(Christian Living Sermon) Hillside 3/97
Filename: Eating Damnation

EATING AND DRINKING UNWORTHILY

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 11:1-2 "Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Now I praise you that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them to you."

INTRODUCTION--

1. In general, the books of 1st and 2nd Corinthians deal with problems in the church at Corinth.
   
2. In the text, Paul praises them for "remembering" him, and "holding fast the traditions" he had delivered to them through his teaching.
   
3. This chapter, however, deals with two matters in which he cannot praise them.
   
   1. The first problem involved the "liberation" of women, in a way.
      
   2. The second problem is the one which we need to examine more closely.

LESSON--

1. The problem.
   
   1. "Divisions" existed among them (though the existence of factions reveals those who are "approved"). 1 Corinthians 11:17-19 "But in giving you this charge, I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it. 19 For there must be also factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you."
      
   2. The problem is described in 1 Corinthians 11:20-22 "When therefore ye assemble yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord's supper: 21 for in your eating each one taketh before other his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22 What, have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you? In this I praise you not."
      
2. The solution of the problem.
   
   1. Part of the solution is to return to the original instruction (or tradition) regarding The Lord's Supper. 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 "For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; 24 and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me."
      
      1. The bread is the "body" of Christ, calling us to remember that in His body we are one. Ephesians 2:11-22 "Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands; 12 that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, 15 having abolished in the flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace; 16 and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh: 18 for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father. 19 So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, 20 being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; 21 in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit."
         
      2. In a previous chapter, Paul has already shown them the binding force of the Lord's Supper. 1 Corinthians 10:15-17 "I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ? 17 seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread."
         
3. Finally, Paul issues a warning against unworthy observance of the Lord's Supper. 1 Corinthians 11:26-32 "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body. 30 For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. 31 But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world."

APPLICATION-- Paul spoke these words out of love, and concluded with the following set of orders. 1 Corinthians 11:33-34 "Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, wait one for another. 34 If any man is hungry, let him eat at home; that your coming together be not unto judgment. And the rest will I set in order whensoever I come."