Order at the Lord’s Supper (Day 16)

Read 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
 
   Paul acknowledges that there are differences among church members. When they develop into self-willed divisions, however, they are destructive to the congregation. Those who cause division only serve to highlight those who are genuine believers. 
   When the Lord’s Supper was celebrated in the early church, it included a feast or fellowship meal followed by the celebration of Communion. In the church in Corinth, the fellowship meal had become a time when some ate and drank excessively while others went hungry. There was little sharing and caring. This certainly did not demonstrate the unity and love that should characterize the church, nor was it a preparation for Communion. Paul condemned these actions and reminded the church of the real purpose of the Lord’s Supper. 
 
   What is the new covenant? In the old covenant, people could approach God only through the priests and the sacrificial system. Jesus’ death on the cross ushered in the new covenant or agreement between God and us. Now all people can personally approach God and communicate with Him. The people of Israel first entered into this agreement after exodus from Egypt (Exodus 24), and it was designed to point to the day when Jesus Christ would come. The new covenant completes, rather replaces, the old covenant, fulfilling everything the old covenant looked forward to (Jeremiah 31). Eating the bread and drinking the cup shows that we are remembering Christ’s death for us and renewing our commitment to serve Him. 
 
   Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me as often as you drink it.” How do we remember Christ in the Lord’s Supper? By thinking about what He did and why He did it. If the Lord’s Supper becomes just a ritual or a pious habit, it no longer celebrates Christ’s death, and it loses its significance. 
 
   What does the Lord’s Supper mean? The early church remembered that Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper on the night of the Passover meal (Luke 22). Just as Passover celebrated deliverance from slavery in Egypt, so the Lord’s Supper celebrates deliverance from sin by Christ’s death. 
 
   Christians pose several different possibilities for what Christ meant when He said, “This is my body.” 1) Some believe that the bread and wine actually become Christ’s physical blood and body. 2) Others believe that the bread and wine remain unchanged, but Christ is spiritually present with the bread and wine. 3) Still others believe that the bread and wine symbolize Christ’s body and blood. Christians generally agree, however, 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. 
 
   To not honor the body of Christ means not understanding what the Lord’s Supper means and not distinguishing it from a normal meal. Those who do so condemn themselves. 
 
   That some of the people had died may have been a special supernatural judgment on the Corinthian church. This type of disciplinary judgment highlights the seriousness of the Communion service. The Lord’s Supper is not to be taken lightly; this new covenant cost Jesus His life. It is not a meaningless ritual, but a sacrament given by Christ to help strengthen our faith. 
 
   Paul gives specific instructions on how the Lord’s Supper should be observed. 1) We should take the Lord’s Supper thoughtfully because we are proclaiming that Christ died for our sins. 2) We should take it worthily, with due reverence and respect. 3) We should examine ourselves for any unconfessed sin or resentful attitude; ask for forgiveness and be properly prepared. 4) We should be considerate of others, waiting until everyone is there and then eating in an orderly and unified manner. 
 
   People should come to this meal desiring fellowship with other believers and prepare for the Lord’s Supper to follow, not to fill up on a big dinner. If you are really hungry, eat at home, Paul said, meaning that they should eat beforehand so as to come to the fellowship meal in the right frame of mind. 
 
   When Paul said that no one should take the Lord’s Supper unworthily, he was speaking to the church members who were participating in it without thinking of its meaning. Those who did so were guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. Instead of honoring His sacrifice, they were sharing in the guilt of those who crucified Christ. In reality, no one is worthy to take the Lord’s Supper. We are all sinners saved by grace. This is why we should prepare ourselves for Communion through healthy introspection, confession of sin, and resolution of differences with others. These actions remove the barriers that affect our relationship with Christ and with other believers. Awareness of your sin should not keep you away from Communion but drive you to participate in it. 
 
   The Lord’s Supper is a visible representation symbolizing the death of Christ for our sins. It reminds us of Christ’s death and the glorious hope of His return. Our participation in it strengthens our faith through fellowship with Christ and with other believers.