A LITTLE MORE ON THE LORD’S SUPPER

I Corinthians 11:27 “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord,
unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread, and
drink of that cup.
29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself,
not discerning the Lord’s body.
30. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you,
and many sleep.”

Please read all of the above. not just verse 28 that speaks of self examination, but EVERY BIT OF THE ABOVE. I say this because when I talk to people, they demonstrate their blindness by referring to self-examination. They are totally blind to everything else. I have asked my self – why is this? I have come to several conclusions. (Now if this offends you then you may be guilty. And if it offends you, get right instead of staying wrong.) Those that would speak only of self examination are in rebellion which is an abhorrent sin to God. They also want to think that they are in charge and not got and that the Church, the bride of Christ, should have not right of expectation on their life. These would totally ignore I Corinthians 5:11. This is instruction to the local Church at Corinth to deny the Lord’s Supper to those that have been involved in the sins listed in those verses.

I Corinthians 11 deals with with several conditions in the Church. Notice what Paul said to the Church in verse 2. “…and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.” My firm belief is that Paul is talking about the Supper being for the members in the Church at Corinth. Understand, that chapter 5 Paul deals with church members involved in a shame full sin and still partaking of the Supper. Paul’s instruction was that these should be put out of the Church so as to deny them the table. Chapter 11 is a commendation that they kept the ordinance closed. Now Paul continues on to other infractions which were listed in my previous article. Closed/restricted communion was being practiced by the Church at Corinth and the commendation was for this proper practice.

Practicing close (which is really open, whether you preachers want to admit it or not. Close is simply open with a limitation. And by the way preachers, if you were consistent in belief, and practice, you should accept any baptism, and if you are going to accept open communion be consistent and accept sprinkling to.) Now some of you are going to say I am going too far. Think what you may we already have a few churches (so called) that fellowship in the ABA that have accepted sprinkling for baptism (so I have been told). Now all ya’ll that practice close communion, when you have a candidate for baptism send them down the road to the next baptist church request they baptise them with the authority of your church and then have that baptised person be called one your church members. You say ridiculous; I say yes!!! but then so is the communion that so many want to be a social supper.

We must understand that Jesus called HIS church from the shores of Galilee and those He called had been saved under the preaching of John and baptised by John and with the authority of John. Jesus was the head. Within HIS church He put Salvation by Grace; Security of the believer; the office of pastor; the office of deacon; and then two ordinances. We don’t quibble about baptism is immersion; nor that Jesus Church has authority to baptise. Now we quibble about the Lord’s Supper? What kind of sense does this make?? NONSENSE – THAT IS  the kind of sense it makes. Do you understand that the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper is the only ordinance with a penalty? Oh!! I see – that is the place that you blithely skipped across like a field nymph. Yes I see it now – you have become an authority on the Lord’s Supper because you base it on your feelings instead of the facts of the Bible and have totally missed “…he that eateth and drinketh UNWORTHILY eateth and drinketh DAMNATION TO HIMSELF NOT DISCERNING THE LORD’S BODY.” Do you see that now? Paul even tells you what happens when one takes it unworthily. “For this cause many are WEAK AND SICKLY among you and many SLEEP.” Sleep means they are DEAD!!!!! Do we understand that there is a serious penalty for partaking the Lord’s Supper in the wrong manner or with the wrong motive. Any preacher that has not warned his sheep of this is guilty of dereliction of duty and putting the members of his congregation in harm’s way. Shame, shame, shame.

One cannot make pretty the ugliness of being contrary to God. Many need to get right. God’s Word is clear.

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