Chico Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
"The Divine Dinner" I Corinthians 11:17-34
Review
I. Reproof for fleshly behavior 1-6
II. Responses to specific inquiries
A. Concerning marriage 7
B. Concerning the voluntary limitation of Christian liberty 8-11:1
C. Concerning proper protocol for public worship 11-14
1. Proper decorum in corporate worship 11:2-16
2. Proper heart for observing the Lord’s Supper 11:17-34
Paul found it necessary to address internal heart problems connected to external worship symbols. An air of independence rather than interdependence between men and women caused difficulty in the church worship service. An atmosphere of disunity rather than unity became obvious by behavior even when celebrating the Lord’s Supper. An attitude of superiority and self-centeredness caused an imbalance in the understanding and practice of spiritual gifts.
Mystery and controversy have surrounded this celebration that has deep roots back to the Exodus from Egypt and overflows with deep symbolism we embrace to this day. Jesus called his disciples to prepare for His final Passover celebration before His crucifixion. This particular celebration became the transition from much of the symbolism of the Old Covenant to the reality of the New Covenant. The celebration of the Passover celebrated the covenant between Israel and God. Its celebration recalled the miraculous deliverance from years of horrible suffering under Egyptian slavery by the sacrifice of the lamb.
Its celebration affirmed their identification as God’s chosen people. As Jesus took up the bread and wine of the Passover, He made personal application to His sacrifice that would bring deliverance from centuries of suffering and slavery to sin. It would symbolize identification with Him and with those who would follow Him. It would become a commemoration and celebration of oneness with Christ through sacrifice. It would celebrate oneness and unity with the body of Christ. In light of the powerful purpose behind the Lord’s Supper, God directed Paul to address some issues related to the Corinthians celebration of it.
a) Obvious Contention Revealed 11:17-22
This Church at Corinth did not have a problem getting together as did the believers addressed in Hebrews. This church came together but did not come together in unity.
But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.
"Not for the better but for the worse." "Your services do more harm than good." Divisions manifested when they came together. Paul even expressed having no trouble believing the reports concerning divisions when he looked at what was taking place in the church. They were heaping approval on some. They were totally disregarding and ignoring others. They ignored unity and ministry and everyone did their own thing. Some were unwilling to wait for others. Others went hungry at the love feast. Still others pigged out at the feast of love.
The core contention at the Corinthian corral was selfishness; a basic disregard for the unity of the body accomplished through the sacrificial suffering and death of Christ. These believers declared their allegiance to Christ and unity with His body by partaking of the symbols of communion yet their actions declared something all together different. Basically they claimed a degree of spiritual maturity and communion that was not a reality.
b) The Original Conditions Recounted 11:23-26
Paul simply recounted with them what the Lord told him.
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 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." In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
Jesus Himself identified the symbolism of the bread and wine.
The bread that had stood for God's abundant provision to His people for centuries pointed to Christ’s body which he would freely given for their benefit.
This wine that had stood for supernatural deliverance from the angel of death through blood sacrifice pointed to Christ’s once and for all substitutionary sacrifice not only for them but for the entire world.
Christ urged them to continue to observe these truths in remembrance of Him; His life, His suffering, His death. Every celebration of the Lord’s Supper would become a public proclamation of His death to the day He would return. It would celebrate and communicate intimate communion with Christ and His body.
Jesus declared the absolute necessity of intimate communion with Him.
"I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." John 6:34, 54, 58
Partaking in this celebration publicly declares to God and to men that we have embraced Christ as our only source of real life and that we are part of His body.
Jesus made it equally clear that one cannot claim intimate communion with Him without a corresponding communion with other believers.
