Spring/Summer 2015 Issue

The following posts are part of the Spring/Summer 2015 issue. This was originally a free issue, which was downloaded by many who gleaned. Articles that are in this issue contain information about Christian headcovering, false doctrines most people are believing, what it means for a heart to wax gross, and more.

full course

Are You Unworthy To Take Communion?

Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Have you ever considered the depth of the importance of being worthy to take communion? Some take communion somberly remembering the crucifixion of what the Lord endured for us. Some take it happily remembering that we are set free. These things are true, but they are not the entirety of what we need to focus on.

When the Lord began communion at His Passover supper, He told His disciples that the bread was His body that was broken for them and the wine was the blood of the New Testament. But the main reason His body was going to be broken was because of betrayal deriving from selfishness. What Judas and the accusers did to Him were the defining acts of ultimate betrayal in the New Testament that demonstrate to us what we should never do against God or to one another. This is why we take communion. We do it to remember that Jesus’ body was broken and His blood was spilled because of self-centered acts and His blood defines the New Testament. When we take communion, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He returns remembering how and why He died and how it applies to us. Paul expounds on the reason for communion as He scolds a congregation for their lax, uncaring approach of only considering themselves,

“[20] When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. [21] For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. [22] What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. [23] For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: [24] And when He had given thanks, He brake it , and said, ‘Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.’ [25] After the same manner also he took the cup, when He had supped, saying, ‘This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. [26] For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come.’ [27] Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.”1 Corinthians 11:20-27 KJV

Then Paul reminds them to examine themselves,

“[28] But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. [29] For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. [30] For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. [31] For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. [32] But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”1 Corinthians 11:28-32 KJV

Paul tells them to wait for one another,

“[33] Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. [34] And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.”1 Corinthians 11:33-34 KJV

Unlike Judas and the accusers, we must remember not to become unfaithful to God or to one another because we are a family in Christ. We are like Christ, we are born of Christ so what we do against one another, we do to Christ. Those who do not consider this will become “weak and sickly” over time as they take communion because they have a betrayer’s selfish heart, which they fail to examine in their relationships with others. Notice what Jesus points out regarding betrayal after sharing the cup of the new testament.

[19] And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it , and gave unto them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me.” [20] Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you. [21] But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth Me is with Me on the table.”Luke 22:19-21 KJV

As often as you take communion, the point is to examine yourself to see if you are a hater without cause or a schemer against others in the body because if you are betraying others in your spiritual family, you are also betraying Christ. Notice that Judas also betrayed Christ directly because he did not adhere to His word. Therefore, we can look to the two most important commandments and ask ourselves if we are truly following them.1 This is what puts damnation upon someone who partakes of communion—which is an act of professing they are one with the Lord and the body of Christ—but because of their sin, is a hypocrite.

Don't be a betrayer in the church. Love your sister in the Truth. #communion Click To Tweet

Cite this article: Please update the Accessed or Retrieved date (September 13, 2015).

MLAChicagoAPAAbout the AuthorMore Posts by This Author

“Are You Unworthy to Take Communion?” AWS Magazine Online. Ed. Bobbie Chariot. Savior Sanity LLC., 1 Mar. 2015. Web. 13 Sept. 2015. <https://awomansaved.com/are-you-unworthy-to-take-communion/>.

“Are You Unworthy to Take Communion?” AWS Magazine Online. March 1, 2015. Accessed September 13, 2015. https://awomansaved.com/are-you-unworthy-to-take-communion/.

Chariot, B. (Ed.). (2015, March 1). Are You Unworthy to Take Communion? Retrieved September 13, 2015, from https://awomansaved.com/are-you-unworthy-to-take-communion/.