The Command of Communion

We're gonna be looking at the command of communion this morning the passage before us is 1st Corinthians chapter 11 verses 23 through 26 and For the sake of context we're gonna start back at verse 17 1st Corinthians 11 the command of communion.

Paul Rebukes Division and Abuse of the Lord’s Supper

The command of communion 1st Corinthians 11 will start in verse 17. The Word of God says this. Paul starts here by saying but in giving this Instruction referring back to his instructions on dress and head coverings for women in the church.

He continues his thoughts and we find him saying this he says but in giving this instruction I do not praise you but because you come together not for the betterment, but for the worse. For in the first place when you come together as a church I hear that divisions exist among you and in part I believe it.

For there must also be factions among you so that those who are approved may become evident among you. Therefore when you meet together in the same place It is not to eat the Lord's Supper. For in your eating each one takes his own supper first and one is hungry and another is drunk.

For do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the Church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in? This I will not praise you. Verse 23.

Remembering Christ’s Body in the Bread

For I received from the Lord which I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was being betrayed took bread and When he had given thanks he broke it and said This is my body which is for you.

Do this in remembrance of me in The same way he took the cup also after supper saying This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner Shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must test himself and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

For he who eats and drinks eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly we would not be judged.

But when we are judged we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world. The command of communion. The command of communion. First Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul to encourage the church to encourage the church and the foundational truths for godly behavior and the truth of the gospel and To admonish the church for their immorality for their pride their worldliness abuse of the Lord's Supper and the proper use of spiritual gifts.

Paul's solutions to these problems and really the questions at the local congregation of Corinth are highlighted in the calling of the church the instruction of the church and the hope of the church. Paul gave apostolistic instructions based on the Spirit's illumination to the problems and questions of the church at Corinth while reminding the believers of the source of their call to personal holiness in the Practical truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and of course his future return.

Paul opened his letter with the reminder to the church that they had been Insanctified by Christ and for this reason they had a calling to spiritual fruit. He reminded the Corinthians that there are two needs for the church.

Regarding any disunity amongst the body of Christ. The first was the need for unity. He reminded the people that they were not to be divided in their views of the ministry of himself or Apollos. Paul reminded the church that their salvation was not produced by men.

But by God through Jesus Christ. There is no ministry, but the ministry of Christ. The second need was a servanthood mentality among the people. Paul spoke about the need for acting as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysterious power of the gospel and he encouraged the people to emulate him to emulate his example of humble servanthood.

Servant to toward others and toward the end of the letter Paul addressed the right understanding and practice of Communion. And so as we come together now on the first Sunday You know of the month we are gonna enjoy the the Lord's table together the communion.

So let us now look at these Wonderful insights from Scripture on the command of communion. It's in this context that Paul makes his comments About the Lord's table the idea that there is a right understanding and practice of communion regarding communion the story has been told of the famous Scottish theologian John Duncan of New College in Edinburgh.

At a communion one Sunday when the elements came to a specific person it was a 16 year old girl. She suddenly turned her head to the side. She motioned for the elder to take the cup away and that she couldn't drink it.

Obviously something was going on in her heart. John Duncan famously reached his long arm over touched her on the on the shoulder and said tenderly take it this is for sinners and. So I start with that illustration because we must be reminded of the glorious truths that we are proclaiming when we take communion.

That Christ died for us that he gave his body for our life that he shed his blood for our eternal salvation. And That we are proclaiming these truths. We are remembering what Christ has done for us. So wherever we are at in our life in this world We can reflect upon the goodness of God and proclaim these truths until the Lord returns.

The communion table is for sinners. Redeemed by the grace of God. What an amazing truth and remembering these truths. What a joy it is for the soul. What a refreshment the tender loving care of Christ displayed in the Lord's table.

In his first letter to the church in Corinth the Apostle Explains two enlightening reasons for the command of communion from the Lord Jesus. So that you can understand the significance of partaking in the Lord's table.

