The Sacrament of Participation “Breaking of the Bread”

1. The Sacrament of Participation • “Breaking of the Bread” • Emphasizes encounter with the resurrected Christ. • Re-enacts the post-Resurrection meal at Emmaus.

2. “Lord’s Supper” • Emphasizes solemn remembrance of Christ’s death. • Re-enacts the Last Supper. • Paul connects this remembrance with recognition of the “body” of Christ (the church).

3. 3. “Communion” • Emphasizes shared participation (koinonia) . • Vertically, in the salvation and ultimate victory over evil that is ours in Christ (the Cup). • Horizontally, in the saved people who will share together the Messianic Banquet (the Bread).

4. 1 Corinthians 10 • 16The cup of blessing that we • bless, is it not a participation • (koinonia) in the blood of • Christ? • The bread that we break, is it • not a participation (koinonia) • in the body of Christ?

5. 1 Corinthians 10 (King James) • 16The 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?

6. 1 Corinthians 10 • 17Because there is one bread, • we who are many are one • body, for we all partake of the • one bread. • We are united and unified by participation in Jesus Christ. • Our participation in Christ makes us participants in one another’s lives.

7. 1 Corinthians 10 • 18Consider the people of • Israel: are not those who eat • the sacrifices participants in • the altar? • By analogy, Israelites who offered sacrifices to God were participants in God and His people through that act. 

8. 1 Corinthians 10 • 20. . . what pagans sacrifice • they offer to demons and not • to God. I do not want you to • be participants with demons.

9. Paul’s concern was that some at Corinth thought they could participate with both Christ and pagan deities, who were in fact demons. • C.f., verse 14: • “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

10. 1 Cor 10:1-13 immediately • precedes our passage. • Israel had been “baptized” into Moses (Red Sea). • Israel had “Communion” with God in the desert (manna). • But Israel also worshiped idols, and God overthrew them in the desert.

11. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 • 11Now these things happened to • them as an example, but they were • written down for our instruction, • on whom the end of the ages has • come.  • 12Therefore let anyone who thinks • that he stands take heed lest he • fall. 

12. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 • 13No temptation has overtaken you • that is not common to man. God is • faithful, and he will not let you be • tempted beyond your ability, but • with the temptation he will also • provide the way of escape, that you • may be able to endure it.

13. 1 Corinthians 10 • 21You cannot drink the cup of • the Lord andthe cup of demons. • You cannot partake of the table • of the Lord and the table of • demons.

14. 1 Corinthians 10 • 22Shall we provoke the Lord to • jealousy? Are we stronger • than he?

15. God’s Jealousy and Communion • Participation in Communion is an expression of an exclusive and precious relationship. • With God through Christ • With others through Christ • Stubborn participation in relationships contrary to Christ (i.e., “stiff-necked” sin) mocks our communion with Christ and one another.

16. The Sacrament of Communion, • therefore, emphasizes our: • loyal relationship with Christ, forsaking participation with “other lovers” • loyal relationship with one another

17. Colossians 3:12-13 • Put on: • Compassion • Kindness • Humility • Meekness • Patience • Bear with one another • If one has a complaint against • another,forgive each other • Above all put onlove, which • binds everything together inperfect harmony.

18. What does all this mean in • practice? • When we participate in Communion, we are expressing exclusive devotion to Jesus Christ. • We are also expressing Christ-like devotion to our brothers and sisters at Harvest, and in the global Church.