Refocusing on Gospel Activity

Refocusing the Corinthian Church on the Gospel

The whole goal in reconstructing the Corinthian church with respect to the Lord's Supper is to refocus the gathering of the church on the gospel and on gospel activity. The Apostle Paul wants to refocus the church back on the gospel. As he said in 1 Corinthians 2, he determined to know nothing among them except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Paul derives his theology, practices, and doctrine from that principle, using the gospel as the means of correcting the problems the Corinthian church experienced, including extreme issues like sexual sin, fornication, immorality, and even tolerating incest.

Paul transitions from commending them for maintaining traditions on roles of men and women, demonstrated through head coverings, to harshly rebuking their mishandling of the Lord's Supper—a lack of focus on the gospel and improper participation in gospel activity.

1. Understanding Proper Divisions

But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, and another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

Paul rebukes them because their gatherings harm rather than help—worse than not gathering at all. He hears of divisions and believes it in part, for there must be factions (the Greek word for "heresy") so that the genuine among them may be recognized. Heresy relates to divisive doctrine or practices that separate genuine Christians from non-genuine ones.

When churches stand firm on biblical doctrine and practices without compromise—like the Lord's Supper, assumed to be integral to their gatherings—divisions inevitably arise. The Corinthians thought they were eating the Lord's Supper, but factions and heresies meant they were not. Instead, some gorged themselves while others went hungry, despising the church and humiliating the poor. This misuse stemmed from misunderstanding and misapplying Christian doctrine and practices.

God uses such divisions to reveal who truly belongs. Churches standing on solid biblical principles risk losing people rather than gaining them, making the genuine visible.

2. Proclaiming the Lord's Death

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

The Corinthians treated the Lord's Supper as a mere meal to gorge or get drunk, losing sight of its spiritual reality. Communion is not transubstantiation or consubstantiation but a tangible, pictorial representation of the gospel—Jesus' body broken and blood shed for us.

Paul received this directly from the Lord: Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." The breaking symbolizes His body crushed for our sins, fulfilling Isaiah 53. The cup is the new covenant in His blood, shed for forgiveness—without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

Every bite crushes the bread, picturing Christ's suffering; every sip recalls His life's blood poured out for ours. As often as we eat this bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. Communion preaches the gospel visibly, demonstrating faith in Christ's broken body and shed blood for our salvation.

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

Jesus instituted this at the Passover, where a lamb's death spared God's people. He earnestly desired to eat it before suffering, pointing to His own sacrifice. Do you know the gospel experientially, trusting Christ's death for your forgiveness? Communion is a solemn yet celebratory memorial of His accomplishment. If you partake without greater remembrance of the gospel, you've missed its benefit.

3. Proper Self-Examination

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned with the world. So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

Participation must follow self-examination. Unworthy participation—unrepentant sin, failing to grasp the gospel's significance, or treating it as common—incurs guilt and judgment. Many Corinthians were weak, ill, or died because they ate and drank without discerning the body.

Unworthy manners include open sin contradicting gospel profession, ignorance of its symbolism (treating it as ordinary food), or lack of faith in Christ's death. Old Testament sacrifices pleased God when offered in faith looking forward to Christ; otherwise, they incurred judgment.

Self-judgment avoids the Lord's discipline. It's commendable to abstain if unrepentant—better not to partake than risk judgment. Congregations where everyone partakes may lack proper divisions. Three groups: those trusting Christ excitedly; those abstaining due to unrepentance; those partaking unworthily despite warnings. The first two are acceptable; the last is not.

Communion anticipates Christ's return: "until he comes." It's a sweet remembrance of forgiveness and eager expectation. People with low views of Christ or communion distort both—they're intricately tied. Partake to remember Him, proclaiming His death obediently. ```