Equality at the Lord's Table
Messy Church - 1 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsWhile there is diversity within the church, every Christian is equal at the foot of the cross.
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If you have your Bibles, please open them to 1 Cor 11.23
Tonight we are continuing our time in our series through 1 Corinthians called ‘Messy Church.’ The Bible is not shy when it comes to talking about sin that happens in the church, which is ironic in a way because most of the time we are quite shy about talking about our own sins. But the were one of the messiest churches we read about in the Bible.
We have already seen that they were divided because of pride
They were engaged in all sorts of sexual immorality
They participated in the worship of demons through eating meat at the pagan temples
Last week we began hearing about how their own worship gatherings were disordered.
Last week Paul reminded the men and women of the church about their distinct roles, but this week Paul will remind them and us of all that we have in common with one another.
This week we learn about how the Lord’s supper was being misused.
Just a note as we get started. even though we are talking about communion tonight we still will not be participating in communion tonight, but certainly we should look forward to taking the Lord’s supper on Sunday as we go through this Scripture.
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.
Let’s pray
In America, we celebrate “liberty and justice for all”
When we say that all deserve liberty, we mean that all people in America should be free from oppression.
And when we say that all people deserve justice, we mean that all people deserve good and fair treatment.
In our own national anthem we declare that here in American, there is liberty and justice for all people.
Yet there are many stains in American history where people have not recieved liberty or justice. While Americans celebrate liberty and justice for all, Americans have not always given liberty and justice to all.
We call this hypocrisy. A person is guilty of hypocrisy when they hold to a moral standard that they do not live by. A hypocrite does not practice what they preach.
If you tell your sibling not to hit you, and then you go ahead and hit your sibling, then you are a hypocrite.
If a parent tells their kid not to lie, but that same parent is dishonest, then that parent is a hypocrite.
If I preach about your need for repentance, only for me to not be repentant of my sin, then I would be a hypocrite.
we are hypocrites when we contradict the very thing that we declare. And the Corinthians were hypocrites, because they declared the gospel and counted themselves among God’s people, but they certainly did not live according to the gospel that they proclaimed.
Listen to how Paul puts it starting in v 17,
17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.
As a church we are to love one another. And every time we gather together this love should be evident for one another. The Scriptures instruct us to build one another up, and encourage one another, and yes there are times for correction too but even that correction is for our good so that we would be built up in love. So while the Corinthians in fact gathering together, their gatherings were not producing good fruit. Paul said that their gatherings which were doing the opposite of what they were intended to do. He said, “when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.” Paul continued;
18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
Notice, Paul returns to the subject of division again. But this time the divisions aren’t over their favorite preachers. Listen to how they are divided;
20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.
There are two things things to note about the context of what is happening:
First of all, this division was taking place was around the Lord’s supper. When we think about the Lord’s supper (or communion) we probably think about a small cracker and a sip of juice. But this isn’t how the Lord’s supper was practiced in the early church. Rather, the Lord’s Supper took place around a meal. Remember, Jesus instituted the Lord’s supper during a passover meal with his disciples. So when we consider what Paul is talking about with some getting drunk and others going away hungry, this is because they are sharing a meal, not just eating a small cracker and a sip of juice or wine.
The second thing I want us to consider is that the Corinthian’s culture was way different than ours is today. How many days are in a week do you know? The Jews also had seven days in their week. The seven day week is a reflection of God’s seven days of creation. But remember, the Romans, who were pagans, did not worship God nor live according to his Word, and this was demonstrated even in their week. So unlike our culture and the Jewish culture, the Romans operated on a ten day week. So why is this important you ask? It’s important because has everything to do with the day that the church comes together to worship God!
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
We worship on Sundays because ever since the the resurrection of Jesus Christ the church has always gathered on the first day a seven day week. So on the first day of a seven day week, the Corinthian church would gather to worship and share in the Lord’s supper. But for those who were poor and who worked on a ten day week, they often would miss out on this meal.
This is why at the end of the chapter Paul writes,
33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— 34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.
But they weren’t waiting for each other. Instead, the rich were feasting and getting drunk while the poor would go away hungry.
20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.
1. Inequality in the church is a contradiction to the gospel.
1. Inequality in the church is a contradiction to the gospel.
While the Corinthians thought they were celebrating what Christ had done, they were in fact contradiction what Jesus died for. The very meal that was intended to unify the church with Christ and each other was in fact divided them. The Corinthians were hypocrites. They proclaimed one thing while all the while they were practicing something else.
Put this all in context with what he heard last week. Last week we talked about the diversity between men and women. We learned about how God made men and women to be distinct from one another. Next week Paul will talk more about all the unique gifts that God has given to various members of the church. So there is plenty to love about diversity in the church.
But in all of our diversity, we have plenty in common with each other, and the church is to celebrate this as well. The Scriptures have plenty to say to the rich and the poor.
