COMMUNION

Exodus 13:1-19; 1 Corinthians 10:1-33 / 1 John 1:1-10


I. Christians Have Fellowship With God


A. The Church has actual experience with God; Communion reminds believers that the elements of faith and practice have roots in historical experience. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;” (1 JOHN 1:1)

1. Paul reminded the believers that Christianity is an historical religion with a long record. “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;” (1 CORINTHIANS 10:1-2)

2. When the ancients repudiated the truth that they knew from experience by turning to non-gods, they destroyed themselves. “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.” (1 CORINTHIANS 10:6-7)

3. Each period in redemptive history sheds light on the next. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” (1 CORINTHIANS 10:11)

B. Communion reminds believers that the gospel message of peace with God depends on the incarnation which believers personally witnessed. “(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 JOHN 1:2-3)

C. The written record in Scripture is designed to be the ultimate confirmation of the account of the substitutionary atonement. “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” (1 JOHN 1:4)


II. People Who Fail To Live the Truth Live Lies

A. God is everything good. “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (1 JOHN 1:5)

B. People who are not transformed by the light do not have the truth and are liars; Christians have changed lives. “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” (1 JOHN 1:6)

C. Transformed lives demonstrate that the blood atonement has worked in the lives of believers. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 JOHN 1:7)


III. Confession Sets Life Right Through Christ

A. The gospel transforms life, but the first thing it does is expose the necessity for the substitutionary atonement; a person who does not know a savior is necessary does not have salvation in Christ. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 JOHN 1:8)

B. When people confess what the gospel has exposed, God forgives them. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 JOHN 1:9)

C. People who fail to acknowledge the necessity for the substitutionary atonement are eternally lost. “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 JOHN 1:10)