First Corinthians 11 Part 5 Communion And The Glorious Saving Work Of Jesus Christ.

Communion is a time to soberly remember all that Christ did for us.

1 Corinthians 11:17-22  Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18)  For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19)  For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 20)  When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. 21)  For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22)  What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 

The Lord's Supper or taking communion as we know it, is to be a sober observance, a time of remembering all that Jesus did in order to save us from our sins.

The Corinthians were guilty of mixing a common meal of Christian fellowship with the Lord's Supper. 

The model for such meals or love feasts, is found in Acts 2. 

New believers in the early church loved one another as Christ commanded, and they had great joy in sharing meals together. 

Some Corinthians corrupted this practice. The wealthy brought the best food and they went in to eat and drink first while the poorer members had to wait outside. 

They acted like gluttons and drunkards as they put themselves above others.

When the wealthy were done eating and drinking, the good quality food and drink was mostly gone. The poorer people had only their meager food and drink to share.

The early church members were not like that. Those believers viewed each other as brothers or sisters made equal in Christ.

In addition, the early Christians did not mingle the Lord's Supper with the common meal that they shared together.

Paul received the form and function of communion from the Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 11:23-24  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24)  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 

As the apostle Paul begins to establish the correct form and function of the Lord's Supper, it is important to note his words.

"For I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you."

When Paul was converted to Christ on the road to Damascus, Jesus spoke directly to Saul. He told Saul who He was and what he must do (See Acts 9:1-18).

Galatians 1:11-12  But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12)  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

Paul received the gospel that he preached in every place be revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Thus, when the apostle teaches us how to rightly observe the Lord's Supper, he is sharing the truth he received from Christ.

The bread of communion represents the body of Christ broken for us.   

1 Corinthians 11:23-24  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24)  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 

The Lord's Supper was instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ on the very night he was betrayed. 

Jesus was headed to the cross to suffer the wrath of God for our sins, to die in our place and to shed His blood as the perfect Passover Lamb of God.

Communion bread is eaten to remind us  that Jesus' body was broken by suffering and death on the cross for us. 

Thus, believers today eat the bread of communion with the specific intent of remembering all of Jesus's sufferings and death for us. 

Jesus suffered the wrath of God poured out upon Him through the beatings and scourging and being nailed to a Roman cross.  Jesus suffered the death because He received the wages of our sins which is death.

These vital truths are why communion or the Lord's Supper is to be observed. We are to stop and remember with soberness why Jesus suffered and died. 

It was necessary in order to save all humanity from sin, death, hell and eternal condemnation. 

Jesus did this knowing that not all people will believe on Him, but His offer of salvation is to the whole world. 

The cup of communion is a symbol of the blood of Christ shed for us.

1 Corinthians 11:25-26  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26)  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 

Using the same method, Jesus took the cup of wine and drank from it before distributing it to His disciples to drink.

Jesus said His blood is the blood which seals the new covenant God made at Calvary. 

As ancient king and vassal treaties were sealed with the blood of bulls and goats, so this new covenant is sealed with blood.

But the blood of the new covenant is distinct and different from the blood sealing the old covenant. 

Hebrews 9:11-12  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12)  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.  

Christ is an eternal high priest after the order of Melchisedek (See Hebrews 7:1-28). 

He has an eternal priesthood and is able to save to the uttermost all who come to Him with repentant faith. 

The writer of Hebrews shows why the blood of Christ is vital for salvation. 

By His own blood, Jesus entered the holy of holies in heaven, having obtained or purchased eternal redemption for those who put their trust in Him.

The blood of Jesus is the very blood of God and it is eternal and infinite in its ability to save us and keep us saved (See Acts 20:28). 

Thus, drinking the cup at communion is a sober remembrance of the cost of our redemption. 

God was manifest in the flesh in order to live a perfect life on our behalf, in order to suffer and die in our place, and in order to gloriously be raised from the dead because death had no power on Him (See 1 Timothy 2:1-6; 3:16 & many more).

The focus of communion is to honor  the cost Christ paid to save us from sin.

1 Corinthians 11:25-26  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26)  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 

The purpose of observing communion or the Lord's Supper? It is giving honor to Christ by commemorating the death of our Lord Jesus until He returns to take us home to heaven. 

The Old Testament sacrifices brought the people's sins continually to their remembrance (See Hebrews 10:1-3). 

In contrast, the Lord’s Supper brings to our remembrance the Lord Jesus Christ and His perfect sacrifice once for all, for the full and final remission of our sins.

Now we can understand why Paul said such strong words of rebuke to the Corinthians mixing the Lord's Supper with the common meal. 

Now we grasp why Paul condemned them for observing a common meal or love feast in a way that did not love one another as Christ commanded.

Now we see why the apostle rebuked them for bringing shame upon the Lord's Supper by their gluttony and drunkenness. 

Jesus did not specify how frequently communion should be observed, but He did tell us its intended purposes.

In addition, the apostle Paul also made it clear that we are to reflect soberly on the suffering, death and blood that Christ shed in order to redeem us.

Soberly remembering Jesus Christ's eternal sacrifice is meant to give us hope, that our salvation is fully anchored in His perfect work and Person and Deity. 

Paul has some more to teach us about the Lord's Supper, but may these truths encourage us and may we draw closer to our Lord through remembering His saving work.

Bob