Two helpful and clear reasons for communion. Number one remembering Christ's body verses 23 and 24. And number two remembering Christ's blood verses 25 and 26. Two helpful and clear reasons for communion.

Number one remembering Christ's body. Look again with me at verse 23. For I received from the Lord that which I also Delivered to you that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was being betrayed took bread.

Paul points out that his direction for the Corinthians practice of the ordinance of communion is not from himself. Wasn't Paul eyes deep. It wasn't Paul. I you know that was coming up with this as an idea or some new thought.

No, he says he received this from the Lord. He uses a word here that means to gain control of or even receive jurisdiction over something to take it over to receive it specifically of a mental or spiritual heritage.

Especially of mysteries and ceremonies that one receives by tradition, but this is not the tradition of men. I Delivered this to you from the Lord. Paul really in speaking about how he was called by God as a servant.

He says this in Galatians chapter 1 this is a verse 11 and 12. He says for I make known to you brothers that the gospel which I am proclaiming is good news is not according to man. For I neither received it from man nor was I taught.

But I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Same same concept here Paul is saying I conveyed something in which I was entrusted as one who has relatively strong personal interest in something to hand it over to give over to deliver to entrust and He now paints the picture into the events of the Lord's Supper on the night in which Jesus was betrayed.

Imagine a picture screen has been illuminated and we get to see what happened that night. We're spectators at the table. We can be a fly on the wall. We see Christ and we hear the very words of our Lord and An important observation is is made we we we understand that first they all ate together and Then it followed with the celebration of the Lord's table communion.

Unfortunately in the church in Corinth the fellowship meal had become a time when people just ate and drank excessively. While others went hungry they there were others who ate greedily and without care for others needs and Even those who drank wine to excess and got drunk.

There was little sharing and caring. You know. You don't want to be the guy at the party that always takes like the last slice of pizza the last donut or the last cookie or. Or worse, you know, you just kind of take a little bit too big of a serving and you don't care about anybody else in the room.

Maybe even worse one who lacks self-control and drinks too much. Right, that's a good habit. Anyway, don't take the last donut every time and as I'm saying that I'm thinking of like what we served in our Sunday school.

But I take the last Rice Krispie treat this morning. But there's a heart attitude that's behind what's going on here in Corinth. Something just is kind of not right says we're coming to the Lord's table.

You guys are getting drunk. You're eating food and acting in this way without care for others. Paul needed to give a strong rebuke in this section of his letter because it had been reported that folks were acting like gluttons and not leaving food for others and Some were becoming intoxicated on the wine.

What a drastic concern think about it from Paul's point of view from a pastoral or shepherding perspective this certainly did not demonstrate the unity and love that should characterize the local congregation and This is specifically about the believers in Corinth and it most certainly was not a preparation for communion.

Paul strongly condemned these actions and the Apostle reminded the assembly of believers about the real purpose of the Lord's Supper the Significance of the Lord's table based on the command from the Lord.

The sacrifice of Christ's Physical body is the reason we eat the bread. The sacrifice of Christ's physical body is the reason we eat the bread. He continues verse 24. He says and when he had given thanks He broke it referring to Christ and said this is my body which is for you do this in remembrance of me.

The explanation comes first the bread represents Christ's body which he gave Voluntarily for you. He gave it voluntarily. He gave his body for you that you might live. So what does the Lord's Supper mean?

Well, the early church remembered that Jesus an Instituted the Lord's Supper on the night of the Passover meal. So if we just simply look back to the gospel. That we can look at the gospel of Luke here.

You can turn to your Bibles here. This is a fairly long segment. Yeah, look at this exchange look at this eyewitness test, you know testimony the historical accuracy of the gospel of Luke. Luke chapter 22.

