What About Communion?

A young girl, completing her confirmation class and getting ready to take her first communion was asked by the minister if she would promise to be righteous and loyal to God. First communion would be a sign of an oath between her and God to be true to the faith. In her heart she knew she would not be able to uphold such an oath, so she refused to participate and went away, saddened by her failure to be included.

For several decades she declined to partake of the Lord’s supper thinking herself unworthy, until the final days of her life came into view. Sadness at her lack of merit in the eyes of God added to the apprehension of what might happen as she stepped past this life and into the next.

One Body

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 “16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

The Lord’s Supper is an expression of the unity that Jesus desires for his people.

Unity within the diversity of the body is an expression of the tri-unity experienced by God the Father, Son and the Spirit.

John 17:4–5 ESV

4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

John 17:20–24 ESV

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Trouble in Corinth

(walk through 1cor 11:17-22)

Romans 16:17–18 “17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”

Luke 22:14–23 “14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had 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.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.

Look to the Past

(v 24) “do this in remembrance of me”- justification

Look to the Present

(v 25) “do this as often as you drink”- sanctification

Look to the Future

(v26) “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes”- glorification

Prepare our hearts…

Matthew 7:3–5 “3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

Do you know Jesus as your Savior, Lord, Friend?

By whose merit do you come to the table?

As I ministered to the now elderly woman who now faced the coming end of her life, she began to see the misunderstanding that surrounded “communion”, and how separated she felt from the genuine Love of God. Her heart warmed to the knowledge that it was Jesus’ merit that saved her. He loved her, not for what she had done or who she was, but because of who He was and what He had done for her.

We shared in communion in the hospital room that day for the first time in decades. A sense of joy and peace washed over her and we both cried. She went home to be with family, and not long after that went home to be with the Lord.

Will you?