Communion: Participation, Commemoration, Anticipation.

We are going to look at Communion this afternoon. We’ll look at 2 passages were I want us to see that communion is a Participation, commemoration, and anticipation, with the primary focus being on the participatory aspect. After that, we will draw some implications about worthy and unworthy partaking.

1 Cor 10:14-22, 1 Cor 11:24-27 Selected texts.

Our first point is that it is a participation. Second point is what we are participating in. Lastly we will make some concluding remarks concerning worthy and unworthy participation.

First, that it is a participation or a communication.

What is this greek word Koinonia? Four words you’ll see used to translate this word, all which I believe help. Commune, share, participate/partake, fellowship.

When we have a fellowship meal, we have a meal together, where we sit down and eat and converse. When we converse, we share ourselves with each other. We communicate to each other. And in so far as you and I communicate with each other, there is a very real sense in which I participate in your life and you in mine. And the deeper the fellowship gets, the more of a participation it becomes, we can call it a sharing in each others lives at that point. We partake in each others lives and interests. I think part of the idea of baring one another's burdens and weeping with each other implies this type of fellowship. How else would you if you don’t have that regular fellowship.

In first corinthians 10 Paul argues from the Lord’s supper and Israels sacrificial system, that participating in pagan idolatry is more than just eating a meal. It is a participating in that devoted act that brings that worshiper into communion or fellowship with demons. We know that the thing itself weather it be the idol or the food offered is nothing, but its whats behind it that brings about the fellowship.

In Israels worship, those who offered the sacrifice, really partook of the benefits God offered in and through them(assuming they came by faith). This took place on a spiritual level. In the same way, if these Corinthians devote themselves to pagan worship, they fellowship with demons, which Paul strongly urges against.

For our purposes, Paul tells us that our participating in the Lords Supper is a participation or sharing in Christ. A communing with his blood and with his body. The idea is that something is be communicated between the two parties. Something is really shared on a spiritual level. Jesus told His disciples that he must go away in order for him to send the Spirit. I must leave you first in order that I might come and be even closer to you. He does this in his Word preached and read no doubt, but he also does it in the Supper. It’s an ordinance instituted by himself for the purpose of communing in the closest and most intimate possible way with his people.

We are going to get help from the logic of the Larger Catechism here.

Q. 153. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us by reason of the transgression of the law? A. That we may escape the wrath and curse of God due to us by reason of the transgression of the law, he requireth of us repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, and the diligent use of the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation.

Q. 154. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation? A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances; especially the Word, Sacraments, and prayer: all which are made effectual to the elect for their salvation.

One of the proof texts is Acts 2:42.

Acts 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

That breaking of bread is a clear reference to the Lords Supper. And it is central to the churches gathering. Interestingly, as essential as preaching on one level. Consider Acts 20:7.

Acts 20:7 “Now on the first day of the week( Lords Day), when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.”

They came together on the Lords day with the purpose of breaking bread. Then the apostle gave a message. In addition to the breaking bread, the apostle gave a message. Early church saw this as a pattern to be followed.

So it is a participation, instituted by Christ, practiced by the church. Now:

What is being shared in this meal?

As the text has already bore out. We share in; Christ, his blood, and his body.

And it is a remembrance, it is a commemoration, but remembrance is more than cognition. It is that, but it brings with it a participatory aspect. It is a particular participating in a sacred symbol and beyond participation it anticipates that the worthy recipients or the recipient, who comes by faith, will benefit from it, he or she will benefit spiritually. They will be altered will be improved. As Richard Barcellos said at a conference several years back, “God is tinkering with souls in the means of grace” The idea is that the rememberer is strengthened, is blessed, is improved in the remembering . “do this in remembrance of me” the one engaged in the Lord supper act something out he’s not just thinking though he is doing that. Remember the Sabbath( were they suppose to sit there and think all day) He or she is engaging in a means of Grace a sacred symbol. What is it that he’s participating in? What does faithful participant gain or what does he participate in answer that question now?

“Sharing in Christ”

He is sharing in Christ, sharing in the life of Christ, sharing in the death of Christ, sharing in the blessings that Christ is pouring out upon us by his Holy Spirit. This is what we’re sharing, it’s nothing other than the gospel and the blessings that come to the new covenant believer. This is one of the means that God uses to apply redemption to us!

Furthermore, it is gloriously trinitarian. Just as preaching. It is an event in which the Father sends his Son in the power of his Spirit to bless his people. “Lo, I am with you always the end of age.” Jesus dwells in the midst of His people or even loftier language by Paul, “we are caught up in the heavenly places with Christ where he blesses us with every spiritual blessing.” Is that our view of communion? It is an act on our behalf, but we are also passive, there is a receiving. This is not some flippant meal, but its also not some simple cognitive inward turning and evaluation or thinking about Jesus death….. though that does happen……. no it is much more grand and glorious than that. Can you explain to me how the Spirit comes and attends to the preaching in such a way that each hearer goes away spiritually blessed in different ways, by the same message and same text? We can’t. It’s the same thing here. We don’t know, but we come by faith.

