1 Corinthians 11:27-34 Taking a Spiritual Self-Exam

1 Corinthians 11:27-34 Taking a Spiritual Self-Exam

For the past couple of weeks, we have rejoiced as we have seen make their commitments to Christ real in their life by being baptized. Some came to the altar recognizing their need. Others came realizing that although they had an experience, they were not committed to Christ. Today, we had a family come to show their commitment to Christ.

Baptism happens once for the Christian. It is a commandment that Jesus gave. It calls out the person to follow Christ. The Lord’s Supper, more commonly known as Communion, is a regular reminder. Jesus said to do it as often as you do it, in memory of Him. Baptists generally call it the Lord’s Supper, but I personally like the word Communion better. Because the Lord’s Supper should be done in community.

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer has said in his book Discipleship:

The Christian community is thus essentially the community gathered to celebrate baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and only then is it the community gathered to hear the word proclaimed.12

As Tony Evans has said: Communion is a spiritual cleanser to flush the spiritual junk out of your system.3

Today, I want to talk to you about the Lord’s Supper from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. This is our first record of this experience. Paul is reflecting on how to have the Communion. It is designed to be done in the church as a local body. It is designed to build community. One of the ways to build community is do a self-examination. I like to compare Communion to a physical at a doctor’s office.

Taking a Spiritual Self-Exam4

On a regular basis (usually yearly), one goes to the doctor for what is called a physical. One goes to get “a physical.” A medical professional examines your eyes, ears, nose, and throat. S/He looks over your entire body. S/He tests your heart and your blood. S/He does a variety of tests to see how your body is functioning. When everything is ok, you are given a “clean bill of health.” When something is abnormal, then the doctor advises you to get that checked.

Paul is performing the actions of a doctor during a physical here in these verses. He is writing to a group of people, reminding them how to take communion. After he instructs the congregation how to take communion, he warns them like a doctor.

In this case, he is advising them to take a self-exam. But in this case, it is spiritual, not physical. Here is his checklist:

MY SPIRITUAL CHECK-LIST WHEN I TAKE COMMUNION

Check for unworthiness when I take Communion.

“Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 11:27, HCSB)

Paul did not say that we had to be worthy to partake of the Supper, but only that we should partake in a worthy manner. At a Communion service in Scotland, the pastor noted that a woman in the congregation did not accept the bread and cup from the elder, but instead sat weeping. The pastor left the table and went to her side and said, “Take it, my dear, it’s for sinners!” And, indeed, it is; but sinners saved by God’s grace must not treat the Supper in a sinful manner.

If we are to participate in a worthy manner, we must examine our own hearts, judge our sins, and confess them to the Lord. To come to the table with unconfessed sin in our lives is to be guilty of Christ’s body and blood, for it was sin that nailed Him to the cross. If we will not judge our own sins, then God will judge us and chasten us until we do confess and forsake our sins.

The Corinthians neglected to examine themselves, but they were experts at examining everybody else. When the church gathers together, we must be careful not to become “religious detectives” who watch others, but who fail to acknowledge our own sins. If we eat and drink in an unworthy manner, we eat and drink judgment (chastening) to ourselves, and that is nothing to take lightly.

Chastening is God’s loving way of dealing with His sons and daughters to encourage them to mature (Heb. 12:1–11). It is not a judge condemning a criminal, but a loving Father punishing His disobedient (and perhaps stubborn) children. Chastening proves God’s love for us, and chastening can, if we cooperate, perfect God’s life in us.5

Check to make sure I am taking this meal for the right purpose.

“So a man should examine himself; in this way he should eat the bread and drink from the cup.” (1 Corinthians 11:28, HCSB)

I should be eating the Lord’s Supper for the right reason: to remember Christ. I look back to what He has done. I look up to worship Him for who He is. I look down to recognize my need for Christ. I look outward to see how I can be a servant to Him. I look forward to His return.

Observe where I fit into the Body of Christ to make sure nothing is abnormal. If there is something abnormal, watch out for problems later.

“For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 11:29–30, HCSB)

What kind of judgment can happen because I something abnormal. What could possibly be abnormal spiritually? My relationship with Christ. I am part of the Body of Christ. I am part of the church. Being part of the church means that I am part of a whole, not just an individual Christian.

“And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or faint when you are reproved by Him, for the Lord disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He receives.” (Hebrews 12:5–6, HCSB)

The judgment that comes is the discipline of God. He reproves those He loves. If I come in here and I don’t care about the Lord’s Supper, if I don’t care about my spiritual condition, I run the risk of getting into trouble. This is a time God gives me to reflect on my relationship with Him and make sure I am right.

Remind myself to get regular check-ups.

“If we were properly evaluating ourselves, we would not be judged,” (1 Corinthians 11:31, HCSB)

This is why we have Communion on a regular basis. If you go to the doctor on a regular basis, then you can catch symptoms before they become real problems. The same is true spiritually.

If there are problems, go see a specialist.

“but when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, so that we may not be condemned with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:32, HCSB)

It is better to get disciplined by God, then to go to some spiritual quack in the world. The world has their own opinions about how to help you. You need a spiritual specialist. The best doctor is the Great Physician.

Be patient while I wait in the waiting room before I have my examination.

“Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.” (1 Corinthians 11:33, HCSB)

The Lord’s Supper requires some self-control. You are there not just for yourself. You are also there for others too. It is also a recognition of our unity in Jesus Christ. So we wait for everyone and we take it together. We can take it in a variety of ways. But the Lord’s Supper is meant to be done together.

Eat a full meal before I come.

“If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you gather together you will not come under judgment. And I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.” (1 Corinthians 11:34, HCSB)

Unlike other physical examinations, a spiritual exam requires that you have filled your body before you check your spirit. This is in contrast to fasting when one denies the body so that the spirit can listen. Fasting serves a specific purpose of focusing on nature of God’s will and direction in your life. A spiritual self- exam’s purpose is to check to see if you are obeying God’s ways in your life.

Legendary sports broadcaster Jon Miller, who provided the play-by-plays for the Baltimore Orioles for many years, was considered one of the best sports announcers in the nation. His sense of drama and his voice of authority could make even an 8–1 blowout sound exciting.

In broadcasting a game, Miller never forgot the most important thing. He always kept an egg-timer to remind him to give the score every three minutes

The Lord’s Supper is, in a way, like that. Amid all the vigor, drama, and disappointment of life, it reminds us on a regular basis, every week or every month, of the most important thing.6