1 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?
The word communion in this text comes from the Greek word koinonia. We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper today and in some languages it is referred to as Communion because it is spoken of that way in this verse. To drink from the cup and eat of the bread means to have communion. O.K., who do we have communion with?
The verse itself talks about fellowship or communion with Christ but there is more than that. There is fellowship with God and with each other.
1 John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
This table is not a common table. It represents and reminds us of our Lord Jesus Christ’s last supper. To eat and drink from this table means to have fellowship with each other, with Christ and with God.
What should be done to enter this fellowship? First of all, to be baptized into Christ is a condition. For this reason we don’t permit those who have not been baptized to partake of it.
Along with this the Lord wants us to enter true fellowship. What does it mean to enter true fellowship?
To enter into true fellowship means to enter into the work of our Lord. What is the Lord’s work? We can shed some light on this by looking at a few verses. Jesus said:
John 6:38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
To enter into the Lord’s work means to do God’s will. What is God’s will?
John 6:40 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
God’s will is to see the Son and believe in Him because He wants everyone to be saved. How can we show Jesus Christ to everyone? We can share verbally. But mostly we can show Christ to the world with a clean and faithful life.
Judas was by Jesus’ side on the road. He was one of the twelve. He heard that Jesus told us to give to the poor. He was there in person. But his heart did not enter God’s work.
John 12:4 Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, 5 "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
Judas together with Jesus but he didn’t enter into true fellowship. He was thinking about money and power for himself. He was not thinking about eternal life for himself and for others. He was only thinking about his situation in this world.
How pitiful! Because he lost both this world and the world to come!
To enter into true fellowship means to share in the Lord’s sufferings.
1 Peter 4:13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
In this verse the word partake is the verb form of koinonia. When we enter into the sufferings of Christ we enter into fellowship with Him. When you are under Satan’s attack, you are partaking of Jesus’ sufferings. When you lose a loved one to death, you are partaking of Jesus’ sufferings. When your friends, your loved ones, your neighbors, in short, when anyone rejects Jesus and thus eternal life and you are sorry, you are partaking of Jesus’ sufferings. You enter into fellowship with God and Christ.
Mark 14:22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 25 "Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Jesus makes a very positive promise here. He was betrayed but that doesn’t mean it was the end. He promises that he will drink from the fruit of the vine in God’s kingdom together with His disciples. To enter into true fellowship means to go to heaven and be together with Him for eternity. We will drink of the fruit of the vine with Jesus. True fellowship is also this!