“Sharing in His blood and body”

I believe these stand for the whole of Christ’s work as our redeemer. Everything he did, he did for us. Our communing in that is an embracing of that work. An affirmation of the newness of life that Christ has worked in us by his Spirit, and an acknowledged need for more of the Spirits working. And with this there is a pledge to be those who are walking according to that new life, walking and keeping in step with the Spirit.

Pauls use of body is not confined to Christs broken body, it also refers to our sharing in each other. We are one “body”. Christ is the head and we are the body. To share in Christ is necessarily to share in each other. We share the same benefits together and each with his or her own gifts. It is both inward, upward, and outward. Christ blood is not only shed for me, but that one, and that one, and that one, and I am to think and treat them as such. The church at Corinth was not doing this, hence, why Paul had nothing good to say to them in this regard.

And the Lords Supper is anticipatory, the Lords supper is transhistorical. We participate in a meal that points us back to the cross, meets us in the present, and that pushes us toward our future hope. The reality of the future kingdom is already broken in in our own selves. And the table reminds of that and of the certainty of that marriage supper of the Lamb with all of his people from all time and every tribe tongue and nation.

So who is worthy?

Only the saintly saints, right.

No. two things it’s not:

It’s not whether you feel worthy to participate

It’s not whether your current measured status of sanctification is where you think it ought to be.

First consider again what is being participated in. It is the benefits Christ has won for us and is now applying to us. Worthy participation is for those who are unworthy, but see the need of having Christ benefits communicated to you for your growth in the faith. His death is my death to sin. And the benefits of His life, I desperately need. It is believing that we come to receive Christ’s body and blood. We come to receive the thing signified by the elements. The elements are the sign. The body and blood of Jesus are the thing signified. Which is everything he is for us. It’s really as simple as believing the gospel. John 6. Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no part in me. How can we eat this mans flesh? Believe. This is my body, this is my blood. Believe that what I’ve accomplished is for you and grow in your faith here at this meal.

Next, again, this is a communing in and with the body of Christ. It’s not an individual event. And that means that you take into account your thoughts and relations with the brethren. What is your heart posture toward your brothers and sisters. Thinking less of them in any way other than- this is one who has been bought by the blood of Christ- is to have the wrong posture at the table. It is as simple as understanding that you’re not a lone wolf, there are none in the church, we are sheep under One Shepherd. And while I won’t say that you cannot evaluate and make those things right at the table or prior to. I will say that that is not the time to do it. These are things you ought to take care of in preparation before worship. Saturday night, Sunday morning, during our prayer time. Maybe you come up 5 minutes before worship…..Here me carefully here…..It’s not a time to be repenting of sins. Kim Ridd says: If we have followed a proper liturgical order, there isn’t a need for it at that time.( let me explain) Unless of course there was an episode sometime between am worship and now. But we should be anticipating receiving Christ by faith. His body for us, now communicated to us. His blood shed for us, now communicated in New Covenant blessings to us. Do you get what I’m saying here? I hope you’re following……

When should you refrain? Lets say brother Ron comes up to Pr Paul and says I’ve been struggling with hard thoughts toward Lyle about that episode earlier…….Are you repenting? Then you are most fit to come and partake.

The unfit person is the one who is habitually denying Christ or habitually hardened toward Christ’s people. That one is in danger of eating and drinking judgement to themselves.

Before we come down and sing, I’ll conclude with this quote by Kim Riddlebarger on worthy partaking:

These considerations remind us that the Lord's Supper is for those who are weak in faith, those who are struggling with their sins yet who are also repentant, and for those who are seeking the strength to continue on with the Christian life so as to continue the war against the sinful nature (i.., the flesh).

Therefore, if we are united to Jesus Christ through faith and believe the sacrament is what our Lord says it is-"this is my body, "this is my blood" —then we partake in the proper fashion ("worthily") by coming with repentant hearts, empty hands of faith, and simply receiving what is promised.

Hymn

We come to the table claiming nothing else but Christ our Solid Rock. To search for any worthiness other than Christ for us and in us, is to trust in sinking sand. His oath, His covenant, His blood are our support, our hope, and our stay. Come you who are weary and burdened….and I will give you rest for your souls. Come, you who have no money and buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Come satisfy yourselves with that which is good, the only true Good, which is God in Christ for you, and now here at the table, communicated to you who come by faith.