Marsha's Musings: Divisions in the Church; The Lord's Supper

1Co 11:18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.
 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.

I have found this to be interesting that Paul says, "...there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you."

I've been a part of various churches that have had divisions.  I always thought it was a bad thing and it is because elsewhere Paul calls for unity among believers.  But there is another side to the coin.  When there are divisions in the church it has a way of separating those who are true to God's word from those who are not.  Sometimes the ones who are true to His Word are the ones who end up leaving the congregation to go elsewhere and sometimes they are the ones who stay while the others go.  But our job is to decide, based on God's Word, which way we should go when there is a division.  Often people decide based on feelings or friendships but God's Word should always be the deciding factor.


1Co 11:23 ¶ For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.
 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
 33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.
(NKJV)

Paul turns his letter towards the conduct that is shown during the Lord's Supper (Communion, Sacrament or Lord's Table).  What he says here is pretty self-explanatory.


Some believe the Lord's Supper offers something toward a person's salvation.  This is not true.  Verse 24 is pretty clear that this is only done in remembrance of the Lord's death till He come.  It does not add anything toward our salvation.