All civilized nations and kingdoms have constitutions; and in their constitutions they have declared who are members of the social compact. Besides those who constitute the community at the time a constitution is adopted, they say who shall compose the community in al time coming; that is, who shall be admitted into it, and by what means they shall become members of it. They have always decreed that their own posterity shall inherit their political rights and immunities. But they have, also, ordained that foreigners; that is, members of other communities, may become, by adoption, or naturalization, citizens, or fellow members, of the same community. They have, in their wisdom and benevolence, instituted a rite or form of adoption, or naturalization, which form has much meaning; and which, when submitted to, changes the state of the subject from stranger to fellow-citizen. This rite or form adoption in Christianity is called baptism, and all who expect to become members of the divine institution called the Church of Christ have to be baptized BEFORE they can expect to be allowed the rights and privileges afforded members. When, in this new kingdom, the rules and rites of that said kingdom become sacred and holy to the new entrant as it has been to all who ever wore the name of the King to which they show allegiance. No one will or could affront or confront the King by denying Him His due in these rites; especially if He has posted information about these wishes abroad concerning their observance. In the kingdom of Christ there is such a rite and all who are baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sin are honor bound to assemble together every Sunday, until Christ returns, to remember His death, burial, and resurrection as He has requested!! This rite, invitation, request of the King is called the Lord’s Supper.
On the Lord’s table, there is of necessity but ONE loaf of unleavened bread unlike that of the Old Covenant with its twelve. It is a necessity arising from the meaning of the Institution as explained by the Apostles. As there is but one literal body and this body has many members; so there must be but one bread! Paul insists upon this in 1 Corinthians 12:20. The singular use of the word loaf is defended on the grounds of a grammatical rule of Greek. The Greek word artos, especially when joined with words of number, always signify a loaf, In Matthew 16:9; “Do you not remember the five loaves;?” there is a quantity inferred, but if there is no quantity it is indispensably rendered loaf. Thus we say one loaf, seven loaves; not one bread, seven breads. “Because there is one loaf”, says Paul, we must consider the whole congregation as one body. Here the Apostle reasons from what is more plain to what is less plain; from what was established to what was not so fully established in the minds of the Corinthians. There was absolutely no dispute about the one loaf; therefore, there ought to be none about the one body!! It is then, an established rule that there is but one loaf. The apostle establishes his argument by a reference to it as an established fact. An established fact that there is but ONE body and that body is the Church of Christ of which there are many members has to follow logically and Biblically!!
Christians are members of the house of family of Christ, Hebrews 3:6; 1 Peter 2:5, and are called and constituted a holy and royal priesthood, and may, therefore, bless God for the Lord’s table, its loaf, and cup—approach it without fear and partake of it with joy, as often as He commands, in remembrance of the death of their Lord and Savior. We, “as living stones, are built up a spiritual temple, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices most acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
