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1 Corinthians 10:14-21
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can also download our service at Baptist-Christian at iTunes. Did you ever wonder why we call The Lord’s Supper Communion? It was the Apostle Paul who first used the term in his first letter to the Corinthian Church. Simply stated communion means “to share something with someone.” Paul is really discussing two doctrinal truths here.
- SHARING WITH CHRIST! 14-17. The doctrine of communion, fellowship, sharing is seen throughout Scripture everywhere God interacts with His creation. Remember, God is a God of eternal relationships. Relationship implies (even demands) fellowship. Paul teaches us at least five ways we share with Christ. We share in His: 1 = burial and resurrection, Rom. 6:4 and others. We are crucified with Christ, Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20. We suffer and are glorified with Christ, Rom. 8:17. We are raised and seated with Christ in heaven, Eph. 2:6; Col. 2;12; 3;1. We will reign with Christ, 2 Tim. 2:12. You can use your concordance or chain reference in your study Bible and find many more verses that teach each of these wonderful truths. The point Paul makes is that because we share with Christ, we are to experience in our earthly lives what He experienced in His earthly life. That happens many times whether we like it or not. We share the good and the bad, don’t we! The principle of NT sharing is simple – to receive-give first! Sharing with Christ as He wants we learn it leads to the
- SANCTIFIED WALK OF THE CHRISTIAN! 15-21. We see a two-fold meaning here; First, identification through participation. Paul addresses this in verses 18-20. Remember how the OT sacrificial system demanded the one making the offering sometimes had to kill the animal? In that act they were participating in the sacrificial rite and identifying themselves as people of God. In our focal passage Paul is reminding the people that to participate in pagan rituals/activities identifies them as pagans. Paul is reminding them (and us) that to participate in worldly activities we must first turn our backs to God. When we do such we lose our favor with God and our opportunity to present a proper witness for Him. The second meaning here is identification through association. V.21. Matthew recorded the words of Jesus in 6:24 where we learn we can’t serve God and the world. It is a fact that a person can’t successfully live two lives! It might work for a short while, but it won’t last! Joshua challenged the Israelites to “choose this day who you will serve.” What we forget is that choice must be made daily, often many times each day. The reality of our sanctification means that we are freed from the bondage of sin where we are forced to live in sin; and we are placed in Christ where we are free to choose to live as God desires. Communion or The Lord’s Supper is a personal and private time of sharing with God. It is all about our own hearts and the sincerity and allegiance we show to Him every day because of our salvation. It’s called communion because we have been set apart (sanctified, made holy) to God and given the high and holy privilege of sharing with Him in our daily lives.
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