Participation in the Body and Blood of Jesus
God’s peace be with you today!
Today we begin what will no doubt be a multi-week study on this same text. I have broken the text into two parts but for you to see the full context I have divided it into the two as you see here below.
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise people; you then, judge what I say. Is the cup of blessing which we bless not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is the bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf. 1 Corinthians 10:14-17
Look at the people of Israel; are those who eat the sacrifices not partners in the altar? What do I mean then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons. 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. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we? 1 Corinthians 10:18-22
We will address the first section today and move to the second next week. Paul has already addressed idolatry previously in this epistle (1 Corinthians 8). The context here is different and Paul takes the topic to a whole new level with the introduction of demons into the discussion.
For today, let’s focus on what Paul reveals, which is extremely positive for us. Is the cup of blessing which we bless not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is the bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.
One of the greatest blessings we have received in our lives as the people of God is the gift of the Lord’s Supper. The “cup” and the “bread” are a direct reference to what Jesus gave to the Church on that Thursday evening before His crucifixion.
Now, I do not want us to get caught up in terminology. The Lord’s Supper is known by many names throughout the Church and throughout history. Quick review – Lord’s Supper, Communion, Holy Communion, Eucharist (meal of thanksgiving), Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (sacrament is a “sacred” or “holy” act), and in Roman Catholicism, the Mass.
Each name carries a different nuance of meaning but taken as a whole we begin to get a fuller picture of what Jesus gave to us. With the exception of the name “Mass,” we see that Jesus gave us something very unique in which He is present and doing something in our midst which is intended to be a powerful blessing in our lives.
Paul seizes on this when he connects each recipient to Jesus and to one another as the Lord’s Supper is received. Now there are numerous understandings of what Holy Communion means and many denominations have sought to nail down a particular meaning to which people are to hold fast. I truly believe this is one of those times when we are attempting to put God in a box and make Him fit into our mold.
Somehow, in this sacred moment, as the bread is given and the cup is shared, we are united to Jesus. Paul says it is a, sharing in the blood, and a, sharing in the body. The Church has always understood that to be connected to Jesus is a matter of faith. Where there is faith in Jesus there is salvation, where there is no faith there is no salvation. Our salvation is based on receiving the forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness which was obtained when Jesus was sacrificed on the cross but forgiveness which is given out to individuals the moment faith is born in the heart.
Forgiveness is a wonderful thing, but it is often misunderstood. How much forgiveness does a person receive the moment faith is born in the heart and they know Jesus as Savior? The answer, 100%. How much forgiveness when Baptism is given, as Peter says, “Baptism now saves you.” The answer, 100%. If we are joined to Christ’s sacrifice as we receive the Lord’s Supper, then how much forgiveness do we receive? Answer, 100%! Don’t try to run numbers with God. With God it is always all or nothing. Total forgiveness or no forgiveness. But God has provided the means (means of grace) by which we receive forgiveness upon forgiveness that we might live with the absolute assurance that we are forgiven and redeemed!
In addition to our assurance of forgiveness, we have an additional blessing in that we are also joined together as those who share the body and blood of Jesus. Christ is in me, and Christ is in you, and therefore we are joined together as the body of Christ, the Church in the world. It is in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper that we find the assurance of knowing we are never alone. Christ is with us, present to bless and strengthen us, and we are joined with every believer present in this world as we stand together, the people of God to save the world in Christ’s name.
I pray this great truth will be a source of comfort and encouragement for you today.
In Christ,
Pastor Russ
Today we begin what will no doubt be a multi-week study on this same text. I have broken the text into two parts but for you to see the full context I have divided it into the two as you see here below.
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise people; you then, judge what I say. Is the cup of blessing which we bless not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is the bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf. 1 Corinthians 10:14-17
Look at the people of Israel; are those who eat the sacrifices not partners in the altar? What do I mean then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons. 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. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we? 1 Corinthians 10:18-22
We will address the first section today and move to the second next week. Paul has already addressed idolatry previously in this epistle (1 Corinthians 8). The context here is different and Paul takes the topic to a whole new level with the introduction of demons into the discussion.
For today, let’s focus on what Paul reveals, which is extremely positive for us. Is the cup of blessing which we bless not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is the bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.
One of the greatest blessings we have received in our lives as the people of God is the gift of the Lord’s Supper. The “cup” and the “bread” are a direct reference to what Jesus gave to the Church on that Thursday evening before His crucifixion.
Now, I do not want us to get caught up in terminology. The Lord’s Supper is known by many names throughout the Church and throughout history. Quick review – Lord’s Supper, Communion, Holy Communion, Eucharist (meal of thanksgiving), Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (sacrament is a “sacred” or “holy” act), and in Roman Catholicism, the Mass.
Each name carries a different nuance of meaning but taken as a whole we begin to get a fuller picture of what Jesus gave to us. With the exception of the name “Mass,” we see that Jesus gave us something very unique in which He is present and doing something in our midst which is intended to be a powerful blessing in our lives.
Paul seizes on this when he connects each recipient to Jesus and to one another as the Lord’s Supper is received. Now there are numerous understandings of what Holy Communion means and many denominations have sought to nail down a particular meaning to which people are to hold fast. I truly believe this is one of those times when we are attempting to put God in a box and make Him fit into our mold.
Somehow, in this sacred moment, as the bread is given and the cup is shared, we are united to Jesus. Paul says it is a, sharing in the blood, and a, sharing in the body. The Church has always understood that to be connected to Jesus is a matter of faith. Where there is faith in Jesus there is salvation, where there is no faith there is no salvation. Our salvation is based on receiving the forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness which was obtained when Jesus was sacrificed on the cross but forgiveness which is given out to individuals the moment faith is born in the heart.
Forgiveness is a wonderful thing, but it is often misunderstood. How much forgiveness does a person receive the moment faith is born in the heart and they know Jesus as Savior? The answer, 100%. How much forgiveness when Baptism is given, as Peter says, “Baptism now saves you.” The answer, 100%. If we are joined to Christ’s sacrifice as we receive the Lord’s Supper, then how much forgiveness do we receive? Answer, 100%! Don’t try to run numbers with God. With God it is always all or nothing. Total forgiveness or no forgiveness. But God has provided the means (means of grace) by which we receive forgiveness upon forgiveness that we might live with the absolute assurance that we are forgiven and redeemed!
In addition to our assurance of forgiveness, we have an additional blessing in that we are also joined together as those who share the body and blood of Jesus. Christ is in me, and Christ is in you, and therefore we are joined together as the body of Christ, the Church in the world. It is in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper that we find the assurance of knowing we are never alone. Christ is with us, present to bless and strengthen us, and we are joined with every believer present in this world as we stand together, the people of God to save the world in Christ’s name.
I pray this great truth will be a source of comfort and encouragement for you today.
In Christ,
Pastor Russ
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