One of Us
Originally scheduled for
June 19
1 Corinthians 10:16 KJV (16) The
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?
The word translated "communion" in this passage is a well-known
Greek word which is more commonly translated as fellowship. It is
the Greek word koinonia. The apostle John, in his first letter,
proclaims this fellowship to be with all who hear and believe. He
argues that he has proclaimed to the reader the ultimate truth that
he has seen and heard. He argues that he did this so that the reader
may have fellowship with "us."
Just who do we have fellowship with?
·
Fairly obviously, we have fellowship with everyone else in this
room. Communion is what defines the fellowship of the local church.
·
We also have fellowship with all living Christians. The exact ritual
of communion varies greatly over the various denominations, but the
cup and the loaf are always there.
·
We are also in communion with all the Saints of all the times, that
great cloud of witnesses.
Perhaps you had not thought of it that way. Sometimes the local
church gets tied up and just who is eligible to take communion, or
what is the right form of communion ritual, or how often should we
serve communion — well, you get the idea. This is a very sad thing,
for in the night in which our Lord instituted the Lord's Supper he
prayed that we might all be one.
So I must ask you today: is there someone in this very room with
whom you cannot have fellowship? As you take and eat the bread and
drink the cup you are telling the world that you are in fellowship
with that person. God knows the problem, and so it is that we are
told not to take communion lightly. So consider well your
fellowship, and if there is anyone in the room with whom you must
reconcile be sure to do it today.
