1 CORINTHIANS LESSON 16


     We will begin this lesson in I Corinthians 10:16 "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?"

     We are taught that each time we take communion, we are to
remember the great sacrifice that Jesus made for each of us, when he
gave his body on the cross, and shed His blood for us. We know that
the fruit of the vine that we drink at communion is symbolic of the
shed blood of Jesus, and the unleavened bread that we eat is symbolic
of His sinless body. Look, with me, at the following Scriptures which
Jesus spoke Himself about these elements. John 6:54 "Whoso eateth my
flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him
up at the last day." John 6:55 "For my flesh is meat indeed, and my
blood is drink indeed."  John 6:56 "He that eateth my flesh, and
drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him."  We are actually in
Jesus and He is in us, when we take communion remembering what He did
for us. He has brought us life. He is life, and when we partake of
Him, we have partaken of life. He is our life.

     I Corinthians 10:17 "For we [being] many are one bread, [and] one
body: for we are all partakers of that one bread."

     When we partake of the body of Jesus, we become part of His body.
We are one with Jesus, and He is one with the Father. John 10:30 "I
and [my] Father are one." God is Spirit and we are spirit, as well, if
we receive the Lord. Our spirit and the Spirit of the Lord become one.
Romans 12:5 "So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every
one members one of another."  I Corinthians 12:12 "For as the body is
one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body,
being many, are one body: so also [is] Christ." I Corinthians 12:27
"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."

     I Corinthians 10:18 "Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they
which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?"

     Some of the offerings made in the temple were actually partially
eaten by the person who made the offering. In that sense, you would
have to say that they were one with the altar, because of the sharing
of the sacrifice. Perhaps, this is saying when we eat of the flesh of
the Lord Jesus which was our Sacrifice, we are one with HIM.

     I Corinthians 10:19 "What say I then? that the idol is any thing,
or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?"

     Since an idol is a nothing, then to eat of the sacrifice used for
that would not join you to anything. Remember, the idol is a nothing.

     I Corinthians 10:20 "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."
     Gentiles, in the sense it is used here, means the heathen world.
The heathens know not God and they do sacrifice to the devil, because
they know not God. Devils, in the instance above, is demonic beings
and could just as easily been translated demons. Christians should
have no fellowship with devils or demons, whichever you choose to call
them.  Darkness and Light have no fellowship at all. Light does away
with darkness.

     I Corinthians 10:21 "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."

     The two are totally incompatible. Paul is trying to make it very
clear that you must be on one side, or the other. You can not ride the
fence. Remember that Paul is telling them to break away from all
connection to the worship of Aphrodite. Many times, people who come to
Christ will drag some of the filth along with them into the church.
Paul is saying this is unacceptable. To "drink of the cup of the Lord"
means that you have partaken of Him. He is the Light of the world.
You can not mix darkness with Light.

     I Corinthians 10:22 "Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we
stronger than he?"

     Our God is a jealous God. One of His names is Jealous. The first
of the commandments is "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." We
must be very careful not to even think, or speak of another god.

     I Corinthians 10:23 "All things are lawful for me, but all things
are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify
not."

     The liberty the Christian has, must not be used to do anything
that might provoke God. The liberty a Christian has, must be used in
such a way to build God up. We should never use the privilege the Lord
has afforded us for self-edification, or to further some little pet
project. All things should be done decently and in order.

     I Corinthians 10:24 "Let no man seek his own, but every man
another's [wealth]."

     One of the main causes of sin in our society today is greed. God
promised to take care of our needs, if we are His. He did not promise
to take care of our greed. When we have food and shelter, we should be
content. Fine clothes, large houses, big cars, and the such are for
those who are powerful in this world. The power and wealth of a
Christian is in Christ. If we spend our time trying to help someone
else succeed, we will be blessed of God in the doing.

     I Corinthians 10:25 "Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, [that]
eat, asking no question for conscience sake:"

     When you are offered meat to eat, don't run an investigation to
find out where it came from. If it had been offered to an idol, it
would not have been a sin to eat it, but the person eating it might
have had a guilty conscience about eating it anyway. Don't ask, and
then there will be no guilt.

     I Corinthians 10:26 "For the earth [is] the Lord's, and the
fulness thereof."

     We find in the following Scripture another way of saying the same
thing. Colossians 1:16 "For by him were all things created, that are
in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they
be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things
were created by him, and for him:"  The earth, and everything, and
everyone are God's creation. He is Creator, and we are His creation.

     I Corinthians 10:27 "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."

     We must look at a Scripture in 1 Timothy that settles this. I
Timothy 4:4 "For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing to be
refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:"  I Timothy 4:5 "For it
is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."  Eat whatever is set
before you, but pray over it to make it clean. If you do not ask where
it came from, then you do not feel guilty.

     I Corinthians 10:28 "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:" I Corinthians 10:29 "Conscience, I say, not thine own, but
of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another [man's]
conscience?"

     We got into this in an earlier lesson. We must not eat, because
it might cause our weak brother to sin. Even this offering, that was
made to an idol, belongs to God. It is part of His creation.

     I Corinthians 10:30 "For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I
evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?"

     As we said in explanation a few verses back, when you pray over
the food you eat, nothing is unclean to you, because the prayer
cleanses it. Paul is saying, that it looks like all believers should
understand grace better.

     I Corinthians 10:31 "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or
whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

     Everything we are and everything we have is by the grace of God.
We should continually praise God for everything. When we drink
something, praise God for it. When we eat something, praise God for
it. Every happening in your life, praise God for it. We are what God
allows us to be. Praise God!

     I Corinthians 10:32 "Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor
to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:"

     Paul practiced this. He did not offend others in their beliefs.
He ministered to them in their own customs. Some were saved, and some
were not. They have a right to believe what they choose, the same as
we have a right to believe what we believe. Witness to them, and allow
them to make their own decision. They are a free-will agent the same
as we are.

     I Corinthians 10:33 "Even as I please all [men] in all [things],
not seeking mine own profit, but the [profit] of many, that they may
be saved."

     This chapter ends with Paul explaining, one more time, that he
ministered to people where they were. He observed their customs to get
his foot in the door to minister to them. He did not preach a negative
message. Paul taught the good news of the gospel to everyone who would
receive it. Paul tried not to step on toes. He was all things to all
men, that by all means he might save some. The ultimate object of
Paul, which should be our object as well, was to get as many as he
could saved.

































                      1 Corinthians 16 Questions


1.  What is "the cup of blessing" which we bless?
2.  What does the bread we break symbolize?
3.  What are we to do each time we take communion?
4.  Quote John chapter 6 verse 54.
5.  Verse 56 of chapter 6 of John says, he that eateth my flesh and
    drinketh my blood, dwelleth in __ and _ in ____.
6.  Who is our life?
7.  We being many are one ________.
8.  Quote John chapter 10 verse 30.
9.  Quote 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 12.
10. They which eat of the sacrifice are partakers with the _____-.
11. An idol is a __________.
12. The Gentiles sacrifice to _________.
13. Gentiles, in verse 20, are who?
14. What does away with darkness?
15. What does verse 21 really say?
16. Our God is a _________ God. What is the first commandment?
17. All things are lawful for me, but all things are not ___________.
18. All things should be done ________ and in _______.
19. Whose wealth should we seek?
20. What is one of the main causes of sin in our society?
21. Why should you not ask where some meat came from?
22. The earth is the Lord's, and the __________ ________.
23. Quote Colossians chapter 1 verse 16.
24. What makes food pure for the Christians?
25. Whatsoever you do, do all to the _______ __ ___.