Topical Studies
Discerning Christ's Body
(From Forerunner Commentary)
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John 6:53-56 (Go to this verse :: Verse pop-up)
Jesus Christ explains that both the eating of His flesh and the drinking of His blood are required if we are to have eternal life. As we symbolically drink His blood when we partake of the wine at Passover, we acknowledge our individual part in the shedding of His blood, and reconciliation with God occurs. But the process does not stop here. Once we are reconciled, we must also feed on His flesh, His words, to gain eternal life. Still, this is not enough—we must continually repeat this process as long as we live.
Staff
Discerning Christ's Broken Body
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1 Corinthians 11:26 (Go to this verse :: Verse pop-up)
The eating and drinking of these symbols reminds us every Passover of our Savior's death. We should remember, not only that He died, but also what manner of death He suffered. More importantly, we are forced to remember why His sacrifice was necessary.
Staff
Discerning Christ's Broken Body
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1 Corinthians 11:28 (Go to this verse :: Verse pop-up)
Self-examination of our manner of life and our attitude is therefore paramount in discerning the Lord's body, what He suffered and why. Once we come to realize these things, the Passover's significance becomes very personal, and it becomes crucial for us to participate in it.
Staff
Discerning Christ's Broken Body
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1 Corinthians 11:29-32 (Go to this verse :: Verse pop-up)
The result of taking the Passover unworthily is that we come under judgment, for we will not be cleared of our transgressions. Thus, our lives will not be protected, even as the Egyptians were not protected from the death angel during the tenth plague (Exodus 12:29-33). Lack of self-examination brought upon many Christians much bodily suffering and untimely death.
Staff
Discerning Christ's Broken Body
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1 Corinthians 11:29 (Go to this verse :: Verse pop-up)
None of us needs to fall short because we misunderstand and thus neglect the importance of what Jesus did in our behalf. The Contemporary English Version (CEV) renders this verse, "If you fail to understand that you are the body of the Lord, you will condemn yourselves by the way you eat and drink." The Amplified Bible translates it, "For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that [it is Christ's] body, eats and drinks a sentence (a verdict of judgment) upon himself." These translations show two possible understandings of what Paul meant. The CEV contemplates our overall response in how we, knowing we are Christ's body, conduct our daily lives, whereas The Amplified Bible focuses on appreciation of Christ's literal sacrifice while actually taking the bread and wine. Both approaches are correct. In either case, Passover must affect our life in a positive way, or it brings judgment against us. Along with appreciation and respect, God desires an understanding so deep, strong, and consistent that it motivates us to glorify Him by conforming to His will in daily life. This sense of obligation is not a maudlin sentimentality, but is of such sincere and intense gratitude that it gives us insight into the standard of selflessness Christ exemplified. We must strive to put it into practice in our lives if we are to be like Him and be in our Father's Kingdom. Put another way, our obligation is to love Them as They loved us—not a resigned attitude of "Okay, I'll do it because I have to" that issues in low-level, letter-of-the-law obedience, but a love that expresses itself in fervent, sacrificial affection, as the woman in Luke 7 exemplified. This level of love is reasonable to pursue because it drives us far beyond mere superficial conformity. Notice how Romans 12:1-2 draws our attention to this: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Paul proclaims that this sacrificial love will serve to transform us and provide the proof we need to bolster us in following God's will.
John W. Ritenbaugh
A Priceless Gift
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1 Corinthians 11:31-32 (Go to this verse :: Verse pop-up)
These verses are a warning to us. We do not have to follow the example of the many Christians who were sickly and infirm and died prematurely as a result of not discerning His body. No, we are each to judge our own behavior, our own personal performance now, before we find ourselves on our deathbed. If we fail to examine ourselves, chances are good that we will not discipline our carnal drives and will not overcome our sinful ways. This is "not discerning the Lord's body." We are treating lightly the noble sacrifice of our Savior by continuing in our ingrained habits of transgressing the law that regulates our relationship with Christ, His Father, and His brethren.
Staff
Discerning Christ's Broken Body
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