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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: How cant the idea that the bread and the cup are only symbolic be supported in light of this verse? |
Bible Answer: Here is another view of communion which, I believe, scripture supports: 1) Some of the Corinthian Christians were coming to the fellowship suppers and eating up most of the food and getting drunk on the wine. Paul is trying to correct this 'unworthy manner.' They were not recongizing the body of Christ. Now, think this through: 2) When Christ was physically on earth, He had a flesh and blood body. At what we call the Lord's supper, He took a loaf of bread (representing His 1 physical body) and broke it into many pieces. The disciples ate these many pieces of bread. The bread (symbolizing His body) was no longer one loaf. It was now broken and inside every one of the disciples. After His resurrection, He is now in heaven seated at the right hand of God the Father. Where is His body now? Well, physically it is in heaven. But, spiritually WE are the body of Christ. Believers indwelt by Him constitute His earthly body until He returns. He is the head. If you want to see the body of Christ in 2001 (unless He returns), look for Christians. As His body, we should respect one another because Christ dwells in each and every believer. 2) So, if, when we gather together for fellowship, we eat up all the food and drink up all the ..um, beverages, others will go hungry and thirsty. This is not properly recognizing (in this present age) the Body of Christ. We are to serve one another as Christ served. If we don't, others, Christians and non-Christians will judge us and say, "Look at those Christians, they don't act any different from the world. They only look out for their own needs." Paul summarizes this at the end of the chapter - 1 Cor 11:33 So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 1 Cor 11:34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. The remaining matters I will arrange when I come. 3) The wine represents the blood of the new covenant. This new covenant went into effect at Christ's death and states in Heb 10:17 "AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE." Heb 10:18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin. Yet, most Christians sit, trying to remember all their sins so they can confess them to God before they partake of the cup. Is this faith in what Christ has done at the cross? Christ said, "This cup represents the NEW COVENANT in My blood." The new covenant says God no longer remembers our sins because Christ took them away. So why do we remember what God says He doesn't? God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not holding men's sins against them. We think confession bring forgiveness when only Christ blood, shed 2000 years ago, provided forgiveness. Nothing we do can ever make us 'worthy.' Only Christ blood makes us worthy. And it is no longer flowing. But it did flow at Calvary. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. So why do we ask for more forgiveness than what Christ provided at the cross? I hope this helps your understanding of communion. |