Tag: judging ourselves
Discerning Christ’s body
Scripture reading for July 19: 1st Corinthians 11, Psalm 144, Proverb 20
Key Scriptures: 1st Corinthians 11: 27-32 “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.”
The Lord’s table is for all believers but is not to be taken lightly or without proper reverence and understanding. Each person should judge himself and repent of known sin or omission, recognizing that Christ Jesus took our sins in His own body on the cross. Another aspect is recognizing the corporate body of Christ, the Church. Repenting of division, strife, and lack of love also allows the grace available through Holy Communion to flow in our lives.
Faith Confession: I believe that I should judge myself and my need of God’s grace as well as any sins against others in Christ’s body by repentance before partaking of Holy Communion. It is a meal that heals for those who believe.
Psalm 144:1-2 “Blessed be the Lord, My Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge, Who subdues peoples under me.”
Judging ourselves to keep from judgment!
Scripture reading for July 21: 1st Corinthians 11
Christians know that Christ has paid the penalty for their sins and can rest in His finished work on the cross. (2nd Corinthians 5:21) There is no ‘condemnation’ for those in Christ . (Romans 8:1) But does this mean that we never have to look at our lives again in relation to possible sins? Are we automatically under grace when we do sin? Paul addressed this question in relation to taking the Lord’s Supper.
“In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for as you eat each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. . . .What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!” (1st Corinthians 11:17-22) The church was coming together to worship in division and strife. The Lord’s Supper was a sacrament meant to bind His body together and it was bringing more strife because of wrong hearts.
The remedy was self-examination before partaking of the Lord’s Supper! “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks the cup.” (1st Corinthians 11:28) Partaking with division, pride, unforgiveness or an improper respect for God’s mercy towards you and others could be hazardous to personal health and eternal rewards! Let’s judge ourselves!