Luke chapter 22 starting in verse 14. We see these words. And when the hour had come he reclined at the table and the Apostles with him and He said to them. I Suffer for I say to you I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

And When he had taken a cup and given thanks, he said take this and share it among yourselves. For I say to you I will not drink of the first fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes and We when he had taken some bread and given thanks He broke it and gave it to them saying this is my body which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me and in the same way? He took the cup after they had eaten saying this cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold the hand of the one betraying me is with me on the table.

For indeed the Son of Man is going as it has been determined but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed and they began to argue among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing and You can turn back to 1st Corinthians.

There was a connection to the timing of the Lord's celebrating Passover with the Apostles. Just as Passover celebrated deliverance from Slavery in Egypt for the nation of Israel. So the Lord's Supper celebrates deliverance from sin by Christ's death.

One commentator made this note. He said Christians pose several different possibilities for what Christ meant when he said This is my body and he points out some of the different positions through church history.

He says some believe that the bread and wine actually become Christ's physical body and blood. I'm not seeing that in the text. Another option other others believe that the bread and wine remain unchanged.

But Christ is spiritually present with the bread and wine and I'm just thinking of God's omnipresence. Isn't Christ spiritually present in every second of every hour of every day, so I don't think that's correct.

Still others believe that the bread and wine symbolize Christ's body and Blood. Christians generally agree that Participating in the Lord's Supper is an important element in the Christian faith and that Christ's presence.

However, we understand it strengthens us Spiritually, but we need to just simply listen to what the Word of God says and we can get some clarity here. Any confusion is cleared by cleared up really by the command that followed the explanation.

So first was the explanation now the command do this in remembrance of me. Do this in remembrance of me in Capturing Christ. Exact and precise words. Paul accurately recorded the word that means to do to make or to work.

This is an imperative verb. It's used here and repeated again in verse 25. We're looking at verse 24. Same thing in verse 25. It means to undertake or do something to undertake or do something that brings about an event a state a condition.

This is to cause to bring about to accomplish to prepare to do. And Christ said do this in remembrance of me eat this bread that represents my bodily sacrifice for you in remembrance of me. The sacrifice of Christ physical body is the reason we eat the bread and.

The following command is the same with the variation of the cup in place of the bread. Same command but different significance. The shedding of Christ's lifeblood is the reason we drink the cup. The shedding of Christ's lifeblood is the reason we drink the cup.

Remembering Christ’s Blood in the Cup

Look at verse 25 in the same way He took the cup also after supper saying this cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. The literal word for blood is the basic component of an organism but with the figure it a figurative extension of blood is Constituting the life of an individual life blood.

When talking of the Old Testament law or even just thinking about the Old Testament We understand that we see that blood sacrifice is required for the forgiveness of sins. You know even thinking about this this morning in our Sunday school.

We were looking at Genesis chapter 4 and how? Cain's offering was rejected yet Abel's was accepted and we can get into a discussion there that there was no blood sacrifice Offered and even that early early time of pointing to the sacrifice of blood for the forgiveness of sins.

That's another sermon. Price. Christ points the Apostles back to the Old Testament as he mentions the New Covenant. This is important language specific language. The Greek word Paul uses here for covenant literally means last will and testament so last will and testament in terms of the Hellenistic age of the Greek civilization a Testament is the declaration of one one person's initiative, right?

Not the result of an agreement between two parties. Unlike a compact or a contract in the covenants of God. It was God alone who set the conditions hence covenant. So what is the New Covenant? Well to understand that we simply look back to the Old Testament in the Old Covenant people could approach God only through the priest and the sacrificial system set up by the Lord by Yahweh.

But the death of our Lord changed that the bodily sacrifice the shedding of blood by Jesus changed that Jesus's death on the cross brought in the New Covenant agreement and Reconciliation between God and man between God and fallen sinner.

Now every person redeemed by the blood of Jesus can personally approach God. You can personally approach God and communicate with him through prayer and through reading his word. Thinking about the Old Testament the Israelites first entered into this agreement this covenant after their exodus from Egypt.