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
This is a model of the radical generosity that is exhibited by the church. The Corinthians were not celebrating what they had in common at the Lord’s table, rather they were hi-lighting their differences in their social statuses. But the Scriptures give warning to this practice as well.
1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
Listen, we are all equal in our status before God.
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.
This is what the Corinthians are forgetting, and this is what we so often forget too. We may look at ourselves with pride, while we look down at a brother or sister in Christ. And if we do this, we are guilty of hypocrisy and we contradict the gospel.
We need to learn the way of Christ, and one way we do this is through communion. When we take communion, we remember what Jesus did for us. This is how Paul put it,
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.
While there is a lot to these verses
2. The Lord’s supper reminds us of our Lords’ humility.
2. The Lord’s supper reminds us of our Lords’ humility.
When we take communion, we eat the bread. And this bread is a symbol of Jesus’ body that was broken. And when we drink from the cup, we remember Jesus’ blood that was shed.
While communion isn’t a mere memorial, it certainly isn’t less that an act of remembering Jesus humility.
This is why v20 Paul says that they are not eating the Lord’s supper. The Corinthian’s division and inequality was a direct contradiction of what Jesus did! You see, while the rich exalt themselves above the poor, Jesus Christ who is above all did the very opposite.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Our Savior’s supremacy was not lorded over us to make us feel small and weak. Rather, Jesus Christ gave up his life so that we would receive eternal life!
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he knows from afar.
This is how our God works. He loves the humble. He loves the poor. He loves those who are week. He loves broken hearted. And to those who are repentant, he does not turn away.
But to the proud, he is far off. To those who are proud, God does not know them. They are like those who have been cast out of the garden. Those who are proud, will be humbled by God.
And so Paul continues,
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
What does it mean to partake in an unworthy manner?
Does Paul mean that those who have sinned cannot come to the table?
If so, then who among us could ever come to the Lord’s table?
In a bit we will sing a song that says
Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
lost and ruined by the fall;
if you tarry till you're better,
you will never come at all.
Coming to the table in an unworthy manner has nothing to do with you being sinless.
Jesus gave us a parable to tell us how we are able to come to him.
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
With this parable in mind, let’s return to 1 Cor 11.27
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
So what does it mean to eat and drink in an unworthy manner? It means you partake in communion in pride without repenting! And so Paul continues,
28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
While the Lord’s supper is a time for us to reflect on the cross so that we would remember Jesus’ humility dying for our sins, we are also to remember something else!
3. The Lord’s supper should cause us to repent and remember that we are all equal because of grace.
3. The Lord’s supper should cause us to repent and remember that we are all equal because of grace.
Communion is not a time to distinguish the rich from the poor. It’s not a meal that exalts the self righteous above other sinners. The Lord’s supper is given to distinguish those who are repentant from those who are not.
And repentance is a difficult thing for us to do sometimes. Especially for youth. You might be tempted to think that repentance will taint your reputation. You might think that if anyone knows what your sin is really like, then you might get called out in front of the whole church!
But this is not what repentance leads to. Repentance does not lead to humiliation. Those who are humble and poor in spirit will be exalted.
But we have a tragic tendency to try to hide our sins. Adam and Eve did the same. But all they could do was hide behind fig leaves. But the God who created the leaves could see beneath their disguise.
And God sees your sins too. And he will humble you in this life and in eternity if you do not humble yourself in repentance. Paul says this;
30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
Sin has all kinds of consequences.
Sin can lead to sickness and even death. Obviously there are the natural consequences,
Parents will discipline you if you sin.
Sin even leads to consequences from civil authorities. Paul speaks about this in Romans when he says,
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
But there are even consequences that come from God..
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
Moses says there is a direct correlation with honoring parents with living a long life in the promised land. And certainly Israel didn’t live that long in the land, for God sent them into exile.
Even in the NT we read about Ananias and Sapphira… do you remember what happened to them? They were greedy and lied to the apostles and to God, and they dropped dead.
Make no mistake. Sin leads to death, and death will find all who do not repent of their sins! If we think we can hide from God, then we are as foolish as Jonah trying to run from God’s call. We can no more cover our sins than David could hide from his when he had Uriah killed.
But there is a way of escape from our sins, and it isn’t through covering our sins up. Rather our way of escape is found through exposing our sins in repentance.
31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.
What sins are in your life that you need to repent of? Examine yourself carefully now before God exposes your sin in judgment.
But even if we are facing the consequences of our sins now, know it is not too late, for Paul says,
32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
God’s discipline is meant to lead us to repentance Paul says. So if have sinned, God invites you to his table.
As we respond to our to God’s Word in song and in our groups, know that God calls sinners to himself. He calls us to repentance. The Lord loves broken spirit. He does not despise a broken and contrite heart. So come to him broken with all of your sins, and know that if you do, you will be forgiven. God’s word says that you will receive a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, and the oil of gladness instead of mourning and the garment. of praise instead of a faint spirt
So come to him, and you will receive joy.