Communion - Perversion, Purpose, and Preparation
The Life and Letters of the Apostle Paul • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Paul was heavily invested in the people at Corinth. He lived there for 18 months and during this time he was in Ephesus, but his heart still was with the people. From the beginning of the letter even to this chapter Paul had been dealing with some harsh and profound teachings. Sin had found its way in the church and Paul has been rebuking them for the wickedness that the people were involved in. In the Last study, Christian read and taught from the first 16 verses in chapter 11. Tonight we will pickup and look at the later half of this chapter.
Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
In verse 2, Paul said that he praised them because they remember him in everything and they firmly held to the teachings as he had taught them. Do not forget what kind of city Corinth was. It was a port city that brought much trading, wealth, and all kinds of wickedness. There was much sexual immorality, idolatry, and whoredoms going on in that city, BUT there were a few that held firmly to the teaching of Paul……There is nothing more encouraging than to see one you have personally poured into grow in their walk with Christ, and likewise nothing more heartbreaking than to watch them walk away…..Paul praised them in verse 2, because they held to his teachings, but that is not the case here in verse 17, He said you come together not for the better, but for the worse…….……The early church developed special fellowship meals known as love feasts (referred to in Jude 12), which were commonly concluded with the observance of the Lord’s Supper. These congregational meals were intended to emphasize fellowship, affection, and mutual care among believers. Their focus on unity naturally led into a celebration of the Savior’s unifying work on the cross.
The church at Corinth followed this practice, but it quickly became gatherings marked by gluttony and drunkenness. In fact, it would have been better for the Corinthians never to have held a love feast or observed the Lord’s Supper at all than to abuse it in this way. Rather than being occasions of loving fellowship and spiritual edification, these gatherings became selfish displays of shaming poorer brethren, diminishing the Lord’s death, and bringing shame upon the church before the unbelieving world.
Perverting the Lord Supper - vs 18-22
Perverting the Lord Supper - vs 18-22
For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
Paul provided a list of reasons of why he could not praise them when they come together as a church. The first reason, was he had heard of the divisions among them.
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul addresses divisions in the Corinthian church for at least the fifth time, stressing how important unity among God’s people is.
(1 Cor 1:10-13, 1 Cor 1:17-31, 1 Cor 3:1-9/21-23, 1 Cor 4:6-7, 1 Cor 11:18-19, and 1 Cor 12:12-27)
Paul repeatedly addressed unity in the church in the letter to the Corinthians. There is nothing more destructive to a local body of believers than a division in the midst of believers. When unity in the church is broken, selfish motives and personal desires take over, causing the assembly to lose sight of its true purpose. A church marked by clear divisions cannot remain unnoticed in the community—where strife exists, Christ is not honored, and His name is not properly reflected to the world around them. One of the most serious threats in the church is division, for it is often the earliest and clearest sign of spiritual sickness…….Faith Temple, We are here to learn of God, Glorify, Exalt, and Worship Him alone. Our eyes aught not be one one another, but on Christ. If we are exalting him, we will be edifying to one another…….The sign that hangs above the sanctuary doors, reads this…“May we assemble together in this sanctuary as a body whose head is Christ, earnestly desiring to teach the Scriptures, edify one another, and Worship him alone.” If this becomes our attitude and reason we gather, there will be not divisions among us because our focus will not be on self….Paul chided them for the lack of unity, but in verse 19 he says something that seems contradictory to his previous statement
For there must be also heresies (fractions) among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest (or recognized) among you.
He rebuked them for the lack of unity in verse 18, but in verse 19 he spoke of the blessings that result in divisions in church.
Although division in the church is ungodly and sinful, the Lord can use it to reveal the faithfulness of His people. Amid backbiting and strife, true believers are refined like pure gold from the dross. Challenges in the church provide opportunities for genuine spiritual strength, wisdom, and godly leadership to be shown.
2. While divisions do not belong in worship, they reveal who the genuine believers and leaders are.
James says in
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Hard times are not pleasant, but if there is going to be personal growth we must have them. Growth comes in hard times not easy. Therefore while divisions are sinful, there are blessings that can arise from them.
Fractions/Divisions are not merely disruptive, they are destructive. Initially they help reveal the strong, spiritual leaders, but when left unchallenged they will undermine any Christian group and are not to be tolerated. It may be necessary that fractions appear, but it is not necessary that they are tolerated or allowed to lead to division in the church. When divisions arise, they are to be addressed in a Christ like manner. (The Lord laid this out in Matthew 18)
When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
What Paul is saying here is that they may be coming together and going through the motions but neither was the meal nor the communion honoring to him. They had the form and ceremony, but they did not have the substance. Paul essentially said, you may be breaking bread, passing the cup, and repeating some of the same words Jesus said, but what you are doing has nothing to do with what the Lord instituted… Christ has no part in it.
For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
The poorer believers came to the Lord’s Supper expecting to share in the food provided by the wealthy, yet they left hungry—both physically and spiritually. Meanwhile, those who brought the food and drink indulged themselves to excess and even became drunk. In doing so, they mocked the very purpose of the gathering, which was meant to promote unity and harmony among those who belong to Christ.
