Participation in the Body of Christ
Pastor Rod Thompson
Midland SDA Church
June 9, 2018
Why Do Christians Observe Communion?
The word communion means fellowship or sharing. So why do we share in the body and blood of Christ. Is there real purpose in it? Or are we simply following tradition of something that someone came up with, before us? I want to give you 5 reasons why we observe communion
John 14:15 If you love me keep my commandments (there are more commands of God than the 10 commandments)
1 Corinthians 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is broken for you; do this It is a command
· In observing Communion, we are remembering Christ and all that He has done for us in his life, death and resurrection
1 Corinthians 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me."
This phrase shows that Christ would be absent when his disciples ate of this supper in the future. In order to impress upon men, the awful nature of disobedience, God had required of the Hebrews animal sacrifices. But these sacrifices could not, of themselves, change the character of the sinner who made the sacrifice; they could only point him to the redeemer to come, who would, in his own body, make the great sacrifice whereby man might be reconciled to God. The Lord’s supper was therefore given as a vivid reminder of all that has been achieved for us by the one great sacrifice made by the Son of God for all of humanity
Read 1 Corinthians 11:28 (NIV)
Paul is essentially asking the people to do a “heart check” before communion. Are their hearts in the right spot? Are they eating the meal to remember Christ's sacrifice and to engage in community? Before taking part in the Lord’s supper we should prayerfully and carefully review our experience as a Christian. And make certain that we are ready to receive the blessing that participation in this ordinance provides for all who are in a right relationship with God. We must ask ourselves whether our day by day experience has been one of death to sin and a new birth in Christ, whether we are gaining in the battle against besetting sins, and whether our attitude toward other people is right. Words, thoughts, and deeds are to be inspected, as well as habits of personal devotion.
Read 1 Corinthians 11:26
By taking part in the ordinance of the Lord’s supper, we are proclaiming to the world our faith in the atoning work of Christ and his second coming. So the communion service points to Christ’s second coming. It was designed to keep this hope vivid in the minds of his disciples.
Desire of Ages Pg 660
The ordinances that point to our Lord's humiliation and suffering are regarded too much as a form. They were instituted for a purpose. Our senses need to be quickened to lay hold of the mystery of godliness. It is the privilege of all to comprehend, far more than we do, the expiatory sufferings of Christ. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness," even so has the Son of man been lifted up, "that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:14, 15. To the cross of Calvary, bearing a dying Saviour, we must look. Our eternal interests demand that we show faith in Christ. {DA 660.2}
Read 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
Here, Paul is alluding to the fact that when you participate in something you are saying that you agree with it, that you support the views of those things identified with. He goes on in the next verse to essentially say that participating in heathen sacrifices they were saying that they were connecting with or identifying with the deities to whom their prayers were offered.
And how much more are Christ’s words true.
Read John 6:53-58
The cross is the basis for eternal life. Jesus uses, Lord’s supper language to describe the benefits of his sacrifice.
It is by receiving the life for us poured out on Calvary's cross, that we can live the life of holiness. And this life we receive by receiving His word, by doing those things which He has commanded. Thus we become one with Him. "He that eats My flesh," He says, "and drinks My blood, dwells in Me, and I in him.
To the holy Communion this scripture in a special sense applies. As faith contemplates our Lord's great sacrifice, the soul assimilates the spiritual life of Christ. That soul will receive spiritual strength from every Communion. The service forms a living connection by which the believer is bound up with Christ, and thus bound up with the Father. In a special sense it forms a connection between dependent human beings and God.
Desire of Ages pg 661
As we receive the bread and wine symbolizing Christ's broken body and spilled blood, we in imagination join in the scene of Communion in the upper chamber. We seem to be passing through the garden consecrated by the agony of Him who bore the sins of the world. We witness the struggle by which our reconciliation with God was obtained. Christ is set forth crucified among us. {DA 661.1}
Looking upon the crucified Redeemer, we more fully comprehend the magnitude and meaning of the sacrifice made by the Majesty of heaven. The plan of salvation is glorified before us, and the thought of Calvary awakens living and sacred emotions in our hearts. Praise to God and the Lamb will be in our hearts and on our lips; for pride and self-worship cannot flourish in the soul that keeps fresh in memory the scenes of Calvary. {DA 661.2}
He who beholds the Saviour's matchless love will be elevated in thought, purified in heart, transformed in character. He will go forth to be a light to the world, to reflect in some degree this mysterious love. The more we contemplate the cross of Christ, the more fully shall we adopt the language of the apostle when he said, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Galatians 6:14. {DA 661.3}
So I hope that today the foot washing service, which was designed to help us humble ourselves before each other and God, and the communion service are not just rituals that we endure or that we would fail to understand why we do them.
But they are purposeful commands of God that we would do this!
That we would remember His sacrifice on our behalf
That it would cause us to examine ourselves to see where we are at spiritually
That we would proclaim His death until He comes again
And we would participate in the body of Christ. United in him whose broken body is thus typified by the broken bread. And by participating in this ordinance, we are showing publically that we are united and belong to one great family, whose head is Christ.