We can look back even to Exodus in this section of Exodus in chapter 24 this is verses 6 through 8. We see this context of Yahweh the Lord cutting his covenant with the nation of Israel. It says in Exodus 24 starting in verse 6 and Moses took Half of the blood and put it in basins and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people and they said all That the Lord has spoken we will do and we will be obedient. So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said behold the blood of the covenant.

Which the Lord has cut with you in accordance with all these words. The Old Covenant was designed to point to the day when Jesus Christ would come the forgiveness of sins by blood sacrifice the shedding of blood.

The New Covenant Completes rather than replaces the Old Covenant. It is fulfilling everything the Old Covenant looked forward to as foretold by the prophets. So when Jesus says this term the New Covenant, we need to think about what he is referring to.

Well, if there's a New Covenant, it goes logically there must be an Old Covenant. He's talking about right? Well, the New Covenant is mentioned in the in the Old Testament by the Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah chapter 31 starting in verse 31.

He makes this statement and this is thus says the Lord by the mouth of the Prophet Jeremiah chapter 31. Behold days are coming declares Yahweh. When I will cut a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

Not like the Old Covenant which I cut with their fathers and the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of The land of Egypt my covenant which they broke but I was a husband to them declares Yahweh.

But this is the covenant which I will cut with the house of Israel after those days declares the Lord. I will put my law within them and on their heart I will write it and I will be their God and they shall be my people and They will not teach again.

Each man is neighbor and each man is brother saying no the Lord for they will all know me. From the least of them to the greatest of them declares the Lord for I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.

I will remember no more and Jesus says I am the new covenant. He's the Messiah. He's the promised Savior of the people of Israel and by extension all people on the face of the planet earth all people.

Eating and the bread and drinking the cup shows that we are remembering Christ's death for us. By this act of remembrance. We are renewing our commitment to serve him. The shedding of Christ's lifeblood is the reason we drink the cup.

The shedding of Christ's lifeblood is the reason we drink the cup. And finally in verse 26 for as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup you Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. Paul puts a final point on his comments explaining the significance of communion.

He explained the reasons for the commands from the Lord Jesus. The sacrifice of Christ's physical body is the reason we eat the bread. The shedding of Christ's lifeblood is the reason we drink the cup.

Paul says that when we do this we are Proclaiming the death of the Lord until he comes again. The Apostle is always looking forward to the return of Christ in This reality we are to live. We are to live in light of this truth That Jesus is coming back.

Our Thoughts our words our actions must live under the weight of this glorious truth the Lord is returning as With many if not of really of all of Paul's writings. The Apostle is constantly Constantly reminding the various local congregations that he planted to live in the fact that Jesus is coming back.

To gather his people the church to himself. The assembly the gathering the called-out ones sinners redeemed by the grace of God. He's coming back to gather us to gather all believers and this takes us really back to the purpose and theme of 1st Corinthians.

The epistle of 1st Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul to encourage the believers there the church in the foundational truths of godly behavior and the gospel and to admonish the church for their immorality their pride and worldliness their abuse of the Lord's table and the proper use of spiritual gifts.

A Few of the themes of the letter include the Lord's Supper God's judgments the resurrection and of course the return of Christ. I mean even earlier in the letter in 1st Corinthians chapter 4 in the context of being a servant of Christ.

1st Corinthians 4 verse 5 Paul said earlier. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and make Manifest the motives of hearts and then each one's praise will come to him from God.

Even in the context of the letter in general We're looking at the return of Christ the Lord's Supper and everything We do must be in this reality and then we see these comments about the Lord's table from Paul.

Communion is a very serious matter. It's a very serious matter. Think about what the Lord is saying what Paul is pointing out here. That we proclaim the Lord's death. This is a very serious matter. Paul caps his explanation off with a serious warning.

We would all do well to listen to this morning. Look at verse 27. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord and.

