One Body One Bread
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The One Another series: the duties and privileges of church membership.
This morning we are going to celebrate the Lord’s Supper after our sermon. This sermon is designed to prepare our hearts for that time of worship, and to get us to think about the fellowship that we all share together as a church body.
The words, “One Another” don’t appear in our text this morning, but the idea of fellowship, participation, unity, and being one certainly do appear.
Significant Statement: We will seek, by Divine aid, to live carefully in the world, to deny ungodliness and worldly passions, to bring holiness to completion in the fear of God, and to do all to the glory of God (Eph 5:15-17; Titus 2:11-12; 2 Cor 7:1; I Cor 10:31).
In our text this morning Paul uses the illustration of the Lord’s Supper to help the Corinthians understand how their fellowship with the Lord and with one other obligates them to pursue holiness.
This same truth I believe will apply to us. One of the duties we have to one another, because of our fellowship with the Lord and with one another is to pursue holiness.
What doe we need to understand about the reality of our fellowship with the Lord and with one another that will cause us to pursue holiness?
I think Paul provides for us two truth about fellowship with Christ and with one another that will enable us turn away from sin and to pursue holiness.
I. Our close identification with Christ does not eliminate God’s judgement when we sin (1-13)
I. Our close identification with Christ does not eliminate God’s judgement when we sin (1-13)
The context of I Corinthians 10 actually begins all the way back in chapter 8. One of the questions that the Corinthian church had for the apostle Paul was whether or not they could continue eating food offered to idols.
1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.”
Paul’s answer to this question is both fascinating and multi-faceted. He argues strongly for the need of good biblical discernment. He actually gives different answers to this question depending on the circumstance. And he expects the Corinthian believers to be able to apply Biblical principles to complex life situations in order to choose the things there are excellent. We will actually cover this idea of discernment more in detail in our Morning Bible Study on worldliness in a few weeks.
In our text this morning, Paul is answering the question, “can we eat food offered to idols?”, in the context of pagan religious ceremonies.
Can you eat or participate in idolatrous religious feasts? Can you eat food offered to idols during a pagan religious ceremony? And Paul’s answer is absolutely not!
Now, why Paul’s answer in this instance is a hard NO WAY, is very important for us to understand. And I think it gives us as church members of this church body, very important biblical principles to understand and to apply to every area of our life.
My goal is to help us understand certain principles for the bible this morning and then I expect you to be able to apply those principles to not just food offered to idols in a pagan religious ceremony, but to every other complex issue you might face in your 21st century life. I want you to be apply to apply good biblical discernment.
Look how Paul begins to argue this dilemma to the Corinthians
1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,
Paul is going to use the hermetical tool of analogy to make a theological point. He is going to make a comparison between the church age saints in Corinth and the nation of Israel in the OT.
Notice first the OT situation he calls their attention to.
Our father were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea. What event is Paul referring to? Crossing the Red Sea and being led by a pillar of cloud through the wilderness.
2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
Paul is using an idiom here in v. 2. He uses the idea of baptize in an idiomatic manner. What does Paul mean when he says that the Israelites were baptized INTO Moses?
baptizein eis- is an idiomatic way of saying that the Israelites were identified with Moses.
To be baptized into a person or into a person’s name means to be identified with that person through baptism.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
We are commanded to make disciples of Jesus by identifying those believer with (baptizing them into) the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
During the Exodus the church of Israel were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
Paul is using an analogy here. He is saying in a way when the people of Israel passed through the Red Sea under the cloud, the Israelites were, in a manner of speaking, immersed. His point is that this immersion identified Israel with Moses. After the nation crossed the Red Sea there was no longer any doubt as to who they were following. They were no longer following Pharoah, now they were identified with Moses and were following Him- and by extension Moses’ God.
3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
Furthermore, the fact that the Israelites all ate the same spiritual food (manna) and all drank the same spiritual drink- the water that flowed from the Rock in the wilderness both identified them as followers of the One true God and formed a unity a fellowship with one another.
Aside: Paul is not reinterpreting the OT when he claims that the Rock was Christ.
4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
Very common to refer to God as “The Rock.”
19 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them,
In I Cor 10:4 Paul says “They drank from the spiritual Rock that FOLLOWED them.”
