Lesson 475

(Lesson 475)(12-03-12) 1 Corinthians 11:27-34, "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come."

Today's lesson is a continuance of yesterdays, and deals with the manner by which members of Christ's Church are to conduct themselves when assembling together.

Paul is warning those who assemble themselves together, as the Church (the "body of Christ"), to do so in a manner that gives all honor and glory to God through Jesus Christ.

We are not to contaminate the Church assembly with pompous ritual or ceremonial tradition. We are to assemble ourselves to do only, and exactly, what we are instructed to do by God's word, Ephesians 4:12-16, "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

Paul goes on, in the latter portion of the lesson, to lay out the penalty for making a mockery of an assembly of Christ's Church, "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning (showing good judgment) the Lord's body (the Church). For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep."

Finally Paul tells us that when we come together to eat (partake of the body of Christ), we are to do so with one purpose in mind, the furtherance of the gospel of Christ. Paul said, "And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation."~