People who are qualified to take part in the holy feast

We all can eat the ordinary food. But Lord’s Supper is the special food, therefore all cannot take part in this. Those who are qualified alone can take part in the Lord’s Supper. Let us see the qualifications that are needed to take part in the holy feast.

1. True Repentance

First qualification to take part in the Lord’s Supper is that the one that takes part in Lord’s Supper should have experienced true repentance. A person should regret for the sins committed in the past and decide that he would not commit such sins again, the person should also stop worshiping idols and he should also accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. That is what we call as true repentance.

Repentance is the first spiritual experience in the life of every person. It is necessary for all the men who are born in flesh to have this spiritual experience of repentance. This enables the repented believer to take part in Lord’s Supper. But repentance alone is not enough for a person to take part in Lord’s Supper. One who has repented of his sins should progress towards the next spiritual experience.

2. Salvation through forgiveness of sins

Salvation refers to deliverance. Salvation through forgiveness of sins refers to the deliverance from the punishment a person receives for all the sins he had committed in his life. Sins that are born in the thoughts and inthemind are cleansed by the anointing of Holy Spirit. “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:11). Sins that are present in soul should be washed by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (I John 1:7). “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood…” (Revelation 1:5). Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth away the sins that we have in our soul. The sinful stains we have in our body should be cleansed by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by obeying the word of God. “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (II Corinthians 7:1). “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:11).

Assurance of sins being forgiven is the second spiritual experience. One who takes part in Lord’s Supper should have the assurance of his sins been forgiven. But to take part in Lord’s Supper this spiritual experience alone is not enough. He should also have next spiritual experience.

3. Baptism into death

Baptism means burying the natural sins that has been dwelling from the birth of man (Roman 7:20). So baptism is a burial service. That is why this is referred to as baptism into death in Romans 6:4 “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” In Matthew 28:19 we read that we have to receive baptism in the name of the Holy Father, son and the Lord Holy Spirit. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…“

Since the natural sin that has been present in man, prompting him to do sin has been buried through baptism then afterwards he won’t have the promptness to commit sin. Every person has to receive this third spiritual experience. “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. “(Acts 2:41).

4. Becoming member in the church of God

Baptism gives the qualification to become the member of the church of God. “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. “(Acts 2:41). That is, they all became the members of the church of God. Those who have not been baptized can also participate in the worship but we can call them only as visitors.

The members of the church alone have the right to participate in the activities of the church. Similarly the members of the church alone have the right to take part in the holy feast. It is good if any believer would have another spiritual experience too.

5. Gift of the Holy Spirit

People who have obeyed in the waters of baptism can also receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”(Acts 2:38). Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit is the fourth spiritual experience. People who claim to be believers should have received the gift of Holy Spirit. “and Peter asked them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” (Acts 19:2).

Since what we share in the Lord’s supper is spiritual food believers who have received the gift of holy spirit, we can say they alone are fully qualified to take part in it. People who take part in Lord’s Supper should not only possess all the above mentioned spiritual experiences they should also follow certain other things.

6. The dove that was inside the ark of Noah

Noah sent a dove from the ark to know if the water had been dried. “Then he sent out a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground.” (Gen. 8:8, 9). Noah’s ark is being compared to Lord Jesus Christ. The dove did not eat anything from outside of the ark of Noah. So it ate only the food that was given inside the ark. Dove represents holiness. In the same way believer who takes part in the Lord’s Supper should not pollute himself with the things of the world like liquor, alcohol, cigarette, any drugs etc. Like the dove a believer should preserve his holiness. Then only believer will be qualified to take part in the Lord’s holy feast.

7. Abstain from sexual relations

What is being served in the Lord’s Supper is holy sacrament. Ahimelek the priest said to David if the young men have kept themselves from women he would give them the consecrated breador shew bread. (I Samuel 21:4, 5). David replied, ‘Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men’s bodies are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!’ So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the LORD and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away.” The same idea has been given in Exodus 19:15. “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations“.

The sexual relationship between a husband and a wife is not considered sin. But it is necessary for a person to abstain from sexual relation before two days from taking part in Lord’s Supper. Then the believer gets the qualification to take part in Lord’s Supper. If a believer is going to take part in Lord’s Supper on Sunday he should abstain from having sexual relation on previous Friday and Saturday. This is an additional qualification to take part in Lord’s Supper.