The church at Corinth was having problems with the way they failed to honor the Lord when they partook of the Lord’s supper. Paul says to them, “When you meet together, you are NOT REALLY INTERESTED in the Lord’s Supper. For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk.” (1 Corin. 11:20-21) Paul said to them, “I pass on to you what I received from the Lord Himself. On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, gave thanks to God for it. Then He broke it and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in REMEMBRANCE OF ME.” In the same way, He took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and His people—an agreement confirmed with MY BLOOD. Do this in remembrance of Me AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT.” (1 Corin. 11:23-25)
Then Paul reminded them, “…as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are ANNOUNCING THE LORD’S DEATH until He comes again.” (1 Corin. 11:26) Paul reminds them of something extremely important, “…let a man EXAMINE HIMSELF, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” (1 Corin. 11:28) It is obvious that, because of the times in which we live, self-examination is necessary so that we correct ourselves on a regular basis to make certain we continue to bring honor to God and Christ. Paul suggests that problems and trials, LEADING EVEN TO DEATH, among the members of the church may have their sources in our unexamined conduct. “So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of SINNING AGAINST THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking GOD’S JUDGMENT (the KJV says damnation) UPON YOURSELF. That is why many of you are WEAK AND SICK AND SOME HAVE EVEN DIED.” (1 Corin. 11:27-30)
“But if we confess our sins to Jesus, He is faithful and just to…
FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS…(1 John 1:9)
-Bill Stockham