If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. 1 John 4:20-21
In light of such clear and significant symbolic declaration, Paul raised some ominous cautions.
c) Ominous Cautions Raised 11:27-32
The cautions concern an ‘unworthy’ participation in the Lord’s Supper. The word used here is the word “worthy” with a negative in front of it. It would be similar to the English (un)worthy. The word ‘worthy’ means: appropriate, fitting, deserving, in keeping with the value of a person or thing. Unworthy participation in the celebration is to declare with your mouth or symbolize by your participation in the Lord’s Supper something different than you demonstrate in your heart and daily practice. Such an act would be something inappropriate, unfitting, undeserving not in keeping with the value of a person or thing. By participating in the communion celebration we boldly declare…I am united to Christ! I am united to the body of Christ! Jesus is Lord of everything! Such a declaration must be backed up by a corresponding life behavior or it makes a normally glorious celebration something unworthy of the Savior who instituted it. An unworthy participation brings unpleasant consequences.
1--Careless celebration brings grave guilt 27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
It brings the same heavy guilt as personally slapping His face and spilling His blood. We would show ourselves to be as unconcerned about the treatment of Christ as those who actually crucified Him. 2--Careless celebration brings cursory correction 28-32
But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly
For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep (are DEAD). 1 Cor. 11:30
"Weak"
1--Spiritual weakness. Weak in faith, weak conscience, inability to pray effectively.
2--Sinfulness of the flesh. 3--General frailties of humanity
4--Physical sickness
5--Demonic influence
"sick" Word used to indicate physical sickness.
"dead" The ultimate discipline.
John talked about a “sin unto death” for the Christian. Ananias and Saphira experienced such discipline when they lied to the Holy Spirit by declaring absolute commitment with their lips but demonstrated selfishness in their heart.
These things must be seen as the discipline of a loving God on His wayward children.
d) Official Corrections Related 28-34
1--Practice self examination concerning my relationship with Christ
We can avoid such discipline by taking the time to examine our lives each time we participate in the Lord’s Supper.
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 1 Cor. 11:28
But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world. 1 Cor. 11:31-32
"Disciplined" is the word used of a teacher training a student, a parent instructing a child.
"Condemned" is the ultimate judgment connected to the ultimate condemnation.
There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. A loving God disciplines His children but does not condemn them. We need examine motives as well as actions. Look for selfishness. Look for sinfulness. How can we partake of a celebration intended to declare selfless commitment to Christ and His body while demonstrating selfish commitment to my own desires?
2--Practice selfless consideration concerning my relationship with others
So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you may not come together for judgment. And the remaining matters I shall arrange when I come. 11:33-34
I find at lest six essential elements associated with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. You can remember them by associating them with the word F.A.T.H.E.R.
FELLOWSHIP
Learn to affirm one another, not assault one another. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Gal 5:26) Practice and preserve the unity of the body in the bond of love. Check you relationships.
ANTICIPATION
This is a celebration to be continually practiced "until He comes". We are to ever be mindful of the fact that no prophesied event is scheduled before the return of Christ. He could return at ANY moment to those who look for His coming.
TESTIMONY
Participation in communion is a declaration. It is a public testimony of my commitment to Christ and to His body of which every Christian is an important part. We need to continually affirm our love for God AND each other.
HEALTH AND HEALING
In light of the stern warnings and observations of Paul, we cannot help but reflect on why we struggle with the things we do in our life. We come face to face with the need for Divine intervention for our spiritual and physical health. Perhaps we struggle because we have unworthily declared ourselves something we are not.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
EXAMINATION
Paul instructs every person to examine himself. This is not a time to think about the condition and sin of others. We are to examine ourselves. Honestly.
1st, have I really committed myself to Christ? 2nd, am I really walking my talk?
Examine thoughts, motives, attitudes, words, actions toward God and others.
Give attention to obligations we neglect as well as prohibitions we ignore.
REMEMBRANCE
It is a time to remember not only the superior walk and talk and the supernatural deeds and the shocking treatment, but the supreme sacrifice for we who were His enemies. It is a time of reflection but also a time of rejoicing and celebration. In this ceremony we remember our union with Christ. There is a mystery in this celebration that goes beyond the elements. It celebrates His presence in us and with us. It should be a meaningful moment, an encouraging experience with God and each other that spurs us to face another day in a fallen world.
