Agree?
When you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there are also factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 1 Corinthians 11:18 &19
I look forward to the day when we as believers in Christ Jesus come into unity in our faith. It is going to happen, in fact it is the one thing left to happen before Jesus returns in the sky to get us. He said He is coming back for a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or any blemish. Holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:27) That certainly means we will be well prepared and operating as a bride, put together and ready to be united with her groom. However, that is not quite what we look like today.
The church in Corinth had similar issues that we see within the body of our current day believers. Different denominations with different doctrines. Diverse beliefs with legalistic leaders that mandate behavior to solidify salvation. Can these divisions actually separate us from one another? Not at all. No matter what rules that are imposed and whose doctrine is being enforced, we still all agree that in order to become a Christian you must receive salvation through the provision Jesus made at the cross. It doesn’t matter who is right or wrong when it comes to rules and regulations, what matters is that you invite Jesus into your life and then surrender it all to Him to be baptized into His body of believers, the church.
In today’s reading, Paul talks about how we as believers come into agreement in that covenant that Jesus made with His Father in Heaven. We really had nothing to do with it, so why would we think that we can cling to some ordinance to get us into God’s Kingdom. It is all about the agreement and commitment God the Father made with His Son, Jesus. They sealed that covenant in blood, the blood of Jesus. Now it is available to all who will accept and receive eternal life through their pact. Then Paul explains that this is why Jesus established the Lord’s supper, so we could remember that it is all about His love for us and has nothing to do with our different ideas of having the right theology.
Jesus set up symbols of His broken body and poured out blood so that we could not only come into agreement over these symbols, but also remember that this redemption is all about His love and life given for ours. Jesus said that when you eat the bread and drink the cup you are agreeing over the sacrifice of His death for our salvation until He comes back for us.
Today I want to encourage you to turn your attention toward the things we agree on as believers. Stop the division of trying to behave righteously and just let Jesus be our righteousness. He became sin, who knew no sin so that we could become His righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:21) He did all the work, now let’s allow that work to bring us into agreement!
Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.
18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.
19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.
20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.
21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk.
22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.
The Daily Dose 