I Corinthians 10:16-17
Is the cup of blessing which we bless not a sharing in the blood of Christ?
Is the bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ?
I've seen the famous words of Christ frequently carved into the altar or communion table at churches: "Do this in Remembrance of Me." (Luke 22:19) This is usually the intention when taking communion, as it well should be, since Christ not only instructed it to be so, but because his life and sacrifice are the basis of our faith in the first place.
There are other things to remember when receiving communion as well. Although sometimes the rite of communion goes by other names, such as eucharist, using the word communion is to remind us that we are a community in Christ.
1 Corinthians 10: 17 Since there is one bread, we [believers] who are many are [united into] one body; for we all partake of the one bread [which represents the body of Christ]. (AMP)
It must have been intentional that Jesus shared his body and blood metaphorically with his disciples when they were all together, illustrating this practice as a communal one. It reminds us that Christ's message and salvation is for ALL of us (Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.")
Within this passage in 1 Corinthians, Paul tells us there is another aspect to remembrance that communion should trigger: it should remind us whose we are. The heading for this passage in the Bible is "Avoiding Israel's Mistakes" (AMP) and "Warning Against Idolatry"(ESV) and "Idol Feasts and the Lord's Supper." (NIV) Paul speaks of using Communion as a way to differentiate ourselves from those who serve other gods and idols. In other words, Paul is saying: you can only serve one master and partake in one sacred rite. If you are taking this bread and wine and are serious about it, then you are making a statement - a commitment - to follow Christ alone.
20 ...the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
Israel did make that mistake many times over in the Old Testament. Though they were the chosen people of Yahweh, and though they built a tabernacle to worship Him, they often practiced the pagan rituals of the surrounding nations. When they did so, God removed His hand from them; they cannot serve God and idols simultaneously. Time and time again God had to remind his people what he has done for them. If I were to reference here every time God had to go through the whole story of bringing them out of Egypt, you'd be reading this commentary all day.
Instead, we can take holy communion, reminding us what God did for us through Jesus; reminding us that the Spirit of God now dwells inside of us; reminding us that we are the Body of Christ communally, and can keep each other alert and accountable.
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