1 Corinthians 10:16-17 & 11:26 | The Lord’s Supper is a strange practice. This is because it is HOLY (remember, the Biblical definition of “holy” is “set apart” or “utterly different” or, yes, “strange”!). Jesus has given us a simple meal that: (1) Proclaims our True Identity (2) Forever Unites us To His Story (3) Gives Us the Experience of His Love (4) Builds His Community in this world. It all happens because He forgives us, restores us, and unites us THROUGH THE MEAL!
This is how we know the Lord’s Supper is not a symbol. Symbols don’t “do” anything. Scripture says the Lord’s Supper is “koinonia” ... an actual participation in the body and blood of the Risen Jesus. It is an Agape Meal, a LOVE FEAST! See Matthew 9:10-11, Luke 15:1-2, John 6:35-59, Jude 12.
1 Corinthians 11:23-25 | When Jesus gave us His Supper, He inaugurated the New Covenant. This means as we participate in The Lord’s Supper, we participate in the New Covenant, the building up of a New Kingdom: The Kingdom of God! See Exodus 12:1-28, Jeremiah 31:31-35, 1 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Peter 1:17-21, Hebrews 12:18-29, Revelation 5.
1 Corinthians 11:27-34 | Further demonstration of how none of this is symbolic. Symbols don’t make people sick. Instead, we are faced—once again—with the reality of God’s Real Presence. See Exodus 18:1-12, 25:23-25 and 28:15-30 and 39:32-40:38. But now Jesus’ death and resurrection give us the freedom and confidence to enter God’s Presence! See Ephesians 3:10-12 and Hebrews 4:16! In all of this, however, we cannot play games or treat His presence with contempt by ignoring what Jesus has done or is now still doing! See 1 John 3:11-4:21.
We must always examine our hearts by remembering both the vertical (Jesus comes down!) and the horizontal (We love one another!) dimensions of receiving His gifts and sharing them! So: we withhold this meal from those who do not believe it is REAL or for those who are not yet able to examine their hearts according to the Lord’s command in His Word. Dig Deeper: John Chapter 6!
Participating