1 Corinthians “Church Purity in a Polluted Culture” Part Corinthians 11:17-34 “Social Snobbery at the Lord's Table”

Introduction Since the beginning of the church, it was customary for the believers to eat together (Acts 2:42, 46). They called this meal “the love feast” since its main emphasis was showing love for the saints by sharing with one another. The problem was that the Corinthians were using these “agape’ feasts”, as they became known, as occasions to make social distinctions between rich and poor. Paul is profoundly troubled by this development and argues strongly against it. 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 2

Text (11:17-34) 17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes 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 praise you for this? Certainly not! 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 3

Text (11:17-34) 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 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.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 4

Text (11:17-34) 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions. And when I come I will give further directions. 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 5

No Commendation (11:17)

17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes 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 praise you for this? Certainly not! 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 7 Paul is giving a rather sober indictment concerning something that should be so natural and beneficial to the body of Christ. Paul declares that their meetings were doing more harm then good. Paul is giving a rather sober indictment concerning something that should be so natural and beneficial to the body of Christ. Paul declares that their meetings were doing more harm then good.

What Went Wrong? (11:18-22)

DIVISIONS TO SHOW GOD’S APPROVAL (11:18-19) 17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes 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 praise you for this? Certainly not! 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 9 In God's providential direction of the life of the church, he allowed controversy in order that the genuine spiritual quality of individual believers would be known.

HUMILIATION AT THE LORD’S TABLE(11:20- 22) 17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes 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 praise you for this? Certainly not! 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 10 Those who had plenty would eat without even waiting to see if those who had little had enough. Paul did not suggest that they abandon the feast, but rather that they restore its proper meaning. Those who had plenty would eat without even waiting to see if those who had little had enough. Paul did not suggest that they abandon the feast, but rather that they restore its proper meaning.

How Should The Lord’s Supper Be Observed? (11:23- 26)

AS WAS GIVEN BY THE LORD (11:23-26) 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 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.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 12 Jesus instituted this ordinance during the Jewish feast of Passover.

THE NEW COVENANT(11:25) 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 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.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 13 The old covenant, the Mosaic covenant that God made with His people Israel was constantly broken because of Israel's sin. This covenant was replaced with the new covenant, which would provide complete atonement for all the sins of God's people, past, present, and future.

JESUS’ BLOOD: THE NEW COVENANT (HEB. 10:9-10) “ 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:9–10 ESV) 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 14

Jesus’ Literal Statements “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:48) “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) “ 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,” (John 10:7, 14) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” (John 15:1) 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 15

IN REMBRANCE(11:25- 26) 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 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.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 16 This is a communion with fellow believers with the spiritual presence of Christ and calling to memory the sacrifice He made for us.

Back to The Problem At Hand (11:27-32)

unworthy manner (11:27) 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 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.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 18 The phrase in an unworthy manner, is the Greek word anaxios, is specifically aimed at treating the Lord’s Supper as a common meal, and the bread and cup as common things, not apprehending the meaning and significance of each.

guilty of sinning (11:27) 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 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.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 19 To be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord is to undermine the truth that Jesus' body was broken and his blood shed for others. Thus the selfish behavior of the Corinthians is not only a sin against others, but it also represents a profaning disrespect for Jesus himself.

examine himself (11:28) 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 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.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 20 The Greek word for examine is the verb dokimazo, which refers to testing metals to determine if they are genuine.

Let’s Summarize The Solution (11:33-34)

Wait for each other (11:33) 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions. And when I come I will give further directions. 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 22 Wait for each other, or look past your own immediate needs and patiently wait to fulfill another’s.

Conclusion

Conclusion 1.There is an inseparable link between the manner in which we observe of the Lord’s Supper and the manner in which we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ. 2.If we really, really got it, how could we ever put our selfish needs before the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ! 12/11/2015 EBFC Semon Series: 1 Corinthians 24