Consecrated Communion
Communion is for the consecrated. It is for Christians, and so it is for those whose confession sets them apart. We believe that “there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5 bibref1timothy2 bibref1timothy2v5). This is not just a truth claim, it claims that this is an exclusive truth. The Lord’s Table is for those who have crossed the line.
Communion is for Christians who are confessing their sins. The Corinthians were sinning by failing to commune at communion. Their failure to fellowship at the Table was sin, sin which they brought with them in terms of selfishness and pride. So Paul told them that they should examine themselves (1 Corinthians 11:28 bibref1corinthians11 bibref1corinthians11v28), and this means that a certain level of sanctification is required. In our liturgy we’ve already confessed our sins and put ourselves in God’s Spirit to consecrate us to Himself.
And while communion can be distinguished from consecration in our liturgy, communion is a key part of consecrating us in lifestyle. We do not eat the bread of demons or idleness (1 Corinthians 10:21 bibref1corinthians10 bibref1corinthians10v21 and Proverbs 31:27 bibrefproverbs31 bibrefproverbs31v27). We drink the cup of blessing and this gladdens our hearts to be blessings. We are being consecrated. So, “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to those you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9 bibref1peter3 bibref1peter3v9).