So a few times here that we've taken communion praise God what a blessing and gift it is. I've made some comments About whether we should be taking communion. We need to think about what Paul is saying here very seriously in the context of our passage.

He is immediately referring to not eating food and drinking wine in the fellowship preceding the act of Communion. So we need to stay in in the context. Right, but the biblical principle of not partaking in the Lord's table in an unworthy manner.

Obviously transcends food and drink. The Lord is interested in our hearts and where we are with him having a right relationship with him and others. So let's think about this in a few ways first. The Lord's table is for the professing Christian.

The Lord's table is for the professing Christian. Logically, just think about it. An unbeliever who does not profess Jesus as Lord bears no meaningful expression in proclaiming the Lord's return. You're not proclaiming that the that Jesus is the Lord of your life in taking communion.

You have no meaningful expression in proclaiming the Lord's return let alone the physical sacrifice of his blood and in his body. Second the ordinance of baptism should not be circumvented or neglected in the pit in the place of the Lord's table.

The first command of obedience for the sinner redeemed by the grace of God is to be baptized. We can just think about the Great Commission. Matthew 28. And Jesus came and spoke to them saying all Authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to keep all that I commanded you and Behold, I am with you always even to the end of the age.

And one could say well. Yeah, but you know the the portion of the Lord's table happened before this. Yeah, but he hadn't given his life yet. How could you take the the bread and cup and in remembering his death if he hadn't died yet?

Just think about that. Even thinking about what we've been talking about with church membership. We've looked at Acts chapter 2 quite a bit in this section of Acts. We see that 3 ,000 souls were saved now when they heard this.

They were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles men brothers What should we do. And Peter said to them repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. For the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

On the other side of the cross Peter didn't say you should participate in the Lord's table. He said repent and be baptized. So just help helpful to think about the chronological order here. When Jesus commanded the ordinance of the Lord's table, he had not yet sacrificed his body and his blood.

The command of baptism is the first command of obedience for the sinner who has repented and believed. Then that redeemed sinner Enjoys the Lord's table in proclaiming that Christ died for himself or herself.

The first command of obedience for the sinner redeemed by the grace of God is to be baptized. Now I don't believe this is what Paul means when he warns of not taking communion in an unworthy manner. The context is greediness and drunkenness in the fellowship meal not taking communion.

If a person is not baptized, but is taking communion remember there is now no condemnation in Christ. However, I need to point out that there is no biblical basis for abstaining from baptism yet participating in the Lord's table.

I have not heard a biblical argument for that that does not qualify for unworthy participation. This is a personal matter between that person and the Lord. When thinking about Paul's statement here in verse 27, we should look to supporting scripture for clarity.

We always want to look at supporting scripture. Jesus has said much on the topic of worship in the context of personal relationships. Amongst believers the Sermon on the Mount really in a section where he's teaching about anger in Matthew chapter 5.

Starting in verse 21. He says you have heard that our ancestors were told you must not murder if you commit murder. You are subject to judgment, but I say if you are even angry with someone you are subject to judgment.

If you call someone an idiot you are in danger of being brought before the court and If you curse someone you are in danger of the fires of hell. So if you are presenting a Sacrifice at the altar in the temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you.

Leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person then come and offer your sacrifice to God. What an important principle that we need to think about before we go to the Lord's table.

Our Relationship with the Lord in our relationship with others. If you are unreconciled with fellow believers I would strongly suggest you think very carefully about Participating in the Lord's table until you make things, right?

I don't want to stand up here and preach that you should abstain from taking the Lord's table. That's not what the Word of God says. He doesn't say abstain from worship. He says stop and go and make it right.

You're actually commanded to reconcile with the other person. We ought not to take the position that the Lord's table is not an act of worship. This is not justifiable in the passage from the Sermon on the Mount.

We are not called to abstain. We are commanded to be reconciled to fellow believers as God graciously reconciled you to himself through the body sacrifice of Christ and shedding his blood for the forgiveness of sins.

