"Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." 1 Corinthians 10:11


1 Corinthians 10 

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 
Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 

If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
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"The blood of Jesus Christ is the center of union among Christians while on earth. 

As it is written:
"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion [or fellowship] of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" (1 Cor. 10:16.)
And thereby, secondly, it is the power of separation from false worship of every kind;
"Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and of the table of devils." (Ver. 21.)
And further, observe, thirdly, this is the saint's principle of separation from evil generally—for, chapter 11:25-27,
"This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. 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."
From this context in the Corinthian epistle, I learn three things: 

first, where the saint is to be in communion. Even there, where all who know and trust to the death and blood of Jesus are received. For they that have done so have the Spirit, or they could not have done it (1 Cor. 2:11); and having this Spirit, they are thus "one Spirit with the Lord," and so "members one of another," one bread and one cup. The knowledge of the death and blood (which can be only by the Spirit, for who knoweth the things of God save the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 2:11, 16) is the condition of salvation, of church-fellowship, and of a place at the marriage-supper of the Lamb.

Secondly, I learn where the saint is not to have communion. Even there where, instead of the Holy Ghost gathering simply by the blood, Satan is found displaying principles of his own—which, whether it be teaching Christians to worship demons, false mediators, etc., or the bringing of the condemned worldling into the place of worshipper of the true God as well as the pardoned Christian; or the establishment of schism, by saying that in addition to knowing the blood, which is by the Spirit, a man must always have light upon other truths, as baptism, or church order, etc., in order to be on an equal footing with all there; or again, whether it be by setting an order of man's making, and gifts of man's cultivation, in place of the order and power of the Holy Ghost, as edifier; these things the saints should shun.

Thirdly, I learn that those who are in such communion together are watched over by the Lord, and that if any of them live in sin, or carelessly, and do not search after, and confess, and put away whatever is evil, the Lord will judge and chasten them, that they may not be condemned with the world.

How plain are the directions for the communion of saints! How separate is it from the allowance of evil, as from Satan, the world, or the flesh! How safe is the position! God to watch over them! And how needful, if this is not to bring present discipline, is self-examination and confession for the saint!"

By G.V. Wigram 
From, The Cross, the Blood and the Death of Jesus Christ


 
 
Photo from Pixabay via Pexels

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I'm a Christian saved by God, by His Sovereign grace. I want to encourage all to read, to hear, to believe, and to feed upon the only Words in all the world that are truly spirit and life, living and active; to know the One True God: God the Father, His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit; Who has graciously given us the Holy Scriptures
“All Scripture is God-breathed..."
2 Timothy 3:16–17; cf., John 3:31-36; John 6:63; John 14:26; John 17:3, 17; Romans 1:1-6, 16-17; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Peter 1:20–21; Hebrews 4:12-13. As for the commentaries I post and refer to; with much gratitude, as they have done for me, it is my hope and prayer that they serve to edify all who read them.

Shalom, beccaj
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