Two Tables
1 Corinthians: "Life Under Grace" • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 1 viewNotes
Transcript
Quarterly Memory Verse:
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11–14, ESV)
†CALL TO WORSHIP Matthew 11:28–29
Pastor Austin Prince
Minister: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Congregation: Our hearts are ready, O Lord. We bring them to you in worship, seeking your rest.
†PRAYER OF ADORATION AND INVOCATION
JESUS THE BUYER AND THE SELLER
You, Lord, are too rich to need anything from your creatures, and you have yourself already bought the most costly things with a price no less dear than your own most precious blood.
So my wise, gracious, kind, and compassionate Lord, I pray for grace to accept your counsel, and to buy from you gold tried in the fire, the white clothes of your righteousness, and the anointing of your blessed Spirit.
Without money and without price.
I (we) need them all, amen.
— Robert Hawker
†OPENING PSALM OF PRAISE #134
“Come, Bless the Lord with One Accord”
†CORPORATE CONFESSION OF SIN
based on 1 John 1:8; Isa. 1:18
Minister: If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Let us confess our sins to the Lord our God.
Congregation: Almighty and most merciful Father; we have strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. There is no health in us.
Have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent, according to your promises, which were declared unto us in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O merciful Father, for his sake, that we may live a godly, righteous, and sober life; to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
Minister: Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Congregation: Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONTINUAL READING OF SCRIPTURE Exodus 8:20-32
Craig Hoffer, Elder
THE OFFERING OF TITHES AND OUR GIFTS
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
†HYMN OF PREPARATION #202
“Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face”
†PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Your word, O God, is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as to the division of soul and spirit. Break us down with thy word so that by abandoning ourselves we might find Christ. Amen.
SERMON 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 “Two Tables” — Pastor Austin Prince
TEXT
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
AFTER SCRIPTURE
The Lord bless to us the reading of His holy word, and to His name be glory and praise.
Intro
Intro
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.” ― C. S. Lewis
So says C.S. Lewis wisely at the beginning of his Screwtape Letters.
Paul draws a similar point as Lewis to the Corinthian Christian congregation as he helps them navigate faithfulness among the ubiquitous idolatry of the Corinthian culture.
The landscape itself of Corinth was silhouetted by temples and statues, peoples homes and shops were decorated with the figurines and tokens of their patrons, and each dinner plate held food that was butchered in the honor of a “god”.
Previously, Paul had encouraged the Corinthians that they could eat all foods with a clean conscience (1 Cor. 8:8-9), since “an idol has no real existence” (1 Cor. 8:4). There were some stronger brothers in the congregation who could see this plainly and eat their meals, no matter where they came from, with faith and joy. But Paul also strongly reminds those mature brothers to pay attention to their weaker brothers whose consciences are defiled when they eat food that was offered to idols. Taking their cues and examples from Jesus and Paul, Christians are to lay down their rights in service to others, even when, and especially when, those rights are legitimate.
But here Paul seems to pivot by saying that the Corinthians need to flee idolatry altogether. This isn’t a contradiction from his previous advice. The mature are technically free to eat without gaining or loosing any standing before God by what they eat, but Paul adds to his commentary other circumstances at play with idolatry.
Namely, there are covenantal realities that overshadow all of our interactions with the world.
We are either interacting with the world by faith in the one true God resulting in gratitude and worship, or we are interacting with the world in falsehood, giving our affection and trust and worship elsewhere. And since there is no other God, the affection and worship that we give to anything that isn’t the one true God is ultimately given to demons.
Paul’s warning is that we can’t be so naive about what is going on with idolatry. More is happening than mere eating or singing or praying. You either serve God from faith or you serve demons, but you cannot serve two masters (Matt. 6:24)
Participation In Christ
Participation In Christ
Paul illustrates his point by drawing the Corinthian’s attention to the covenantal nature of The Lord’s Supper.
“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.” (1 Corinthians 10:16–20, ESV)
Paul is reminding the Corinthians how this all works. When we partake in the bread and the wine, we are participating in Christ. When we take communion, we are partaking in Christ and also each other–we who are many but one body/one loaf. When the Israelites partake in eating of sacrifices, they are participants in what is happening at the altar. These are covenant realities.
