Related At The Table
A Communion Address

1 Corinthians 5:1-8  "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. [2]  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away (exairo, to remove, put, take away) from among you. [3]  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, [4] In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, [5]  To deliver (paradidomi, surrender over to, cast) such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. [6]  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? [7] Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover (Christ died on Wednesday, April 13, 32 AD, on the day of the Jewish Passover. He resurrected on Sunday, three days later, April 17, on the Jewish feast of Firstfruits)  is sacrificed for us: [8]  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

As I read these verses today, you may be wondering what relationship this text has with the Communion Table, the Lord's Table. You may think that I have lost my mind, but I tell you this ... the Father has laid this message and text on my heart since last Sunday. He demands that I share it with you. I pray you are listening with a prepared heart.

In our day and age there are many who have forgotten what the Church is. To some, the Church is a denomination. To others, the Church is a building. Yet some others view the Church as a system of theology, or a system of education. Yet the Church is none of these things. A portion of Christ's Church may be in a denomination, or in a building, or teach within the framework of a certain theological perspective - but none of these things are the Church.

The Church is about relationships, and not just relationships, but right relationships. Before one can be in the Church, one must FIRST be in a right relationship with the Savior. This is the preeminent truth. The foundational truth of the Law, according to our Lord Jesus, is:

Matthew 22:37-38  "... Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38]  This is the first and great commandment."

What is FIRST and GREAT with God is a truth that is central to His Will. The believer must FIRST be in a loving relationship with his Creator, with his Savior, with the Triune God. Once we are in a right relationship VERTICALLY, Godward, we can then be in a right relationship HORIZONTALLY, or toward one another. Jesus said:

Matthew 22:39-40  "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

There were three things that were true of Corinth, as reflected in our introductory text:

1. Two Christians Were In Improper Relationship to One Another, and
2. The Church Had Forgotten It's PRIMARY and SECONDARY Relationship, and
3. The Pastor's Duty Is To Restore Balance By Promoting A Proper Relationship To Jesus, Our Passover.

Let's look at each of these points, in turn.

Look at verses 1 and 5:

1 Corinthians 5:1, 5  "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. ... [5]  To deliver (paradidomi, surrender over to, cast) such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."

There is no doubt in my mind that, the young man at least, was indeed a Christian. This young man was in an illicit relationship with "his father's wife", that is, his step-mother. Had it been his mother, I believe the Lord would have used a less vague term for his 'partner in crime', such as {meter [pronounced may'-tare]}, meaning "mother". Instead, Paul used the term "his father's wife", which would refer more to a step-mother than an immediate relative. Regardless as to the relationship the young man had with this woman, in either case both he and she were in a wrong relationship with one another. Our Lord created man and woman to be in exclusive relationship with one another. This was the relationship Adam had with Eve, a monogamous relationship, a cleaving together as "one flesh" under the blessings of God:

Genesis 2:21-25 "And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; [22]  And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. [23]  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. [24]  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. [25]  And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed."

This was God's design for the relationship between man and woman - one man to one woman. Bound together in love, one toward another. Yet this young man did not seek out an unattached woman, but shocked both community and father by seeking out his step-mother. This was not Love, nor was it the way of Christ. Had the young man been in a right relationship with God, he would have refused such a relationship, knowing that God abhors adultery. When our Lord Jesus Christ listed the Commandments of God, He listed adultery first:

Luke 18:20  "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother."

Adultery is the preeminent "work of the flesh", listed in:

Galatians 5:19  "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness ..."

When Israel fell into idolatry, the Father accused them of "adultery". In short, adultery is a sin that destroys right relationships in the Christian. In this young man's case, I am certain that his actions shamed his father, shocked the unbelieving community around him, and perverted his relationship with the Lord Jesus. Furthermore, his actions not only showed an improper relationship Godward and manward, but also showed that he had no love for himself. The Scripture teaches us that adultery damages the soul of the person committing it:

Proverbs 6:32-33  "But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. [33]  A wound and dishonor shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away."

If you were to see someone douse themselves in gasoline, then try to light a match, if you had any kind of relationship with Jesus you would do your best to stop him. In our day and age the world tries to accuse the believer who "speaks the truth in love", and the world demands our tolerance of their bad relationship with God and one another. Yet, dear believer, as Ambassadors for Christ, are we not enjoined by Him who we love to obey Him, to represent Him among ourselves and in our communities, and to, in love, gently correct the offender. The Lord's Table is for family members, in proper relationship to their Lord and Savior. The Corinthian Church should have, if it loved this young man, corrected his error. What was their response?

1 Corinthians 5:2, 6-8  "And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away (exairo, to remove, put, take away) from among you. [6]  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? [7] Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover (Christ died on Wednesday, April 13, 32 AD, on the day of the Jewish Passover. He resurrected on Sunday, three days later, April 17, on the Jewish feast of Firstfruits)  is sacrificed for us: [8]  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

The Church at Corinth, rather than being upset over this young man's actions, were proud of the fact that they were able to tolerate such behavior. All throughout our world today, especially in America, there are local Churches that are excusing improper relationships within the flock in order to maintain peace and harmony. Some Church groups have condoned improper relationships within the same sex, and have talked with conviction about "God creating the homosexual the way he or she is". If this is true, our Creator is indeed cruel, for such behavior to Him is "an abomination" (Leviticus 20:13), just as an improper relationship with an animal is an abomination (Leviticus 20:15). The Church is not responsible for accepting bad relationships within itself, nor does the Church represent the world. The Church must, at all times, remember that our Primary Relationship is with the One who suffered and died for us. We are the Church that belongs to Christ, in covenant with Him because of His sacrifice, not because of our feeble efforts.

