God's People Must Be United and Growing in Holiness
1 Corinthians 11:17-34[1]
As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, June 3rd, 2012
These next few passages, through chapter 14 deal with Christians gathering in public to worship Jesus Christ, "When you come together". I would ask you to read ahead through chapter 14, for there are challenging truths to learn together, beginning with today's study of the Lord's Supper, and the admonition not to take it "In An Unworthy Manner". Let's read…
17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.
18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,
19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat.
21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.
22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
24 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."
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.
32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another--
34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home--so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.
There is a wrong way to approach the Lord's Supper and there is a right way to approach the Lord's Supper. Let us learn the right way, and diligently pursue it.
V 17-22, 27, 29-32, The wrong way. This way degrades others, exalts self, belittles the very Son of God, and brings judgment on those who take it. This is taking the bread and the cup in an unworthy manner.
Degrades others. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. There were divisions in this church – we learned that early on. They were divided over what leaders they held fast to (1 Cor 1:11-13), and it was a serious schism. There were also moral failures that some felt were no big deal, while others mourned over them (1 Cor 5). Now we learn that they were divided in yet another way – the 'haves' and the 'have not's. A very grievous division, this one! Jesus takes this all too seriously for us to trifle with it (Matt 25). James took time to strongly address this (James 2:1-13), and summarizes his warning this way: "13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." Church, we are no better when wealthy than we are when poor. We come with the same sin to repent of, leaning on the same grace from the same Lord who is merciful to the humble, the poor – and who steadfastly warns the wealthy not to trust in riches, and certainly to be generous to share. This should be the first place on earth where the poor can joyfully eat of the bounty with those who have excess without shame or guilt or condemnation!
Exalts self. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. Are we better than anyone because we have plenty? Does self-exaltation ever bless God or His people? Actually it brings judgment from God when we exalt ourselves at the expense of others, for whom Christ died.
Belittles the Very Son of God. When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat… 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. He who was poor and who willingly laid down His life is not honored, church family, when schisms exist where some are blessed and have plenty and others are in need, embarrassed, and ignored. He is the least of these, and His death on the cross has paid the complete, full price for all who would repent, rich or poor. We are all brothers in Christ now. I say again, He died for all who believe in Him; regardless of skin color, affiliation, wealth, education, local status among the unbelievers, or any other measure. Here is our measure; sinful yet saved. Common ground, is it not? Saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone through the Scriptures alone to the glory of God alone.
Brings judgment on those who take it in an unworthy manner. Paul says "For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world." When we take the bread and the cup in an unworthy manner we are bringing the loving, correcting judgment of God down on our heads. Even to death at times, Paul says. Sickness and death in the church because of taking the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner. Let us hear this, church. Let us consider.
V 23-26, 28, 31-34, The right way. This way promotes unity, commends self-examination, honors the Son of God, and avoids judgment by those who take it.
Promotes Unity. 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another--
34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home--so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. We see that we are one in Christ. All the blessings of His death, burial, and resurrection – pardon for sin, escape from God's wrath, adoption, redemption, justification, sanctification, a place in the body of Christ, eternal life with Him in heaven – we have these in common, and we celebrate that when we take communion together. From every tongue tribe, language, and nation – we come to the table as one in Christ. On a local level we come as one in this church, unified in our faith in Christ, brothers and sisters regardless of what trail we took to get here.
Commends self-examination. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. Is it ever a bad thing to pause, examine ourselves, confess our sin to God and, if necessary, to others, to repent from loving anything more than Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior? No! Here the context is that we examine ourselves to see that we are humbly united in good standing with the body of Christ, washing away arrogance and selfishness. Consider others above us. This little piece of bread and little cup of juice represents the most precious sacrifice ever made – for undeserving sinners like us!
Honors the Son of God.
"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 Lord's death until he comes.
We are taught to rightly remember His death on the cross, and to proclaim it until He comes again. This is a witness, a reminder, a celebration, and this is worship. It is obedience to one of the two ordinances Christ established for His church. He is ever to be made much of by His bride, and nowhere more than at the Lord's Table.
There is a wrong way to approach the Lord's Supper and there is a right way to approach the Lord's Supper. Let us learn the right way, and diligently pursue it.
Now perhaps that brings a question to mind…
Should you always take it? There are some times when people should not take the Lord's Supper.
· If you are not a believer, and have yet to be saved and confess Christ as your Lord and Savior. This is a memorial service for those who have trusted Christ for eternal life. Come, learn, consider, watch, listen – but this is for Christ-followers who have publicly proclaimed their faith in Him through baptism.
· When you are in willful sin. If you have sin in your hearts toward God or others, and you are willfully refusing to repent. This passage plainly speaks of being unkind and inconsiderate toward the other believers; yet I would strongly recommend us to forego the elements if we are justifying any sin.
· When you are under church discipline for willful sin. If your home church has called you to repentance for willful public sin and you have ignored their loving correction, it is not wise to go to another church and take the bread and cup as if you were right with God's people – you are not. Even if in your home church – pass on it. Go home to your church, repent, submit yourself to your leaders, and worship Christ in truth and in Spirit.
So we examine ourselves. This is why we ask God to examine us, convict us, and forgive us. We humble ourselves, and we consider Christ and His body.
As we take the Lord's Supper we worship Jesus, and we celebrate the unity of salvation we have as part of the body of Christ.
[1] All Scriptures, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (via E-Sword Software) © 2001 Crossway Publishing. All Rights Reserved. I paste them in red for distinction.
No comments:
Post a Comment