But the food itself isn’t anything. The bread and wine at the table aren’t truly the blood and flesh of Jesus any more than food offered to idols is like eating a demon. The food isn’t a charm to protect you nor is it a poison to curse you. This view of the supper is held by the Roman Catholic understanding of the elements under a process they call transubstantiation, btw.
The food itself shouldn’t be overestimated as a weapon against sin, as if by merely eating the food it serves as a talisman or a charm, used like a vaccine, making communion a party trick. The impulse here would be to live however you want in regard to idols because you can always come back and take the supper, giving yourself a clean slate, a clear conscience, and a fresh start to lust again.
The food itself, Paul reminds them, isn’t anything. It’s not a charm to you, nor a curse.
What’s more in view here is the Corinthian impulse to underestimate the table, making the elements out to be merely symbolic.
Paul answers plainly, “What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.” (1 Corinthians 10:19–20, ESV)
There isn’t any devil in the food, and though the food may be offered to Apollo or Aphrodite, or Diana, they aren’t real. But you still can’t be so so naive as to think you can associate with the table of idols non-covenantally. Your association with their table is an association with them, just like it is with the Lord’s table. It isn’t merely a symbol, it’s an association.
This is the same dynamic Paul reminded the Corinthians about earlier in regards to sexual immorality. Those who partake with a prostitute become one flesh with her, also joining the Lord to that union (1 Cor. 6:15-17). There is more happening than merely the touching of flesh, there is covenant.
And since these shrines and meals and music and festivals and dress and sexuality are offered into the name of these gods, and since these gods aren’t real, does it make these actions merely neutral, as if it doesn’t effect anything? No, any worship that isn’t given to God isn’t given neutrally; it is given to demons.
You cannot sit at the table of the Lord and the table of demons, trying to serve two masters. You will hate the one and love the other.
So what do you do?
Application: Flee Idolatry
Application: Flee Idolatry
Paul sandwiches this section with his clear instruction:
“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.” (1 Corinthians 10:14–15, ESV)
and, “… I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?” (1 Corinthians 10:20–22, ESV)
When we look at our own landscape, is our world steeped in as many idols as the Corinthians? They may look different in our time, but the relationship to them is the same.
And remember, last week Paul was warning the Corinthians about idolatry and gave them examples of it from their forefathers in Israel. It wasn’t merely statue worship, it was complaining, lusting, doubting, among other things. Idols, can be anything that we place our trust in other than God.
We can interact with the world and all of its benefits with joy and worship to the One true God, or we can interact with the world as a means to satisfaction and blessing and meaning outside of God. One is partaking at the Lord’s table, as it were, and one sits at the table of demons. There is no neutral table. The world you live in is a supernatural world. You do not get to compartmentalize your life or your Christianity as if there is a middle ground. Paul reminds them just a few verses later “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV)
No, all of our lives are expressions of worship, and that worship will either be to God or to demons.
Remember Lewis’s advice, our temptation will be to disregard the demonic as a fable, or to fear the demonic as sovereign. Neither are correct.
Here’s a way you can tell where our misplaced affections serve the demonic. When the world around us is taken in worship to the One true God, the result is gratitude and life, an outpouring of the good, the beautiful, and the true.
But when the world is taken falsely, the end result is always to break down those who are made in the image of God. The fruit in the garden wasn’t poisoned, but it sure did wreck those who ate it. This is because it was associated with lies and mistrust. Covenantally, it was associated with Satan.
This is what this sermon is about. It isn’t merely insight into what is happening at the Lord’s Supper, it’s about how we live in the world tomorrow and this week.
So take many of the altars in our time and run this test:
Can you say like Eve, it’s just fruit?
Can you say, it’s just music
It’s just a movie
It’s just pictures
It’s just kissing
It’s just a drink
Can you say that anything is merely substance and neutral? No, no can’t.
