By Robert L. Olsen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
Remembering the Sacrifice
1 Corinthians 11:17–29
With Worship (17–22)
One of the things Paul had to correct in the Corinthian church was how they practiced Communion. The Lord’s Supper was established by Christ the night He was arrested during the Passover meal. Christ showed the disciples what the Passover meal was prefiguring — His own death. As they ate together, Jesus told the disciples that the bread and wine in the Passover meal were representations of His body and blood which would be shed for all believers. Jesus told the disciples to “do this in remembrance of Me.”
However, what was supposed to be a meal of solidarity had become in the Corinthian church a meal of divisiveness. In the days of the early church, Communion was an entire meal. Some were eating their food before everyone had been served without care or concern for those who had not yet eaten. In some instances believers went without food altogether because of the selfishness of others. Some even were getting drunk. Paul’s response was for the believers to eat at home if they were going to be so ravenous and gluttonous.
As believers today, we need to heed the advice of Paul and put away anything that hinders us from worshipping during the Lord’s Supper. We need to stop worrying about things such as what to prepare for lunch or other distracting events and instead focus on Christ who died on our behalf, rising again to defeat death and guarantee our salvation.
With Remembrance (23–26)
Paul related to the Corinthians what happened at the Last Supper — that Christ told the disciples to remember His sacrifice on our behalf.
This is a solemn time for believers and it is done in the presence of the congregation.
Christians differ as to what the meaning of “this is My body” and “this is My blood” actually mean. Some Christians actually believe that the bread and wine physically become the body and blood of Christ while maintaining their bread and wine characteristics. Others believe Christ is somehow spiritually present in the bread and wine. Most Baptists believe that the bread and wine (or grape juice) are representations of Christ’s body. We are called to remember what Christ has done and the bread and wine (grape juice) represent this adequately without the need of changing into Christ in some way.
With Examination (27–29)
Some in Corinth had made light of the Lord’s Supper in how they approached it and as a consequence had suffered physically. In some cases, they actually died.
Communion is a solemn time for a believer. Believers ought to reflect on what Christ has done and because of what He has done, we need to examine our lives before partaking of the bread and wine.
Those who have not accepted Christ as their Savior should not take Communion. Neither should those Christians who have unrepented sins in their lives, sins like holding a grudge or having an unforgiving spirit. We need to have a repentant spirit in approaching Communion and allow God to convict us and show us our sins so that we can repent.
Communion is a time of serious inner reflection and a time of joyful celebration of the forgiveness that we have in Christ. Approaching the Lord’s Supper in a flippant manner shows a lack of respect for Christ and His sacrifice. It is better not to take Communion and pray for a proper attitude toward sin than to take it in an unworthy manner.
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