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The intimate communities of the early New Testament church enjoyed the Lord’s Supper as a full meal. It was central to their church practice.
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Covenantal Celebration
The observation of the Lord’s Supper by the early church was much more than a religious activity. It was a celebration of the Lord Jesus Christ and His role in the fulfillment of the redemptive Eternal Covenant. During this present age, the New Testament church is the blessed beneficiary of the Eternal Covenant. Fundamentally, its benefit is an eternal union with God. Relative to the Fall, the union necessitated that humanity be blessed with new law and new life. Through the new law of the Eternal Covenant the New Testament church could become legally suitable with God. By its new life it could be made organically compatible. The covenantal benefit of legal suitability and organic compatibility with God are worthy of celebration. Legal suitability with God required Him to change fallen man into a state of harmony with the perfections of His nature. Congruent with His justice, God could not provide the new rule of law without first justifying the fallen elect from all transgression of the old rule of law, the “law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:2) Consequently, He sent His Son to earth to satisfy His role in the fulfillment of the Eternal Covenant, the means by which He could justly redeem the fallen. Fully justified by benefit of the Eternal Covenant, the redeemed of the church have been forgiven of all transgression of the law of sin and of death; past, present and future. In addition, they have received an imputation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. His perfect righteousness credited to their account, the requirement of the rule of law was not merely fulfilled for the New Testament church but in the church. (Romans 8:4a) As a result, God could present it with an eternally binding, legal declaration of righteousness. Fully justified from all transgression of the “law of sin and of death,” the New Testament church was “released” from its jurisdiction. However, it is not without obligation to God. By the benefit of the Eternal Covenant it is forever bound to Him by a new law. The new law of the Eternal Covenant is referred to in the New Testament as the “law of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2) It is further described as the “law of faith,” the “Spirit of life (zoe) in Christ Jesus,” the “perfect law,” and the “law of liberty.” (Romans 3:27; 8:2; James 1:25; 2:12) The “law of Christ” is often referred to in this book as the “rule of life.” Justified from all transgression of the “law of sin and of death,” the New Testament church became legally suitable to share life (zoe) with God. Its new life shared with Him is the life (zoe) of Jesus Christ, the mediator of the Eternal Covenant. Sharing life with the Mediator of the Eternal Covenant demanded the conversion or transfiguration of legally suitable mankind. It was fulfilled by God through regeneration and spiritual birth. By regeneration God reforms or recreates the human spirit. As a result, it is changed into a new and improved state accommodative of new life. Through spiritual birth, the “Spirit of life (zoe) in Christ Jesus” permanently resides within the regenerated spirit of redeemed mankind. (Romans 8:2) Consequently, Christ and the redeemed are joined together spiritually in an eternal union of shared life. The Lord Jesus Christ is worthy of celebration. Through His role in the fulfillment of the redemptive Eternal Covenant, the New Testament church is the blessed beneficiary of new law and new life. Concordant with apostolic tradition, the Lord’s Supper observed as a full meal in intimate, small group community is the most effective environment for celebrating the new law and life of the Eternal Covenant and ultimately, Jesus, its mediator. |
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Covenantal Sign
The observance of the Lord’s Supper was not only a covenantal celebration but a covenantal sign. It is the sign of the redemptive Eternal Covenant. Like every other major covenant of the Bible, the Eternal Covenant was recognized by a sign. Implemented by God, covenantal signs constitute a visible representation of the purpose and fidelity of His covenants. For example, the sign of the Renovation Covenant is the tree of life (zoe), symbolic of the provision of eternal life (zoe) available to mankind after the renovation of the earth (Genesis 2:9; Revelation 22:2; 14); the sign of the Noahic Covenant is the rainbow, symbolic of the continuation of the provision of eternal life (zoe) that once again became available to mankind after the flood (Genesis 9:12-17); the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant is circumcision, symbolic of the provision of eternal life (zoe) for the nation of Israel (Genesis 17:9-14; Deuteronomy 30:6; Romans 2:29); the sign of the Mosaic Covenant is the Sabbath, symbolic of the rest associated with eternal life (zoe) for the nation of Israel (Exodus 31:12-17); the sign of the Davidic Covenant is the throne of eternal life (zoe), symbolic of the rule of eternal life (zoe) over the nation of Israel (2 Samuel 7:4-17); and the sign of the New Covenant is not the throne of life (zoe), but the ruler of life (zoe) on the throne for the nation of Israel. It will be satisfied in the future by the “Prince of life (zoe)” on the throne, Jesus the Messiah (2 Samuel 7:16; Psalm 72; 89:20-37). In distinct contrast to other covenantal signs, the sign of the Eternal Covenant is a meal. In the Old Testament era, it was celebrated by the Jewish Passover. During the Church Age, it is celebrated by the Lord’s Supper. The purpose of both meals will be fulfilled in the future by the heavenly “Marriage Supper of the Lamb.” The Jewish Passover was a celebration of God’s sparing of the firstborn of the Israelites from the plague of death and the nation of Israel being set free from enslavement to Egypt. According to the stipulations of the Passover celebration, the ancient Israelites were instructed to sacrifice a lamb and apply its blood on the posts and lintel of the door to their houses. (Exodus 12:1-7) Wherever the blood was applied, the Lord would spare the firstborn of the household. “For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you.” (Exodus 12:23) Afterward, the Israelites were directed to eat a symbolic, celebratory meal. (Exodus 12:8-11) It was to include a sacrificial lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs. In the Old Testament, both the Passover Feast and the nation of Egypt are examples of typology. “A type is a shadow cast on the pages of Old Testament history by a truth whose full embodiment or antitype is found in the New Testament revelation.”1 The Old Testament Passover meal was a type for the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ later revealed in the New Testament. (Exodus 12:5; 6; 46; cf. Matthew 27:46; John 19:33-37; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:19) Relative to its role in the captivity of Israel, Egypt presented a type for enslavement to sin and death. It is a concept explored more fully in the New Testament. (Galatians 4:2; Romans 6:17; 1 Corinthians 10:1ff) The Jewish Feast of Passover was a celebration of deliverance from enslavement to sin and death through the payment of a sacrifice. It was an Old Testament type that looked forward to ultimate deliverance from sin and death realized through the future arrival of the Messiah and His role in the fulfillment of the stipulations of the Eternal Covenant. The elements of the Passover meal were symbolic of Messiah Jesus and His sacrificial work. He is identified in the New Testament as the “true” Lamb of God. (John 1:29, 36; Revelation 5:6-12) The blood of the Passover lamb, the unleavened bread, and the bitter herbs were symbolic of the pain and suffering associated with His sacrificial death. Thus, the Old Testament Passover celebration emphasized the sacrificial death of the Messiah. It would initiate the fulfillment of the Eternal Covenant in the future. Like other divine or heavenly covenants, the Eternal Covenant was characterized by at least four essential elements. Although some variation may occur, they included: |
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The preamble and background of the Eternal Covenant were established in eternity. The participants of the Eternal Covenant were Father, Son, and Spirit. Their identity and relationship are illuminated throughout the pages of Scripture.
The stipulations of the Eternal Covenant were initiated between the members of the Godhead before the foundation of the world and fulfilled in time. Redemptive in nature, they included the willing death of the Son, His resurrection by the Father, and the application of the covenantal benefit of eternal life (zoe) to fallen humanity by the Spirit. The ratification of the Eternal Covenant was also fulfilled in time. It was accomplished through the event commonly referred to as the “Last Supper.” “While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. ‘But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom’.” (Matthew 26:26-29) While Jesus was eating the supper of ratification with His disciples, He called upon the Father and gave a blessing. It emphasized the importance of the event. During the meal, Jesus ratified the Eternal Covenant with an oath. He promised, “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.” The oath of ratification constituted a promise of kingdom citizenship for His disciples. The meal of ratification for the Eternal Covenant was fulfilled during a celebration of the Jewish Passover. Therefore, it is important to note that it was celebrated as a full meal. Shortly after the meal of ratification Jesus Christ would satisfy the stipulations of the Eternal Covenant by His death and resurrection. The bread and cup associated with the meal of ratification were symbolic of His sacrificial death. Without His death there could be no resurrection and consequently, no sharing of His resurrection life with the fallen. Thus, the bread and cup were ultimately symbolic of the fulfillment of the promise of the Eternal Covenant. The ratification of the redemptive Eternal Covenant was characterized by an oath and accompanied by a sign. The oath provided His disciples with the promise of kingdom citizenship. “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.” (Matthew 26:29) As indicated, the sign of the covenant was the meal of ratification. The early New Testament church celebrated the past ratification of the Eternal Covenant with a meal. Rather than the Feast of Passover, the celebratory meal celebrated by the ecclesia was referred to as the “Agape Feast” or the “Lord’s Supper.” (Jude 12) © 2023 James Hiatt |
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