God gave the Jews (Deuteronomy 16:1-4) the Feast of the Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread to do two things: to remind Israel that they were saved from Egypt because of the loving relationship that Yeshua had with them. This was the looking BACKWARD. The Feast of the Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread also looked FORWARD to a time when the Redeemer would come, as a Lamb without spot or blemish, and offer Himself as the one and only Atonement for Sin. Jesus Christ is our Passover, our reason for joining together as a Church. Charles Spurgeon stated:

"Death to the world, and burial with Christ, are experiences which carnal minds treat with ridicule, and hence the ordinance which sets them forth is almost universally neglected, and even condemned. Worldly wisdom recommends the path of compromise, and talks of "moderation." According to this carnal policy, purity is admitted to be very desirable, but we are warned against being too precise; truth is of course to be followed, but error is not to be severely denounced. "Yes," says the world, "be spiritually minded by all means, but do not deny yourself a little gay society, an occasional ball, and a Christmas visit to a theater. What's the good of crying down a thing when it is so fashionable, and everybody does it?" Multitudes of professors yield to this cunning advice, to their own eternal ruin. If we would follow the Lord wholly, we must go right away into the wilderness of separation, and leave the Egypt of the carnal world behind us. We must leave its maxims, its pleasures, and its religion too, and go far away to the place where the Lord calls his sanctified ones. When the town is on fire, our house cannot be too far from the flames. When the plague is abroad, a man cannot be too far from its haunts. The further from a viper the better, and the further from worldly conformity the better. To all true believers let the trumpet call be sounded, "Come ye out from among them, be ye separate. "

The Church is obligated by its PRIMARY relationship, its relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior, to care for one another, to exhort one another to a proper relationship with the Redeemer. The Church is obligated by its SECONDARY relationship with one another to exhort each other to a right relationship within His Body.

1 John 3:18-24  "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. [19] And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. [20] For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. [21]  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. [22]  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. [23] And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. [24]  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."

To tolerate a bad relationship either Godward or manward within Ekklesia (the Church) is not love, but convenience, laziness, worldliness. The Corinthian Church was doing a disservice to the young man, his mistress, itself, and our Savior .... all because of improper relationships.

1 Corinthians 5:7-8  "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover (Christ died on Wednesday, April 13, 32 AD, on the day of the Jewish Passover. He resurrected on Sunday, three days later, April 17, on the Jewish feast of Firstfruits)  is sacrificed for us: [8]  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

Every good, Orthodox Jew knew that two Biblical feasts were tied together: The Feast of the Passover, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Feast of the Passover commemorated the Blood of the Spotless being placed on the door posts of the Israelites house. When the Angel of death saw this blood, he "passed over" the house, and went into the Egyptian's house, the stranger's house, and destroyed the firstborn of that house. The children of God, under the Blood, received the blessing and the sparing. The stranger cried at the Table that night, but the child of God rejoiced.

It was an is Jewish tradition to "sweep the house clean of leaven" prior to the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Leaven in the Scripture symbolizes sin. The Jewish household was swept clean of leaven before the Feast began to symbolize that that whole house was in proper relationship to the Savior. Paul told the Corinthian Church that it, too, was responsible to police itself for sin. Only those in proper relationship to Christ belong at the Lord's Table. This does not mean that there will be no immature believers, for we are all growing at different stages as God the Holy Spirit so leads. There will be immature believers, but each believer will, prior to keeping the Feast, examine themselves - repent of sin - and restore themselves to a right relationship with the Lamb and with one another. Paul reminded the Corinthians that the Lord's Table that we celebrate today came directly out of the Feast of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Need proof? Here it is:

Mark 14:12-26  "And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover? [13] And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. [14] And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? [15] And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. [16] And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. [17] And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. [18] And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. [19] And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? [20] And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. [21] The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born. [22] And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. [23] And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. [24] And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.  [25] Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.  [26] And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."

The Bread that Jesus took and offered as His Body was the unleavened bread of the Feast. He was, just as the Bread was, without Leaven, without Sin, and offered for us. Jesus took the cup, symbolic of His Blood, and though it had not yet been shed He spoke with the reality that this sacrifice was already past. Jesus said, "This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many", not "will be", but "is". Our Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, knew what was coming. Because He was in a proper relationship with the Father, He loved us so purely that He was willing to die for us.

The Church needs to be refocused on this truth. We need to be refocused on the fact that we belong to Jesus, and are in relationship to one another because we were first saved in Jesus. The Table is for the Children, not for the strangers. The Blood and the Body are for those in relationship to Jesus, and because of that in relationship to one another. Examine yourselves now. Reorient your minds to God, and to one another in love. Prepare your heart for the Lord's Table by confessing your sins before Him. "Let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth".
 

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