Dale Ridge church of Christ

            Each Lord’s Day, when Christians come together to break bread (Acts 20:7), they engage in an act of worship that looks backward, inward, and forward.  Paul mentions these three time frames of the Lord’s Supper as he corrects the Christians in Corinth for their misuse of the communion (1 Cor. 11:17-34). [Below: a panaramic view of ancient Corinth].

            He begins with a straightforward statement of plaguing problems.  This congregation was coming together for the worst.  There was divisiveness and discord among the members.  Those who had were not caring for and sharing with those who had not.  What a sad situation in the church. 

Someone has well said, “Every problem has a gift for you in its hands.”  In other words, problems are just opportunities for us, and Paul uses this problem as an opportunity to teach.  These in Corinth needed to see the broad spectrum of the meaning of the Lord’s Supper.

A View of the Past

They needed to see the significance of the Lord’s Supper in regard to its past.  They needed to take a look backward.  Through revelation, the apostle Paul was given the words of the Lord as He instituted the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthian 11:23-25).   In these, the Lord places emphasis upon its memorial aspect.  Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”  As we feast at the Lord’s Table, we have a continual reminder of the cross and of the suffering innocent Savior who hung upon it.

A View of the Present

They needed to have a present perspective of the Lord’s Supper.  Paul says, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28).  [Right:  Marketplace of Corinth with acropolis in background].This involves one looking inwardly at oneself.  The Bible makes it plain that we are what we think.  Someone once said, “What happens to a man is less significant than what happens within him.”  Another stated, “Your thoughts are the architects of your destiny.”  Still, another observed, “The most important of life’s battles is the one we fight daily in the silent chambers of the soul.” 

Those in the Corinthian congregation needed to take a close inner view and inspect their attitudes toward those less fortunate than themselves.  Jesus puts it this way, “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift” (Matt. 5:23-24).

A View of the Future

                They needed to have a future view of the Lord’s Supper.  Paul says that when Christians come together to observe the Lord’s Supper, we make a proclamation.  He states, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come” (1 Cor. 11:26).  The word “shew” in this passage is katangello and is translated in other places as “preach” (Acts 17:3; 1 Corinthians 9:14) and “declare” (Acts 17:23).  When we commune with our Lord in this memorial feast, we are preaching and declaring to the world the crucifixion of Christ to the world. 

                The Lord’s Supper has a past, present and future importance.  Had the church at Corinth recognized these valuable views of the Lord’s Supper, they would not have been coming together for the worse but for the better.  May we properly view this act of worship from its past, present and future perspective that we partake in a worthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).

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Filed under: Doctrine, Michael Carter on October 20th, 2008