The Binding Agent
I know the following is a reminder, but the Lord’s Table is a supper of remembrance, so it fits.
The communion we have is in Christ. That prepositional phrase was one of the apostle Paul’s favorites. Our faith is “in Christ” (Acts 24:24 bibrefacts24 bibrefacts24v24; Galatians 2:16 bibrefgalatians2 bibrefgalatians2v16), meaning that we trust Him, but there is more to it.
Our redemption is in Christ (Romans 3:24 bibrefromans3 bibrefromans3v24), our eternal life is in Christ (Romans 6:23 bibrefromans6 bibrefromans6v23). There is no condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1 bibrefromans8 bibrefromans8v1), so we are free from sin and death in Christ (Romans 8:2 bibrefromans8 bibrefromans8v2). We are sanctified in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2 bibref1corinthians1 bibref1corinthians1v2), we are established by God in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:21 bibref2corinthians1 bibref2corinthians1v21). We are sons of God in Christ (Galatians 3:26 bibrefgalatians3 bibrefgalatians3v26), all one in Christ (Galatians 3:28 bibrefgalatians3 bibrefgalatians3v28), and blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3 bibrefephesians1 bibrefephesians1v3).
“So we, though many, are one body in Christ” (Romans 12:5 bibrefromans12 bibrefromans12v5).
Jesus Christ himself can be established as the binding agent of the fellowship of the church. He in fact must be the lively center of the whole organism of the church; he is like the hub of the wheel, by whose rotations and circular motions the entire effort of the church receives its impulse and is moved. He is that splendid sun, whose shining radiance glitteringly illuminates the whole church body, by whose glowing heat the heart of the whole church is warmed and inflamed.”
—Abraham Kuyper, On the Church, 23
He is the Great Shepherd who laid down His life for His flock, He is the Vine who holds and who gives strength to all the branches. The cup and the bread a participation in the body and blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16 bibref1corinthians10 bibref1corinthians10v16). All this is God’s grace to us in Christ.