The Past, Present and Future Aspects of the Lord's Supper

Jesus said “As often as you do this, in Remembrance of Me”. We look back to the sacrifice of Christ and remember that we were justified in our salvation.

Secondly, not only does Communion call us to remember Christ’s sacrifice, it calls us to reflection Christ’s sanctification of us. We were saved when we received Christ and are being saved as we daily grow to become more like Christ.

But the third aspect of the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, is the Future coming of Christ, and His ultimate revelation in glory. Paul said in 1 Cor. 11:26, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” Jesus said, “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.” (Matt 26:29)

We not only remember we have been justified in the past, we not only reflect that we are being sanctified in the present as day by day we get closer to the kingdom of heaven and more and more Christ is being reflected in our daily lives.

But we look also to the future, on the revelation of Christ, and how Christ will quickly come just as He promised and on that day, we will be saved in the past, that’s justification, nor only be being saved in the present, that’s sanctification, but we will be ultimately and completely saved, and that is glorification!

This aspect of past, present and future tense can also be seen in our salvation. We are in the world and yet not of the world (John 17:11, 16), speaking of our past sins, present struggle and future assured salvation.

Also in John 5:24, Jesus describes the three aspects of salvation. 

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

He said that we have “passed from death to life” (past tense), and also that whoever believe in Christ “has everlasting life” (present tense), and then He promised that we “shall not come into judgment” (future tense).