Remember the Lord's Sacrifice -

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Remember the Lord’s Sacrifice

Text: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

The night before the LORD Jesus Christ went to the cross he had an opportunity to illustrate his sacrifice at a meal. As he and the disciples ate, the LORD took bread and broke it and said this is my body that’s broken for you. Then he took the cup and said this is the New Testament in my blood, drink all of it. This is a huge statement because everything the Jews based their lives on was the Old Testament. The agreement in Moses was the basis for society. And Jesus Christ says my offering replaces the old agreement in an eternally better way.

This is a memorial of the LORD Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. It is not the actual body and blood of Christ nor does it turn into that. More importantly, it wouldn’t matter if it physically did turn into Jesus’ physical body. What makes this effective is the Spirit behind it. The love and the sacrifice. This is a memorial of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Typically, memorials are remembrances of sacrifices, and Paul uses the word remembrance to describe what this is.

The divided people prove they’ve lost sight of Jesus Christ and have become self-righteous (vss 17-22)

With this sacrificial illustration in mind, Paul criticizes the Corinthians for how selfish they are. And it served as a time of self-examination for anyone who called themselves Christian.
Vs 19 – Heresies are the divisions in this case. But they don’t warrant broken fellowship in this case. That’s why Paul is scolding them.
- Three questions that define the fundamentals of Christianity:
  - WHO do you believe Jesus Christ is?
  - HAVE you repented of your sin and trusted Jesus Christ?
  - Do you know Jesus Christ has power over death as proven by his resurrection? In Christ is eternal life.
- Beyond these questions, the Spirit of God in Paul is angry and grieved that the Corinthian congregation was fighting about who had the right view of end-time prophecy, or who had the right leader, “Paul is our apostle” no “Peter is our apostle”, or fighting about scriptures, or fighting about grace because everyone thinks they have it. There were racial fights.
- To many in the Corinthian congregation, Christianity became a vehicle for their self-righteousness.
Vss 20-22 – The Lord’s supper was a meal. It was anytime the congregation got together to eat a meal. What we do with the bread and juice is a ceremonial memorial of the supper, but it is not a meal.
- (vs 20)…therefore…this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. Since everyone has their own agenda and doctrine, whatever you think you’re doing together, you’re not. Why? Because everyone has a different reason for being there.
- (vss 21-22) Paul says, Look, there is a time to sanctify the Lord in your heart as a congregation. Let that particular meal stay sanctified for that purpose. You’ve got the rest of the week to eat meals by yourself and with your family. But when you gather in the Lord’s name, honor the Lord Jesus Christ!

What is the reason for this meal? (vss 23-26)

The basis for this whole assembly is a holy, selfless, sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Paul said I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you. Meaning this didn’t start with you or me and it isn’t yours or mine to change. No one here is gathering because of you or because of me. We are here because of Jesus Christ.
This is done in remembrance; it’s a memorial of Jesus Christ’s selfless sacrifice.
As often as you eat this bread; what bread? The bread at this meal that remembers the broken body of Christ.
As often as you drink this cup; what cup? The cup at this meal that remembers the new covenant in Jesus Christ.

Therefore examine your own life (vss 27-34)

When you consider Christ’s selfless sacrifice on the cross you have to consider your own selfishness.
You have to understand that the entire reason we are gathered here is not because what you believe about the end times or how you interpret the scriptures. The REASON is the death and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ for our sins and future hope.
There are denominations that call this a mass and require congregation members to partake in it otherwise they are not forgiven. I love my Catholic friends, but this meal is not for the forgiveness of sins. It is for those who are in Christ whose sins are already forgiven.
Paul warns against participation without a close examination of your own life.
- The examination Paul wants these Corinthians to consider is the fruit of a selfless life. Not a Christ that makes you have all the right theology, but a Christ that makes you have the fruit of the Spirit.
- Paul says examine your life, whether it’s in Christ or not. Does he get any honor out of your life? Does he provide any motivation in your life? Christ will make you less selfish, look at verse 33.
- In fact, that’s what the whole Last Supper taught the disciples. Between Jesus washing the disciples’ feet that night, and illustrating how he will give his life for his friends.
So you practice self-examination in light of the cross of Christ.
The unexamined life invites the judgment of the Lord.

Next week, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper in a humble ceremony. This week, you will prepare your heart for that special time. You’ll ask the Lord to identify sin in your life and you’ll repent of it. You’ll also ask the Lord how you present your body as a living sacrifice to honor Jesus Christ because this is your reasonable service.