The Body of the Lord
By
Shelby G. Floyd
Question About the Body of the lord
I received this question, “I have been studying
1 Corinthians 11 the past few days. I have noted many believe the phrase
in verse 29 is referring to the body of Christ (the church) because of the
abuses there. Have you done any study on this?”
The
Context of 1 Corinthians 11:27-29
First, let us notice the context: Therefore,
whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will
be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to
examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone
who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks
judgment on himself. (1 Corinthians 11:27-29.)
Taking the Lord’s Supper in an
Unworthy Manner
My understanding is this, when one takes the Lord’s
Supper in “an unworthy manner,” that person is “guilty of sinning
against the body and blood of the Lord.” (cf. 1 Cor. 11:27.) “The body and
blood of the Lord,” refers to the body of Christ and his shed blood on the
cross. And we know that Jesus told us that the unleavened bread and the fruit
of the vine are symbols of his body and blood.
The Symbols of the Body and Blood of the Lord
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks
and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is
my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them,
saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant,
which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will
not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it
anew with you in my Father's kingdom." (Matthew 26:26-29.)
Remembering Christ on the Cross
Therefore, I believe the phrase, “without
recognizing the body of the Lord,” in 1 Corinthians