The Responsibilities of Communion

 

 

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord Himself that [instruction] which I passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which He was betrayed took bread;

and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is (represents) My body, which is [offered as a sacrifice] for you. Do this in [affectionate] remembrance of Me.”

In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant [ratified and established] in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in [affectionate] remembrance of Me.” 

For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are [symbolically] proclaiming [the fact of] the Lord’s death until He comes [again].

But there's more to taking communion than this. It's partaking in the Lord's Communion.

1 Corinthians 11:27-29

So then whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is unworthy [of Him] will be guilty of [profaning and sinning against] the body and blood of the Lord.

But a person must [prayerfully] examine himself [and his relationship to Christ], and only when he has done so should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

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].

And, if we fail to do this, and take part in the ceremony of communion, there are consequences for our actions.

1 Corinthians 11:30

That [careless and unworthy participation] is the reason why many among you are weak (either physically or morally, without strength) and sick (feeble), and a number sleep [in death].

What are we eating and drinking into? A contractual agreement with Jesus Christ regarding the breaking of Bread (His body) and the pouring out of wine (His blood). As He was, many of us will also be: broken and poured out before God.

We are being called to suffer for the sake of the cross. 

Matthew 16:24

Then Jesus told His disciples, "If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me."

1 Peter 2:21

For [as a believer] you have been called for this purpose, since Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you may follow in His footsteps.

1 Peter 4:13

But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.

1 John 2:5-6

But whoever habitually keeps His word and obeys His precepts [and treasures His message in its entirety], in him the love of God has truly been perfected [it is completed and has reached maturity]. By this we know [for certain] that we are in Him: whoever says he lives in Christ [that is, whoever says he has accepted Him as God and Savior] ought [as a moral obligation] to walk and conduct himself just as He walked and conducted Himself.

1 Peter 4:11

Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

Being a Christian is no light thing. It will be the hardest job you ever take on. But we have nothing to fear, for we won't be doing it alone:

When Jesus left (ascended into heaven), God sent Someone else to help us, The Holy Spirit of God. Therefore, we are most able to overcome all obstacles in our way and run 'the race set before us' to it's completion and our win.