In Ex 14:19 WHO was it that followed Israel through the wilderness? It was the angel of God or the Angel of YHWH. I believe that the Angel of YHWH was actually the preincarnate Christ. So when Moses struck the Rock and water poured out, the One who enabled that water to spring forth was Christ. So the spiritual drink that they participated in came from Christ Himself.
5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
NEVERTHELESS! Important word. Even though all Israel was identified with Moses because they were immersed in the cloud and in the sea, and even though all Israel participated together in eating the manna and drink the water whose source was miraculously provided by God- nevertheless with most of the God was not pleased! And they were overthrown in the wilderness.
17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
What’s the point for the Corinthians? Remember, Paul is making a simple analogy. He is making a correspondence. Israel was identified with the Lord and with each other. Yet, most of their bodies fell in the wilderness.
You too Corinthians have been identified with Christ. Not in the cloud and in the sea, but by means of your baptism. You have been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. You also have close fellowship with Christ and with one another and that fellowship is pictured in the Lord’s table. Nevertheless, that does not eliminate the possibility of facing God’s judgment when you sin.
6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
Here is one of the purposes of the Lord’s table- to remind us of this important command: “Do not desire evil as the children of Israel did.”
Series of examples for the wanderings of the children of Israel:
7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.
9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,
10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
We can learn from the mistakes of the children of Israel. There is a correspondence to our present circumstance. It takes wisdom and discernment, but we can make application of the analogy and we can apply them to our present day circumstances in order to make good sound judgement calls. Like, “Should we eat meat at pagan sacrificial ceremonies?”
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
What happened to the children of Israel when they participated in idolatry, sexual immorality, putting Christ to the test, or grumbling? They were destroyed by the Destroyer. Their bodies fell in the wilderness. Even though they were the ones who were closely identified as the followers of Moses and YHWH!
Why do you think it will be any different for you Corinthians? If you think you can commit the same kinds of sins and stand- then take head lest you fall.
Yet, there is grace available to you!
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
If you resist these sins, if you flee from them then God will give you the grace you need to overcome them. He is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. He will in His own providential and wise timing provide a way of escape. His grace will ensure that you will be able to endure.
But, if you choose to sin. If you willingly choose the path of idolatry, sexual immorality, putting Christ to the test, or grumbling then don’t be surprised when you face God’s judgement for your sin.
Friends, one of the duties we have to one another, because of our fellowship with the Lord and with one another is to pursue holiness.
Our close identification with Christ does not eliminate God’s judgement when we sin.
The Lord’s table is a reminder of our identification with Jesus Christ and our close fellowship with one another. It is also a reminder of the importance for each one of us “that we might no desire evil as they did.”
That:
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Friends, this morning do you understand the examples that Paul has shared with us this morning? Do you understand just how closely you are identified with Jesus Christ and with your fellow church member? Will you purpose in your heart not to desire evil? Will you make genuine efforts to be discerning in your life? Will you be willing to study the Scriptures and make wise application of the principles of this text to the complex situations you face in your life?
For the Corinthians it was eating meat sacrificed to idols. What issue are you facing right now? What biblical principles are you implementing in making that decision? I really like doing it and the Bible doesn’t strictly forbid it are not valid answers. You are closely identified with Jesus Christ, if you live a life that is contrary to your profession of Jesus that will bring God’s judgement! Have you considered that? Have you made careful evaluation and wise application?
Let’s look at the second truth about fellowship with Christ and with one another that will enable us turn away from sin and to pursue holiness.
II. Our close fellowship with Christ and with one another mandates the elimination of our fellowship with unrighteousness (14-22)
II. Our close fellowship with Christ and with one another mandates the elimination of our fellowship with unrighteousness (14-22)
Paul is using these two but interconnected ideas of identification and fellowship to show our need to pursue holiness. In the first part of chapter 10 his focus was on our identification with Jesus. Now in the rest of the paragraph his focus in our our fellowship with Christ and with one another and how that teaches us to pursue holiness.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
V. 6- Don’t desire evil as they did.
Now- flee idolatry. He focuses on idolatry because this topic is directly relevant to the question he is trying to answer. Can the Corinthians eat meat sacrificed to idols at a pagan religious ceremony? Again, Paul’s answer is NO WAY! And not just NO WAY, but FLEE!
