HOW DOES THE SAINT OBSERVE THE LORD’S TABLE/COMMUNION?
1Co 11:23 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:
1Co 11:24 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.
1Co 11:25 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.
1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
One of the most important doctrines that the saint is entrusted with is what the Apostle Paul gives the saints to do that he says will “shew the Lord’s death till he come.” The Apostle Paul says that the saint should “eat this bread, and drink this cup” of the Lord, and that when this is done it will make an impact by ‘showing’ the Lord’s death and what it accomplished when He died on the cross and was resurrected 3 days later.
1Co 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Unfortunately most churches preach and teach that the saint is to physically ‘eat and drink’ the body and blood of the Lord to “shew the Lord’s death till he come.” This is done because they feel that they must ‘observe’ what the Lord did at the ‘last supper’ when the Lord break bread and ‘supped’ of that cup, but is this what Paul is asking the saints to do when we are told to ‘eat and drink’ of the Lord’s body and cup? Most churches practice a ‘wafer and wine’ type of ceremony to observe what they call communion or the Lord’s Supper to “shew the Lord’s death till he come.”
1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
1Co 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1Co 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
In 1Corinthians chapter 10 the Apostle Paul says we are not to be ignorant concerning how our sanctification plays a big role in who God has made us to be “in Christ,” he uses Israel as an “ensample” in showing how we should “live unto God,” and to be dead unto this ungodly world. Some of the Corinthians in the church were keeping company with idolaters and eating things offered to idols, this is why Paul uses Israel as our “example” in how that they misused their sanctification after just being led out of Egypt, when in fact Israel should have been giving glory and honor unto the LORD the way He designed.
1Co 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
1Co 10:15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
1Co 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1Co 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
1Co 10:18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
1Co 10:19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1Co 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1Co 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
Moreover when the Apostle Paul says that we are to ‘partake’ of the Lord’s Table, this is what Paul refers to as the communion of the body and blood of the Lord. The saint ‘partakes’ of the communion of the Lord’s table beginning with our fellowship in godly charity with one another as members of that “one bread, and one body, the Corinthians were not on the same ‘godly page,’ and there were “divisions” in the church whereas some were “glorying” in men and said that they were “of” Apollos, “of” Paul, “of” Cephas, and “of” others, and not “of” Christ Jesus.
1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1Co 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1Co 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1Co 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Therefore because of the “contentions” over who the church ought to follow, there were divisions among them, this is why Paul tells the saints in chapter 11:1 that they ought to follow him as he is “of” Christ, there was no togetherness, when they should have been “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” These saints could not yet partake of the Lord’s Table because they did not understand the “fellowship” aspect of the doctrine. The word communion has the similar type of meaning as “fellowship,” and what Paul is saying is that God designed that as members “one of another” they should have had the same common goal and purpose in mind “in Christ” before they could even begin to eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
1Co 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
1Co 11:17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
1Co 11:18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
And as being members “one of another” these saints being divided were not acting as if they were “called unto the fellowship of his Son,” even though they would “come together in the church,” there wasn’t “fellowship” among the saints, this was an issue that Paul knew they had to correct if they were ever going to ‘partake’ of the Lord’s table, and this was because of the fact that they were actually ‘partaking’ of the “table of devils”.
2Co 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2Co 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
2Co 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
2Co 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
2Co 6:5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
2Co 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
2Co 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
2Co 6:8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
2Co 6:9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
2Co 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
2Co 6:11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
2Co 6:12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
2Co 6:13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
I thought it was needful to add the entire 6th chapter of 2Corinthians not only for the purpose of showing the similarity between the words “fellowship” and “communion,” but to show what the doctrine of the Lord’s Table is all about. The first thing that the saint has to understand is that we are “workers together with him,” and that there should not be “divisions” among us, and that we understand and appreciate that we are not to misuse our sanctification, but use it the way God intended. Also as members “one of another” we ought to have a mutual unerstanding concerning our Father’s will for us, this is why Paul uses words like “fellowship,” communion,” “concord,” and “agreement” because this is the designed way for the saints to ‘think like God does,’ ‘do things God’s way,’ and ‘labor together with Him.’ This aspect of “godliness” (God-like-ness) can only be achieved by understanding and apreciating our “communion” with one another, and our “fellowship” in the doctrine for “Christ’s sake.” And once the saint understands and appreciates each member’s common cause and purpose for the body’s sake, he should also value and esteem each other more than himself with godly charity, and then he can move on and begin to “drink of that cup,” and “eat of that bread.” This is where the saint begins to let the doctrine work effectually within him regardless what this world’s system has to offer him. Also when the “son” is ready to be taught by the “Father,” and he is ready to take on the sufferings, the laboring, and everything else that Paul mentioned in verses 4-10, (the things mentioned in verses 4-10 contain some of the things that go along with partaking of the Lord’s Table, and how our thinking should be concerning them when they come up), then he is now ready to “drink of that cup, and eat of that bread” of the Lord. The Corinthians were “straitened” in their own bowels, because their hearts were not “enlarged” like it ought to have been. By ‘enlarging’ ones heart, the saint learns to ‘clean house’ within his heart with regards to all of the things of this world that he values and esteems and the ‘loves’ of his life, and he learns to value and esteem the things of the Lord over the things of this world. And once a saint learns this important doctrine, he is now ready to be taught how not to be “straitened” in his own bowels, but he should possess a zeal to be dead to this world, and alive unto God. Furthermore this is the foundational sonship doctrine concerning how we as “sons and daughters” ought to “renew” our minds by understanding that our body is a “temple of the living God.”
