Q81. What is required for receiving the Lord's Supper worthily?
Those who wish to partake of the Lord's Supper worthily are required to examine themselves: whether they have the knowledge to discern the Lord's body, the faith to feed on Him, genuine repentance, love, and a renewed obedience. This self-examination is essential, because those who receive the Supper unworthily eat and drink judgment on themselves.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
1 Corinthians 11:28–29
“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”
2 Corinthians 13:5
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
1 Corinthians 11:31
“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”
1 Corinthians 11:18–20
“For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.”
1 Corinthians 5:8
“Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
1 Corinthians 11:27–29
“Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”