sf267 - Three Looks at the Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11 23-31)
1 CORINTHIANS 11:17‑31
INTRODUCTION
It all begin one faithful evening in Jerusalem, it had been a difficult and trying week. They had witnessed their leader out-fox the opposition and take some very unpopular stands with the people. Indeed it appeared that He intended to upset the entire Jewish religious system. He certainly had not proven to be the mighty military and political leader they had all hoped for.
So came the first Lord's Supper, in that small upstairs room somewhere in Jerusalem. It was begun as a fulfillment of the Passover Feast, which commemorated the greatest act of redemption ever recorded in human history; until now. For something was about to take place that would completely overshadow and fulfill the Passover. Jesus on this fateful evening would institute the only reminder of His death to be celebrated among men.
Years passed and this movement called "The Way" and later called Christianity had began to spread all over the then known world. It had been 24 years since that first Lord's Supper, in its beauty and fullness had been observed. Through the intervening years the Supper lost some of its special significance among the believers at Corinth.
The Apostle Paul felt compelled to address this pressing problem in his first letter to these believers. We find the content of Paul's teaching in the 11th chapter of this letter.
In verses 17-22 Paul rebukes the Corinthians for their in appropriate conduct in relation to the Lord’s Supper. They had made the ordinance and occasion for divisions and sin.
In verses 23‑31, Paul corrects them. Let's join Paul in taking three "looks" at the Lord's Supper.
1A. A Backward Look (11:23-25)
1B. How we are to remember.
Remembrance literally means to "call up."
This remembrance is a fond or affectionate calling of Christ Himself to mind
2B. What we are to remember.
The broken body of Christ (11:24)
Ø The bread reminds of Christ's physical suffering.
Ø The scriptures tell that He suffered so that He was not recognizable as a human being.
Ø History tells us that crucifixion was considered the most horrible form of death. It was reserved for only the worst of criminals.
Ø In fact no Roman citizen could suffer crucifixion no matter what his crime.
Ø The prophet Isaiah tells why Jesus suffered this horrible death.
Isaiah 53:5 “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”
The shed blood of Christ (11:25)
Ø The grape juice reminds us of the sacrificial nature of Christ's death.
Ø Just as the grapes were crushed in order to yield their juice so too was our Savior crushed and His blood spilt.
3B. Why we should remember
His death purchased the remission of our sins.
Hebrews 9:22 “…without shedding of blood there is no remission.”
Hebrews 9:14 “…how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
His death insured the redemption of our souls.
Colossians 1:14 “in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
1 John 2:2 “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”
2A. An Outward Look (11:26)
1B. The symbolic message of the supper
The celebration of the Lord's Supper is purely symbolic there is no saving power within these elements. But, indeed the Supper paints a vivid picture of the sacrificial death of our Lord.
It shows…
Ø The superiority of the sacrifice (11:25)
"His blood" not the blood of some animal
Hebrews 10:4 “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.”
Ø The sufficiency the sacrifice
Hebrews 10:12 “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God”
2B. The supernatural message of the supper
The proclamation of the Supper is that the sacrificed Savior is alive and will return in glory and power.
Acts 1:11 “…who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’”
3A. An Inward Look (11:27‑31)
1B. A caution against carelessness (11:27)
The word "unworthy" is an adverb and is used to describe the manner in which the Supper is taken.
It literally refers to an irreverent or unrepentant attitude on the part of the participant.
This would include…
Being careless about your relationship with the Lord
Ø Those who have never trusted Christ as Lord and Savior.
Ø Therefore the sacrifice that this Supper represents means nothing to them.
Ø Indeed they have trampled on the blood of Christ.
Being careless about your discipleship, your obedience to His Word
Ø Those who have trusted Christ but have never followed their Lord in believer’s baptism.
Ø They are careless because they are not obedient and have not made a public demonstration of their faith.
Being careless about our fellowship with Christ and His Church
Ø Those who are saved and have been baptized but have allowed sin to creep into their lives.
Ø In doing so they have severed fellowship with their risen Savior.
Ø If the Lord's Supper doesn't mean much to you it is not because it has changed or Christ has moved, it is because you have moved.
Ø And you are careless about your walk and Paul says that you are not ready to receive the Supper.
2B. A cure for carelessness (11:28)
Self-examination, literally to put yourself to the test; to see what you are made of
This can be a painful process.
Test your relationship.
Ø Am I trusting in Christ alone?
Test your discipleship.
Ø Have I been obedient to Christ concerning baptism and church membership?
Test your fellowship.
Ø Am I walking in unity with other Christians and my Lord?
3B. The chastisement for carelessness (11:29-30)
God's judgment (11:29)
Literally means to judge, to discern, to judge correctly, "to distinguish between persons."
God's justice (11:30)
Ø Includes: sickness and death.
Ø God will justly deal with carelessness in regard to the manner in which we receive the Lord's Supper in the form of sickness and death.
Ø Indeed the observance of the Lord's Supper is a very serious matter.
Application
The question is not are you worthy to receive the Lord's Supper.
None of us are worthy in ourselves for we are all sinners saved by grace.
The question is are you prepared to partake in the Supper in a worthy manner.
Have you tested your relationship?
Are you a Christian have you ever truly trusted Christ?
Have you tested your discipleship?
If you are saved have followed your Lord in baptism and church membership?
Have you tested your fellowship?
Christian are walking with the Lord or is there some sin hindering your fellowship?
1 Corinthians 11:23‑31
1A. A ________________________ Look (11:24, 25)
1B. _______________ we are to remember.
2B. ________________ we are to remember.
The ______________ body of Christ.
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
The shed _________________ of Christ.
3B. ___________________ we should remember.
His death made possible the _________________ of our sins.
Hebrews 9:22 …without shedding of blood there is no remission.
Hebrews 9:14 …how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
His death made possible the redemption of our souls.
Colossians 1:14 …in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
1 John 2:2 …And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
2A. AN ___________________ Look (11:26)
1B. The symbolic _____________ of the supper.
It shows…
Ø The superiority of the sacrifice (11:25)
Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
Ø The sufficiency the __________________
Hebrews 10:12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,
2B. The supernatural ____________ of the supper. (Acts 1:11)
3A. An __________________ Look (11:27‑31)
1B. A _____________ against carelessness (11:27)
Being careless about your ________________.
Being careless about your ________________.
Being careless about our __________________.
2B. A ______________ for carelessness (11:28).
Test your relationship.
Test your discipleship.
Test your fellowship.
3B. The chastisement for carelessness (11:29-30)
God's __________________________ (11:29)
God's __________________________ (11:30)