Paul responds with a series of rhetorical questions: If their intent was open self-indulgence, could they not have done so at home? Were they seeking to destroy fellowship by despising the church of God and publicly shaming the poor? These questions demanded no reply. Therefore, Paul says for these reasons, I will not praise you.
Purpose of the Lord’s Supper - vs 23-26
Purpose of the Lord’s Supper - vs 23-26
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
This passage is probably the most common passage when looking at the ordinance of the Lord’s supper. Other passages give us many details, but this one here was more than likely recieved from the Lord directly and is perfectly consistent with the gospel accounts.
3. Paul’s account here is likely the earliest biblical record of the institution of the Lord’s Supper
The Lord supper is recorded in 4 main passages
Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-20, and in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Paul points out that it was the same night in which he was betrayed. This gives us the historical setting and remember many of the believer may not have known because none of the gospel may not have been written yet.
The Lord’s Supper, one of the most meaningful celebrations of the Christian faith, was instituted on the very night our Lord was betrayed and arrested. While evil was at work, God was accomplishing good; while Satan pursued wickedness, God was revealing His holiness. What the devil intended for evil, God intended for good.
Paul, nor the Gospels record ever detail of this meal, but what we know is that they were gather to partake of the Passover meal in the upper room.
Tradition will tell us that…..The Passover meal began with the host offering a blessing over the first cup of red wine and sharing it with those present. During the meal, four cups of wine were passed. After the first cup, bitter herbs dipped in a fruit sauce were eaten, followed by an explanation of the meaning of the Passover. The group then sang a portion of the Hallel. The Hallel consists of Psalms 113–118, with Psalms 113, or 113 and 114, typically sung at this point.
After the second cup was shared, the host broke and distributed the unleavened bread. The main meal followed, consisting of the roasted sacrificial lamb. After prayer, the third cup was passed, and the remaining portion of the Hallel was sung. The fourth and final cup, celebrating the coming kingdom, was drunk just before the group departed.
Scholars widely agree that It was this third cup that Jesus blessed and identified as the cup of Communion: “In the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood’” (Luke 22:20). After offering brief words of warning, correction, and instruction (vv. 21–38), the meal concluded with the singing of a hymn (Matt. 26:30).**
4. The bread represented the Exodus from Egypt in Exodus 12.
The bread that had once represented the Exodus now came to represent the body of Jesus Christ. The word broken speaks of how His body was beaten and bruised. This by no means says that his body was physically broken, because in order to fulfill scripture not a bone of his shall be broken. (The soldiers broke the legs of the thieves, but when they came to Jesus they did not brake his legs, for they seen he was already dead)
5. The cup represented the blood of the lamb that was applied to the doorposts on the night the angel of death passed over Egypt.
The cup represented the lambs blood that was smeared on the door post and now came to represent the blood of the Lamb of God, shed for the salvation of the world. The Old Covenant was established repeatedly through the blood of animals by man, but the New Covenant was established once and for all through the blood of Jesus, which God himself has offered.
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Essentially Passover was transformed into the Lord Supper. We now eat the bread and drink the cup not to remember the Red Sea and the Exodus, but to remember the cross and Savior.
Do this in remembrance of me is a command from the Lord himself. Regular participation in Communion is essential to stay faithful to the Lord, who saved us through the redemptive act we commemorate. Not to partake of the Lord’s supper is disobedience and a sin.
Vs 26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show the lords death until he comes.” Communion is a reminder of the Lord’s coming again. It keeps us looking forward to the day when we will be with Him. It’s a celebration of His present life and of his future return in glory.
Preparation of the Lords Return - vs 27-34
Preparation of the Lords Return - vs 27-34
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation (judgement) to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
One can come to the Lord’s table unworthily in many ways. You can come ritualistically, without participating minds and hearts - going through the motions without any emotions. Many come with a bitter spirit or hatred towards another believer, and in many cases come with unconfessed sin which they will not repent of. A believer who comes to Communion without full honor for God and full love for fellow Christians is approaching it unworthily.
To come unworthily to the Lords table is to become guilty of the body and blood of the Lord….Illustration: To trample our Country’s flag is not to trample a pierce of cloth but to dishonor the country it represents. To come unworthily to Communion does not simply dishonor there ceremony, but it dishonors the One in whose honor is celebrated……We become guilty of mocking Christ for the redemptive work he completed for us on Calvary.
6. Every time we come to the Lord’s Supper, we must being with an examination of self.
This self examination is not optional but required to ensure that we are not partaking of this Holy ordinance unworthily. Before we are to partake we are to give ourselves a thorough self-examination, looking honestly at our hearts for anything that should not be there and sifting out all evil. Our motives, our attitudes toward the Lord and His Word, towards his people, and towards the Communion service itself should come under private examination before the Lord.
In verse 29 this damnation is better understood as judgement. Judgement here has the idea of chastisement. God does not eternally condemn those who abuse the LOrd’s table, but his punishment may come in severe ways. Annias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is an example….
There is a remedy for unworthiness. If we judged ourselves rightly we should not be judged. This involves discerning what we are and what we ought to be. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
#Conclusion
It is vital that we partake of the Lord supper in the right manner. In doing so, our heart must be clean of any wickedness towards the Lord and each other. May the Lord challenge each of us to live a more dedicated and Christ honoring life!