So then how much more ought we? Overlook bear up with. Forgive. To be reconciled to each other in the name of the Lord Jesus is sacrifice and death. Should we not be reconciled to each other before we go to the Lord's table?

Our love for one another cannot be divorced from the hope and the proclamation of Christ's return. The hope of the church the assembly of redeemed sinners saved by the grace of God is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and his future return upon the earth and that all believers also will be Resurrected upon his return.

That we would be given a transformed sin-free glorified body. By having faith in him by believing the promise That Christ died for you for the forgiveness of sins. Paul made the point that if the people believed in the resurrection and they had attained the gift of salvation.

Then they ought to live like it. To live their lives in such a way that honored the hope they had in the resurrection. With this knowledge Paul exhorted the people to be steadfast in their pursuit of personal holiness abounding in the work of the Lord.

Spreading the gospel caring for those around them. Paul closed the letter to the Corinthians with a charge to the church. To start a collection as a gift to the church in Jerusalem for the spreading of the gospel.

Paul concluded with a final exhortation for the church to stay strong in the faith to base their lives upon the truth that the the church is founded on the teachings of the prophets and the Apostles with Jesus as the cornerstone as Paul had taught them to do and really to do everything in love to glorify God to do everything with love for one another.

The ultimate solution to the problems facing the church is Jesus Christ who is the only real hope for the church in Addressing the problems facing the church Paul spoke about immorality. He spoke about marriage liberty and worship.

Paul discussed worship in the context of the roles for men and women the Lord's Supper and spiritual gifts. Paul wrote that spiritual gifts are diverse and that different believers have different gifts.

For the benefit of the body for the sake of unity in the ministering of these gifts and he pointed out that without love. All of the gifts are useless. He says if you don't have love for one another then all those other gifts are meaningless.

Paul taught that the Lord's Supper is more than just a party to eat and get drunk. This transcends earthly fellowship of eating food and having a good time together. It's more than that. The Lord's Supper is a memorial to the sacrifice Christ made on behalf of sinners.

Jesus said do this to remember me as often as you drink it. How do we remember Christ in the Lord's Supper by pondering? What he did and more importantly why he did it. Think about it like this the remembering has both a backward and forward look in.

Other words, we remember Christ's death and we remember that he is coming back. If we were to view the Lord's Supper is just a ritual or a religious habit. It would lose its significance. Actually, we are commanded to show appreciation in Remembering what Christ has done and this command comes with an important implication for us today.

The act of communion is to anticipate what he will do when he returns. When we put communion in the right biblical light the Lord's Supper takes on a profound sense of purpose and meaning. Take time to prepare yourself spiritually for the Lord's table, and that's why I started with that illustration.

There isn't one sin that you could ever as a professing Christian saved redeemed by God's grace. You're in the kingdom. There isn't one sin in your your thoughts your words or your actions that could ever Separate you from the love of God and the mercy found in the gospel.

Whatever has happened over the last month last week. Yesterday this morning take time. To prepare yourself for the Lord's table. Just pause and take a second bring those those areas of personal growth those weaknesses and sin and the struggle with the flesh.

Bring them before the Lord Jesus. If you confess your sins, he's faithful. He will forgive you. He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness. He will clean you. The Lord's table is for sinners. The Lord's table is for you today.

With genuine gratitude and thanksgiving in your heart. Recall Christ's loving sacrifice for you. Let the reality that your sins are forgiven motivate you to love. To motivate you to love him and serve him better to love him more and to love others more.

In his first letter to the church in Corinth the Apostle explains two Enlightening reasons for the command of communion from the Lord Jesus. So that you can understand the significance of partaking in the Lord's table two helpful and clear reasons for communion.

Number one remembering Christ's body. The sacrifice of Christ's physical body is the reason we eat the bread. And number two remembering Christ's blood. The shedding of Christ's lifeblood is the reason we drink the cup.