”—either heaven or 11:26 “till he come”). The Lord’s Supper causes us to
hell. [See Death, Eternity, Grinders, Heaven, Hell.] look forward to the return of Christ and thus to be
LONGSUFFERING. Patience; to bear with; mindful that we need to be ready at all times for that
forbearance; long-tempered (1 Co. 13:4; Ga. 5:22; Ep. great event. (4) The inward look (1 Co. 11:28-31). The
4:1-2). “Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in Lord’s Supper causes the believer to look within himself
the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate and to judge his spiritual condition before the Lord.
or promptly punish; it is the opposite of anger, and is How Often Is the Lord’s Supper to Be Observed? The
associated with mercy, and is used of God (Ro. 2:4; 1 Pe. Bible does not say how often the churches are to
3:20)” (Vine). [See Love, Patience.] observe the Lord’s Supper. In Acts 20:7 there is an
LOOK. (1) To see with the eyes (Ge. 8:13). (2) To indication that at least one church had the custom of
observe; to expect (Job 7:2; Ps. 123:2; Ac. 28:6). (3) taking the Lord’s Supper every Lord’s day. Some groups
Take account of (Ge. 39:23). (4) Situated; facing (Jos. have made this into a law, but the Bible does not say
15:2; 1 Sa. 13:18). (5) To take note of; to care about (2 that every first century church had that practice, and
Sa. 16:12; 2 Ch. 24:22). (6) Appearance; expression (Pr. there is no commandment that describes how often a
6:17; 21:4). (7) Caution; discernment; vigilance (Pr. church must observe the Supper. The Apostle Paul did
14:15). (8) Consider (Pr. 23:31). not give any such instruction when he devoted almost a
LOOK TO. (1) Pay attention to (Ex. 10:10; 2 Jn. 8). chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians to the
(2) Appearance (1 Sa. 16:12). (3) Turn attention to; subject of the Supper (1 Co. 11). If the Holy Spirit had
think about; trust (Is. 17:7-8). (4) Behold; observe (2 wanted to give a plain commandment about the timing
Co. 3:13). of the Supper, that would have been an ideal occasion.
LOOK WELL. Be careful about; take heed to; pay Paul only said “as often as ye eat this bread, and drink
this cup” (1 Co. 11:26). It does not say how often it
close attention to; diligently observe (Pr. 14:15; 27:23; should be done. It merely says “as often as” you observe
31:27; Je. 39:12). the Supper, this is how it is to be done. We believe,
LOP. To cut off (Is. 10:33). therefore, that this is another matter that the Lord has
LORD. [See El Shaddai, God, Jehovah, Jesus Christ.] left to the each church to decide for itself under the
LORD OF HOSTS. The Hebrew term is Jehovah guidance of the Holy Spirit. Some churches observe the
Sabaoth (1 Sa. 1:3). [See God, Jehovah.] Supper every week. Some observe it monthly or
LORD OF SABAOTH. This is the same as “Lord of quarterly. Some observe it once a year, following the
hosts” (Ro. 9:29; Ja. 5:4). Sabaoth is a transliteration of pattern of the Passover meal that Christ observed when
the Hebrew word for hosts. [See God, Jehovah.] He instituted the Supper. These various customs have
LORD’S SUPPER. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial advantages and disadvantages. If the Lord’s Supper is
meal initiated by the Lord Jesus Christ on the eve of His taken every week, there is the distinct danger of it being
passion, symbolizing His death and blood atonement for a meaningless ritual. If it is taken only once a year, it
sin (Mt. 26:26-28; Mk. 14:22-24; Lk. 22:19-21; Jn. 13). has only a very small place in the believers’ lives. In fact,
The Apostle Paul plainly tells us that the Lord’s Supper if a child of God is in a church that observes the Lord’s
is a memorial (“this do in remembrance of me”—Lk. Supper only once a year, and for some reason he is
22:19; 1 Co. 11:24, 25) and a picture (“ye do shew”—1 unable to attend that one service, he can go two or
Co. 11:26). It is not a sacrifice or a channel of salvation three or more years without ever benefiting from this
or grace. important memorial.
Where Is the Lord’s Supper to Be Practiced? The Lord’s Requirements for Taking the Lord’s Supper. (1) The
Supper is to be practiced in the church (1 Co. 11:18, 20, individual must be a born again Christian (1 Co.
22, 33, 34). Those who observe the Lord’s Supper 10:16-17). (2) The individual must be a baptized
privately or in various settings apart from the church member of the church (Ac. 2:41-42; 1 Co. 5:11;
(conferences, radio, homes) are ignoring the Bible 11:20,33-34). (3) The individual must be in fellowship
pattern. with the Lord (1 Co. 11:27-31). This involves striving to
live in obedience to the Bible and carefully confessing
The Four-fold Look of the Lord’s Supper (1) The one’s sins (Jn. 8:31-32; 1 Jn. 1:5-10).
backward look (1 Co. 11:24-25). The Lord’s Supper
causes the believer to look back to the cross of Christ, Restricted Communion. Some object to placing
which is the source of his salvation. (2) The look around restrictions on the Lord’s Supper, saying we have no
(1 Co. 11:25, 26 “ye”; see also 1 Co. 10:16-17). When right to restrict the Lord’s table. But the Bible teaches
we take the Lord’s Supper we should be reminded that differently. Following are ways in which the Bible gives
we are part of a body, a family, of believers and that we clear restrictions in this ordinance: 1. The Lord’s Supper

370 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity