The Consequences of Taking Communion Unworthily 9-5-24
I am continuing with the message pertaining to communion unworthily and today, you will find out what the consequences are. Some get sick and some die. Many people do not know this because there has not been a proper teaching in some churches.
James’ message is strong- Listen, my beloved brothers: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So, speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:1-11).
Back to Paul - Examine Yourself: Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come. Reminder-during communion at that time, they also ate a meal, just as Jesus and His disciples did.
This is the part that is left out, although all the verses pertaining to the “Lord’s Supper” should be explained. When Jesus and Paul said Jesus' body was broken and His blood was shed for us, it means we should be in no way form or fashion showing a distinction, which causes division. Has Christ’s body already been torn, broken, or divided for us?
Is Christ divided? Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius. Lest anyone say that I was baptized in my own name. And I also baptized the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. There was division among the people in the church in Corinth. Paul addressed it, warned them, and corrected them.
The reason some people are sick and some die is because of distinction- division caused by cliques (a small group of people, with shared interests or other features in common, who spend time together and do not readily allow others to join them).
His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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