A participation in the body of Christ

From “Today’s thought” 2014, February 26

By The Christadelphian Magazine and Publishing Association

In Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians we have come to where he refers to the memorial emblems, he stresses that their participation in these should be in a way that illustrates their unity. Paul has made several points very strongly in earlier chapters addressing issues that were seriously undermining their unity in Christ: their lack of harmony worried him very much.

Their coming together to remember that Christ died for them needed to take place in an atmosphere of genuine unity – but it wasn’t. To start with some were influenced by the surrounding spirit of idol-worshipping, but “…. beloved fleefrom idolatry”(10:14). wrote Paul.

He appeals to them,

“I speak to sensible people, judge for yourselves what I say”(verse 5).

Do we ourselves make sensible judgements? The situation for us is not completely different. Paul says

“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not the participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body…”(verses 15-17).

The verses which follow indicate some had a problem leaving behind the pagan practices they had previously enjoyed, Paul says to them,

“You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy?”(verses 21,22).

In chapter 5 he made the point,

“Christ is our Passover …let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven …of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth”(7,8).

In chapter 11 we will read that

“anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself”(verse 29).

He does not mean – discerning his own body – but the body of Christ and their responsibility to his or her fellow believers. Paul told the Philippians he wanted to

“hear of you that you are standing firm in onespirit and onemind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel”(1:27).

This precious oneness is demonstrated each time we meet for fellowship. There have been the rare occasions when a member of another church has been present who has taken offence at not being offered the emblems! But this is an opportunity to lovingly point out that when the church was first established on the Day of Pentecost, those baptised “devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching and fellowship and the breaking of bread …”(Acts 2:42). What is the Apostles teaching? Do they (do we) properly “discern the Lord’s body”when we participate? If we are of one mind as to that teaching and are baptised –our participation in the body of Christ will a great spiritual joy. Let us make sure we ourselves are fully devoted to this teaching and the way of life it leads to.

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The Christadelphian is a monthly magazine published for the Christadelphian community worldwide. It was started in 1864 by Robert Roberts under the initial title of The Ambassador of the Coming Age. In 1869, its title was changed to The Christadelphian, and it has been continuously published ever since.

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Christadelphians gathering in unity

Preceding article: Members of the ecclesia uniting and seeking God’s help in tribulation

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Additional reading:

1. Reflect on how much idolizing happens
2. He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
3. Gaining Christ, trusting Jehovah
4. One mediator
5. Our relationship with God, Jesus and eachother
6. Your struggles develop your strengths
7. A Living Faith #5 Perseverance
8. Disciple of Christ counting lives and friends dear to them
9. Congregate, to gather, to meet
10. Meeting – Vergadering
11. Parish, local church community – Parochie, plaatselijke kerkgemeenschap
12. Reasons to come to gether
13. Fellowship
14. Integrity of the fellowship
15. Feeling-good, search for happiness and the church
16. Making church
17. What’s church for, anyway?
18. The Church, Body of Christ and remnant Israel synonymous
19. Many churches
20. Synagogue, Church or Ecclesia for the Christian
21. The Ecclesia
22. Intentions of an Ecclesia
23. Not words of any organisation should bind you, but the Word of God
24. Manifests for believers #5 Christian Union
25. Commitment to Christian unity
26. Breathing and growing with no heir
27. United people under Christ
28. One Mind, One Accord
29. Christianity is a love affair
30. The Law of Christ: Law of Love
31. The task given to us to love each other
32. Priority to form a loving brotherhood

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