1 Corinthians 10:16
"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion
of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break,
is it not the communion of the body of Christ"
This cup is so called in symbol to the cup of wine used at common meals, or at the Passover among the Jews, which they used to take and bless God with, and give Him thanks for their mercies, and was commonly called "the cup of blessing." Is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? Yes it is; it is a sign, a symbol, and token of fellowship with Christ in His death. It is a means of having communion with Him, and of enjoying the blessings of grace which come through His blood; such as righteousness, peace, pardon, and atonement; all which true believers are made partakers of; and this part of the Lord's supper, the cup being drank of, is a testimony and an indication of the same: "the bread which we break;" which is the other part of the ordinance, which, though performed first, is mentioned last, because of the argument the apostle pursues upon it. The act of breaking the bread does not only design the distribution and eating of it, but the manner also in which it is prepared for distribution and eating, namely by breaking it into pieces; and which is aptly expressive of the body of Christ, which was wounded, bruised, and broken for us:
Is it not the communion of the body of Christ? It is; but not only believers by this act have communion with "His mystical body," the church, but with His natural body, which was broken for them they in a spiritual sense and by faith eat His flesh, as well as drink His blood, and partake of Him, of His sufferings and death, endured in His body, and of all the blessings of grace. The apostle's view in this instance, and his argument upon it, is this, that if believers, by eating the bread and drinking the wine in the Lord's supper, spiritually partake of Christ, of His body and of His blood, and have communion with Him; partakers who eat of things sacrificed unto idols, in so doing communion with them, and partake of the table of devils, are guilty of idolatry, which he urged them to avoid.
Is it not the communion of the body of Christ? It is; but not only believers by this act have communion with "His mystical body," the church, but with His natural body, which was broken for them they in a spiritual sense and by faith eat His flesh, as well as drink His blood, and partake of Him, of His sufferings and death, endured in His body, and of all the blessings of grace. The apostle's view in this instance, and his argument upon it, is this, that if believers, by eating the bread and drinking the wine in the Lord's supper, spiritually partake of Christ, of His body and of His blood, and have communion with Him; partakers who eat of things sacrificed unto idols, in so doing communion with them, and partake of the table of devils, are guilty of idolatry, which he urged them to avoid.
My Friends, the next time we take part in Communion, let's make sure our hearts are clear and we are in union with God, "before and after Communion." To Christians Christ is not mystical He was and still is real as you and I. "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils," (1 Cor. 10:21).
Amen!
Reading: (1 Cor. 10:16-22)
Ref: (HG SB; DSB)
May God Bless You
And Your Family
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
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