Does it automatically make them evil, no it doesn’t. But they are dishes that can be taken from one of two tables. Either you take the world and consume from the table of the Lord with gratitude and thanksgiving or you trust in another table, trying to consume this world without the Lord. And you know what happens there? You are the one who is consumed. Eve and Adam thought they were eating fruit, but it was they who were being consumed. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour (1 Pt. 5:8).
Do we see any of that devouring anywhere in our culture, or is it all just neutral fun?
Do we see a devotion to free sex produce a demand for abortion?
Do we see the newly elected idol of our feelings lead those to chop off their body parts?
Are any of the local teens selling themselves on the internet?
Are there lies that lead to a desire to harm oneself?
Do we see ethnic pride turn into fights or killing?
Are our phones for making calls or have they turned into portable brothels?
There is no such thing as neutral world.
Worshipping God brings life, but all idolatry, all worship that isn’t to God has one trajectory; a trajectory which steals, kills, and destroys.
And Christians cannot be those who dine at Christ’s table on Sunday and the world’s table on Monday.
The whole world is hungry, but the Christian’s testimony is that he has come to the Bread of Life and the Living water, has consumed of Christ and is whole and satisfied.
So flee idolatry. Run from that which promises life outside of Christ. Do not sit at the table with those who are trying to eat their lusts — they are the ones being consumed.
Take everything as a gift from the Lord’s hands and worship.
†HYMN OF RESPONSE #351
“How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”
THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Minister: Lift up your hearts!
Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord.
Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
Congregation: It is right for us to give thanks and praise!
Remarks connecting the table to the sermon
THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION Mark 14:22-25
Hear Jesus’ words as he offers the supper to his disciples:
And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.
And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
CONFESSION OF FAITH Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A’s 75, 80
Minister: Christians, what do you believe about these words?
Congregation: By these words our Lord commands all believers to eat this broken bread and to drink this cup in true faith and in the confident hope of his return in glory.
In this supper God declares to us that our sins have been completely forgiven through the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which he himself finished on the cross once for all. He also declares to us that the Holy Spirit grafts us into Christ, who with his very body is now in heaven at the right hand of the Father, where he wants us to worship him.
Minister: Let us worship him together.
Be seated.
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
The Lord has prepared this table for all who love him and trust in him alone for their salvation. It is for those who belong to Christ through repentance, faith, baptism, and abiding union with his Church.
“O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.” Let’s pray.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Minister: Lord, our God, send your Holy Spirit so that this bread and cup may be for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we and all your saints be united with Christ and remain faithful in hope and love. Gather your whole church, O Lord, into the glory of your kingdom. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
[Ask elders to distribute the trays].
Does everyone have what they need?
SHARING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
As the Lord Jesus has commanded us, take, eat and drink, remember, believe, and proclaim.
†OUR RESPONSE #567
“Doxology”
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
†BENEDICTION: GOD’S BLESSING FOR HIS PEOPLE
The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever more. Amen.
GRACE NOTES REFLECTION
“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.” (1 Corinthians 10:21, ESV)
Remember, the fruit in the Garden of Eden wasn’t poisoned, the curse was that it was offered and accepted on false premises. In the same way, tables are set before us each day prompting us to take and eat and be filled by that which comes from different hands than the hand of God. These offers are false in two ways: 1) The world has nothing to offer on its own. Much like the fruit in the garden, demons can merely take what is rightfully God’s and offer it to you on their terms. Art, sex, money, food, humor, and all things belong to the Lord and can only be enjoyed as gifts from His hands. Taken any other way, they become an idol and a curse. And 2), the promise of fulfillment is a lie. Like fish who are too stupid to learn what a lure looks like, we fall prey to this lie repeatedly. This is what Jeremiah calls a broken cistern—a well that promises a deep draught of clean water but is swallowed for what it truly is: mud.
To those who claim the name of Christ and sit as His table, whose satisfaction is in the wine of His blood and the bread of His flesh, our testimony is fullness and wholeness. The entire cosmos has been redeemed. There is no square inch that isn’t our Father’s kingdom and our testimony will be that there no other tables for which we will dine.