15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
Again, Paul wants the Corinthians to exercise discernment. He is going to point out some biblical principles and he expects the Corinthians to connect the theological dots if you will.
Rightly implementing the Scriptures to all of life’s complexities demands that we apply its principles to parallel matters that are not specifically mentioned in a chapter and verse.
7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Paul give the illustration of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. Then he says “think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” Clearly, Paul meant for Timothy to the principles he was teaching and make application to many more of life’s issues.
I think Paul is doing something similar for the Corinthians.
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?
Paul uses the example of the Lord’s supper. When WE (not I) partake of the cup in communion, Paul says that such an act is a participation / fellowship / κοινωνία in the blood of Christ.
What does Paul mean? When we partake in the Lord’s supper, when we drink the cup we are remembering the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We do this in remembrance of Christ. But, we also proclaim to the rest of the church that “I share in the benefits of the blood of Christ.” Partaking in the cup does not itself cause us to participate in the blood of Christ. But, our partaking in the cup signals that we are ones who already enjoy fellowship with Christ and thus the benefits of his blood. The benefits of the blood of Christ were applied to us the moment we place our faith in Jesus as our Savior. But the act of observing the Lord’s table not only reminds us of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, but it also publically demonstrates that we have gained fellowship with Christ and with the benefits of his blood through our salvation.
This is why participating in the Lord’s table is only meant for those who are genuine believers. For an unbeliever to participate in the Lord’s supper would be to publically demonstrate a lie.
The same is true for the bread. When we partake of the bread we publically demonstrate that we have already gained fellowship with Christ and we enjoy all of the benefits of His body that was given for us.
17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
We also demonstrate when we partake of the Lord’s table together as a church body that we are all united together as one.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
When we placed our faith in Jesus Christ, we were all of us united into the spiritual body of Jesus Christ, we were added to the spiritual church, by means of the Holy Spirit. We were united to Christ and thus we became part of his body and were are all therefore united with one another.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
When we partake of the Lord’s table together we also publically proclaim our close fellowship not only with the Lord Jesus Christ, but also with one another. We are one body in Christ, and we picture that when we all eat of the one bread.
18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?
Debated verse:
People of Israel- lit. Israel according to the flesh.
Paul may mean for us to think of when the children of Israel acted in accordance with their fleshly sin nature. When they made idols of gold and eat and drank and rose up to play. When they acted according to their flesh and ate the sacrifices of the altar they became participates / fellowship-ers / κοινωνία in the idolatrous altar.
19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.”
20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.
Behind the lifeless idols of stone, metal, or wood are spiritual realities. They actually represent demons. I don’t want you to be participants / fellowship-ers / κοινωνία with demons.
Why not?
21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
If you have been identified with Christ, and if you enjoy fellowship with Christ you cannot also fellowship with demons.
Fellowship with Christ and fellowship with demons is incompatible! You have to choose one or the other!
Now, remember v. 15
15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
Paul wants us to take biblical principles and apply them to all matters of life. He is not simply talking about partaking at the table of demons. This principle can be applied to many different areas of our life.
11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
Why couldn’t the Corinthians partake at the table of demons? Because such an act was incompatible with their profession of faith in Christ.
What else is incompatible with our profession of faith in Christ? sexual immorality, greed, being a reviler, a drunk, or a swindler. Is that all? NO WAY! Life is complex! Issues are numerous. That is why this Paul includes this thought at the end of the this exact chapter:
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
We as a body of believers have to promise one another when we become members of ONE BODY that we will exercise spiritual discernment to make sure our lives are free from any kind of situation that is incompatible with our profession of faith in Christ.
I think that’s why he brings up v. 17
17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
Not only must we be mindful of our fellowship with Christ! That is first and primary. But we also must think of our fellowship with one another. If I live a life that contradicts my profession of faith in Christ that hurts the whole body!
Our close fellowship with Christ and with one another mandates the elimination of our fellowship with unrighteousness.
What happens to us if we don’t?
22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
We provoke the Lord to jealousy! Why?
Are we strong than he? Do you think God will do something about it?
So now as we turn our attention to the Lord’s supper what should we be thinking about?
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.
Call the men forward for the Lord’s supper:
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.