1Co 11:17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
1Co 11:18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
1Co 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
1Co 11:20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
1Co 11:21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
1Co 11:22 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 designed way that the saints are to “partake” of the Lord’s Table, and “drink” of the cup, and “eat” of the bread of the Lord is accomplished through the saints as they exercise their sanctification in a godly manner, and begin to learn how to think like God does, do things God’s way, and labor together with Him in what He is doing. When the son operates upon this type of understanding in the doctrine of godliness; this is when he “shows” the Lord’s death till He comes. Here in verse 20 Paul says that when the saints come together that it is “not to eat the Lord’s supper,” but this is what was taking place; some of the members were eating to the full; and others were hungry, and this was because of the divisions and ungodly thinking among the saints.
1Co 11:23 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:
1Co 11:24 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.
1Co 11:25 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.
1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
1Co 11:27 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.
1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
1Co 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
1Co 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
1Co 11:33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
1Co 11:34 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.
It is commonly thought that the Corinthians were not observing “the Lord’s Supper” the correct way, because they were not physically ‘eating’ and ‘drinking’ with togetherness, but this is not the case at all. Our ‘partaking’ is of a “spiritual” nature ONLY, we are not instructed by God our Father to “partake” of the Lord’s Supper (this is done by most by way of physically breaking bread, and physically drinking to “shew the Lord’s death till He come”), but we are told to “examine” ourselves, (which is ‘taking a step back’ and view ourselves to see if we ready to take on all that comes with our “partaking” of the Lord’s Table; and seeing whether or not we are ‘worthy’ enough to begin to “eat and drink” unto the Lord), and if that saint is operating with an “enlarged heart,” and he has a desire to live unto the Lord, then he is ready to “eat of that bread, drink of that cup.”
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
Furthermore, the reason that there were many “weak and sickly,” and many dead among the saints was because of their lack of care and charity for one another, this is why Paul later explains to these Corinthians what the “more excellent way” was all about. The Corinthians were not acting as if they were “members one of another,” (this foundational doctrine is found in Romans chapters 12-14), there was a select group eating in the church, while others were left without, this ‘eating’ was of a physical nature, and it should have been done with a renewed way of thinking for one another. The Corinthians were ‘eating and drinking’ of “that bread” and “that cup” unworthily (notice that Paul says “when ye come together to eat,” this is eating in a physical manner, also he doesn’t mention ‘drinking;’ if Paul was telling the saints to observe the Lord’s Supper, he would have mentioned the ‘drinking’ aspect that goes along with it, when we “eat of that bread, and drink of that cup” we do not have to “come together” in one place to achieve this) because of their lack of care for one another, and this is because as “babes” they were not operating upon an “enlarged heart.”
1Co 10:15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
1Co 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1Co 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
1Co 10:18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
1Co 10:19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1Co 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1Co 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
Finally, the “communion of the body of Christ” (eating of that bread) is accomplished by our understanding and appreciating each other’s role as members one of another, and showing godly charity to one another, and we must also be of one mind, perfectly joined together “in Christ.” The “communion of the blood of Christ” (drinking of that cup) is our fellowship in making a “shew” to this ungodly world, and to the angelic realm what Christ’s death accomplished, it is about the saint being dead to this ungodly world, and alive unto God because of what the blood has accomplished for the saint in justifying, sanctifying, and exalting him, and we are privileged to be entrusted with this glorious opportunity to “shew the Lord’s death till He comes” when we as sons “partake of the Lord’s Table.” And we as sons do “shew the Lord’s death till He comes” when the word of truth is preached, when we let the word of God in truth work effectually within us, and in everything that we do in a godly manner.
Rod Jones