Yes, the old rugged cross made the difference. For those of us who are in Christ, the cross makes all the difference. This morning we want to take a look at what communion means in the life of the believer, especially in light of what we have been looking at over the past several weeks. We want to begin with Paul’s words about the Lord’s Table in 1 Corinthians 11:
23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
31 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. 32 Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.
33 So, my dear brothers and sisters, when you gather for the Lord’s Supper, wait for each other. 34 If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won’t bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together. I’ll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive.
This week, while Pam and I were away at FLAME, I was reminded again of the importance of communion. Paul makes it very clear that communion should not be taken lightly, that it is a serious time and a time of reflection. Paul speaks of taking communion unworthily. I know that there are some Christians who do not partake of the Lord’s Supper because they feel that they are unworthy. The older I get, the more that I realize that none of us – if we really stop and think about it – are worthy to partake in communion. This is not what Paul is talking about here. Paul it talking about those who run headlong into communion, without any thought of what communion means or what their life is like.
What was going on in the church at Corinth that Paul had to write these words? At this time in church history, the church met each week for worship and fellowship. The church was meeting in homes so fellowship would be a natural part of worship. Just as it is in our day, fellowship also included eating a meal together. From what I understand, that meal also included communion at the end, just as Jesus did with his disciples after the Passover meal. The problem became when people started consuming food like there was no tomorrow. Like many churches, this church had both rich and poor. It was possible that the poorer folks were being excluded from the fellowship because they couldn’t contribute. This is why Paul had to “lay down the law” in Corinth.
In today’s world, we don’t worry about this because the Lord’s Table has developed into what we know it today. However, the examination part is still part of the process of the Lord’s Table. Each time that we partake of the Lord’s Table you are given the opportunity to examine yourself. What is God speaking to you? What changes do you need to make in your life? What relationships are being strained? In just a few moments, I will be inviting you to the table with these words: “Those who are walking in fellowship with God and are in love and harmony with their neighbor…come.” This is part of the examination process. Our church practices “open” communion – that means that any person who has received Christ as Savior and is walking in fellowship with him and walking in harmony with their neighbor is more than welcome to participate in communion. As we participate in communion this morning, I encourage you to examine yourself. See what God would show you. Communion is a time to reflect on your life and see if you are going the way that God is calling you.
This time gives us a chance to make mid-course corrections. Imagine that it was possible to make a direct shot to the moon without orbiting the earth. Imagine also that there was no opportunity for an in-flight correction. If, in the launching the calculations were off just one degree, that space vehicle would miss the moon by almost 1.5 million miles. Imagine what happens in our own lives when we don’t take time to make mid-course corrections. Communion is a time to do that. In that process of examination we can make a new start. We can renew our dedication to the task. Perhaps sin has crept into your life. It is a time when we can move back to the center of God’s will for our lives. Yes, communion is a time for examination, but it is also a time for reflection on what Jesus did for us.
Because of Paul’s words not to enter into communion unworthily, communion often has a somber tone. I believe as we have already looked that communion is a serious time – it is a time of reflection – a time to rededicate our lives to the work of the Kingdom – a time to remove sin from our lives – a time to examine our lives. One of the reasons that it is a serious time is because we meditate on the death of Jesus. However, as I have mentioned before there is more to salvation than Jesus dying on the cross. If Jesus had simply died on the cross, his story would have ended – there would be no salvation for man – the blood that Jesus shed would have only paid the price for our sin, but we would have no power over our sin. The resurrection is a crucial piece to the story of Jesus. It is through the resurrection of Jesus that believers have the power over sin – sin does not have to control us. The songs that were chosen this morning, where chosen intentionally in light of preparing us for communion. What does communion mean to us?
First, in partaking in communion, we acknowledge that Jesus – God’s son – came to earth in the flesh. We call that the incarnation. We remember that he came to earth as a baby – that he humbled himself – that he was obedient to the Father.
Second, we acknowledge that Jesus lived on earth as a human – even though he was fully God and that he was baptized and began three years of ministry on the earth that he created.
Third, we recognize that Jesus died on the cross. That his blood paid the penalty for our sins – that his body was broken and crushed for us.
Fourth, and this one is important – we recognize that Jesus rose from the grave on the third day. He holds the keys to death, hell, and the grave. It is through the resurrection of Jesus that we have the power to live victorious lives over sin. This is great cause for celebration – for we are not bound to sin over and over again.
Fifth – we recognize that Jesus returned to heaven and will be returning for those who are in Christ some day. We are commanded to celebrate communion to remember Christ’s death until that day comes.
These are the reasons that we come together this morning – now it is time to examine our hearts as we prepare to take communion together.
