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How to Examine Yourself Biblically Before the Lord’s Supper: A Reformed Guide

How to Examine Yourself Biblically Before the Lord’s Supper: A Reformed Guide

Posted on May 16, 2025 | By Shecaniah_Grace

Bible open to Scripture beside a silver chalice and unleavened bread on a wooden table, symbolizing the Lord's Supper.

The Lord’s Supper is not merely a tradition—it is a means of grace and a sacred moment of covenant renewal with Christ. As Paul exhorts in 1 Corinthians 11:28, “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”

But what does it mean to examine yourself biblically? And how do Reformed believers approach this in a way that is faithful, humble, and Christ-centered?

1. Understand the Meaning of the Table

Before self-examination, we must know what we’re approaching. The Lord’s Supper is a visible sign and seal of the gospel. It proclaims Christ’s death (1 Cor. 11:26) and strengthens our union with Him. The Reformed tradition teaches that while the elements are not transformed, Christ is spiritually present by faith to nourish His people.

2. Examine Your Faith

Ask: Am I trusting in Christ alone for my salvation? The Table is for those who believe—not the perfect, but the penitent. As the Heidelberg Catechism says, we must come “believing the gracious promise of God” and with hearts that detest our sin.

3. Examine Your Repentance

Self-examination includes a heartfelt turning from sin. Are there sins I’m clinging to? Have I repented before the Lord? Communion is not for the unrepentant or those walking in known rebellion (1 Cor. 11:27), but for those who grieve their sin and cling to the mercy of Christ.

4. Examine Your Love for the Church

Communion is not just vertical—it’s horizontal. Are you harboring unforgiveness, division, or strife with a brother or sister in Christ? Paul warned the Corinthians not to eat “without discerning the body,” meaning the gathered body of believers (1 Cor. 11:29).

5. Approach with Reverence and Joy

Self-examination should not paralyze us with guilt, but lead us to the cross. We come not in fear of condemnation, but in faith and reverence. As John Calvin said, “This table is not for the perfect, but for the weak who trust in Christ.”

Final Thoughts

Examination is not about self-righteousness—it’s about humility. It’s a moment to confess, believe, and come. The Lord’s Table is a gift. Examine yourself, then come hungry for grace, and feast upon Christ by faith.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." – Matthew 5:6

Tags: Lord’s Supper, Communion, Reformed Theology, Self-Examination, Christian Life, Biblical Devotion, Gospel, Spiritual Growth

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