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NASB | 1 Corinthians 11:29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 11:29 For anyone who eats and drinks [without solemn reverence and heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ], eats and drinks a judgment on himself if he does not recognize the body [of Christ]. |
Bible Question:
This is an issue i have been struggling with for some time now - raised baptist i was taught that the Lord's supper is a symbolic act - a memorial - shown by the words "this do in rememberence of me". Recently i have been introduced to Lutherans that believe it is much more than that. they believe Christ's spirit is present in the bread and wine and thus taking communion imparts on us the blessings of the holy spirit and the forgiveness of sins. they draw heavily from 1 Cor. 11:29 where Paul warns about taking communion unworthily. NASB 1 Cor 11:29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. AMP For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that [it is Christ's] body, eats and drinks a sentence (a verdict of judgment) upon himself. my Bible says "if he does not discern the body" and the literal greek is "not judging through the body". is this a reference to Christ's true spiritual presence in communion? or is communion simply a symbolic act we participate in to proclaim "the death of the Lord until He arrives"? ive gone around and around on this one with baptist ministers and lutheran pastors. i wont explain further, but my situation is dire and i need some real spiritual guidence here. any help would be appreciated. thanks. tproffitt_79 |
Bible Answer: tproffitt_79, I believe the answer is found in John chapter 6. Many were offended at Jesus' saying because they could not see the 'spiritual' message but could only hear with carnal ears. John 6: 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Notice in verse 57 Jesus uses His life as a comparison. Jesus said as the Fathe had sent Him and He 'lived' by His Father, so would live by Him. In John 15 Jesus teaches of abiding in the vine, this is the same principle. When we as believers begin to put our faith in anything but the literal blood of Jesus, we are placing our faith in sinking sand. Weak and beggerly elements, that have no spiritual power. 1 Corinthians 11:27-28 ( Complete Jewish Bible) Therefore, whoever eats the Lord's bread or drinks the Lord's cup in an unworthy manner will be guilty of desecrating the body and blood of the Lord! Listen with your spirit and not your head...and certainly not through 'religious ears'. A person who partakes of the communion with sin in their life (knowingly) is desecrating the Lords' body and blood spiritually. By doing this, a person lacks fear of God. The reason I say this is because they can repent and partake rightly, but choose not to. To partake of the bread is to be led by the Spirit, and to partake of the blood is to say I receive His grace through His blood and am clean. Not "will be clean" but "am clean". 1 Corinthians 11: 28 But a man must EXAMINE HIMSELF, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (DO NOT PARTAKE UNWORTHILY..OR WITH SIN IN YOUR LIFE) 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number (3) sleep. "imparts on us the blessings of the holy spirit and the forgiveness of sins. they draw heavily from 1 Cor. 11:29 where Paul warns about taking communion unworthily." The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost and He is here today to first regenerate or rebirth our dead spirit, and then to abide IN US. He does not 'come' at communion. If you study the Holy Spirit (capitalized for the third person of the Godhead) you will find a lot of information that will correct this teaching. Secondly, the forgiveness of sins happens at the moment of true repentance, and according to these verses are to be done BEFORE taking communion which I believe is the message of verse 29. I pray something helped. God bless. |