Taking Communion Properly 9-4-24
As long as I have been born again and of all the churches that I have been affiliated with, communion has not been commemorated the way Paul the apostle wrote why, and how we should take it.
The scriptures written in 1 Corinthians 11, gives us the entire meaning of partaking of “The Lord’s Supper”
Remember this, Jesus told the disciples how to observe the “Lord’s Supper,” but in essence, Paul wrote the same way; just that His was all in the same context. Paul also started his writing with the very words that Jesus used.
In other words, Paul and Jesus were saying the same thing, just worded differently. Jesus taught the disciples not to show distinction and that the Love would confirm that. Paul just went more in depth when he wrote. Why do you think he was in the desert of Arabia for three years, learning things from Jesus that the disciples didn’t know? In 1 Corinthians 11:17-23, the saints had communion with their meal, as did Jesus and the disciples.
Now, in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. Therefore, when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.
For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? 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 do not praise you.
Institution of the Lord’s Supper- For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This is done, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
The difference between the two was this; Jesus did not show distinction, whereas in the church of Corinth and some churches today, there is a distinction. For there is no respect of persons with God (Romans 2:11); no one is better than the other.
In the body of Christ, there are all kinds of people with different ethnic backgrounds, some do not possess what some others may have. Those who are well off or more prosperous should not show distinction.
Although we don’t celebrate the Lord’s supper with a meal in the church today, the main emphasis is on showing distinction.
Examples: cliques in the church, think they are better than some others; the pastor showing favoritism with a certain group of people.
As a matter of fact, James wrote about showing favoritism (cliques). My brothers [sisters] do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
Coming next- The Consequences of Taking Communion Unworthily.
His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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