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NASB | Luke 22:19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 22:19 And when He had taken bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." |
Subject: Why is communion a sin for sinners? |
Bible Note: Hi jlhetrick, Thank you for your reply, but I must disagree with your citation of Paul's letter to the Corinthians. I am afraid that by agreeing with churches (I should say Pastors, Ministers, or Shepherds, because the entire church is likely not to be blamed) those that withold the bread from a Christian may be keeping that someone at a distance from the Lord. I saw this firsthand with a woman's elderly father, when after her own baptism, she began leading her father to the Lord. When the Pastor said the line about who should refrain from partaking, "Wally" said he was made to feel as if they were judging him and the following visits were uncomfortable for him. Sadly, this man has since passed and only the Lord knows if he ever was saved in spite of the teaching of his daughter's church. Now the teaching contained in Paul's letter is to be considered, within the context of the history and the behavior of the Corinthians that was forcing Paul to upbraid them. I am of the mind that we are wrong if we try to apply these words to all churches and believers everywhere. If we all do that, we have as many biblical interpretations as we have churches, and we miss the message inspired in the original author that our Lord was attempting to convey to us. First, there is the history of Corinth to be considered There was much sin prevalent in that city, and undoubtably it was brought to Paul's attention for a reason, and he would have been derelict in his duty if he did not do his best to bring this raucous behavior to their attention. Now, All sin is damning sin and no one is free of this truth, for in one man sin entered the world, and death by sin....(Rom 5:12). However there possibly is no sin as flagrant as profaning the holy Sacrament of Communion is. Yet this is the sense of irreverence and rudeness that the Corinthians were guilty of. The Corinthians were guilty of coming to the Lord’s table as to a common feast, -not discerning the Lord’s body, -nor were they to see any distinction between that and common food, but setting both on the same plane, they used much more indecency at this sacred feast than they would have usually used at a civil one. The rich were overeating and over imbibing, leaving little, if any for the poor, who were most in need. This was indicative of the sinfulness in them, and very displeasing to our Lord, and thus brought down God's judgments upon them. "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." -Many were punished with sickness and-or death. Careless misconduct at the Lord’s supper may bring about temporal punishments. Though even those who were to receive such punishments were nevertheless in a state of favour with God, for they were chastened of the Lord, that they should not be condemned with the world, v. 32. But fearful believers should not hesitate from attending this holy ordinance by hearing these words, as if they brought upon themselves damnation by coming to the table of the Lord in a state of sin. Certainly sin leaves room for forgiveness upon repentance and the Holy Spirit never intended these verses to deter serious Christians from their partaking, though the devil has often taken them for his advantage, and robbed good people as well as questioning Christians of their highest comforts. I pray that we are all allowed frequently repeated opportunities to eat of the bread and drink of the cup in remembrance of His ultimate sacrifice and give to Him all the honor that is due. To Him be all glory forever, Amen keliy |