Jesus Said, “This is My Body, Which is For You…”
Do you understand what Communion is? In 1Corinthians, chapter 11, while Jesus was seated amongst his apostles sharing the ‘Last Supper’ with them before his crucifixion, he left them with instructions on how believers should regularly gather together in his name and share the Lord’s Supper (also known as communion). In the following scripture, the Apostle Paul touches on what Jesus said at the Last Supper and discusses the manner in which communion was introduced to the early church. Also, notice how at the end of this scripture, the Apostle Paul issues a warning to those who receive communion in an unworthy manner.
1 Corinthians 11:23-34 (NIV)
The Lord’s Supper
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.
You see, in the Church of Corinth, many believers were excluded from communion, some were there only to eat the feast, and others were there to get drunk on the wine. Paul brought order to communion with his instructions on how a man or woman should spiritually examine themselves before taking communion and that the body of believers should take communion in unison.
In the Lord’s Supper, according to Christ’s own Word and institution, it is his true body and blood that physically exists in the consecrated bread and wine. Trusting in the promises of their Savior, communicants who repent of their sins receive from Jesus the forgiveness of their sins as well as the blessings that flow from this forgiveness. However, as Paul warns in 1Corinithian 11:27-34, those who commune in an unworthy manner, without discerning the Lord’s body, sin against Christ’s body and blood, and eat and drink to their own judgment. Participating in the Sacrament of communion is a very serious matter.
Mutual participation in the Lord’s Supper is an outward manifestation of our biblically based oneness in the Christian faith. As the church communes together, they remember Jesus Christ and everything he has taught and accomplished for our salvation, therefore proclaiming the saving Gospel of Christ in unity.
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Tags: 1 Corinthians 11:23-34, communion, fhis is my body, holy communion, how to receive communion, the Apostle Paul, the Blood of Christ, the blood of Jesus, the Body of Christ, the body of Jesus, the Lord's Supper, the meaning of communion, which is for you