In Remembrance
The Sign that Seals
February 28, 2021
Rev. Gabe Sylvia
Paul corrects the Corinthians by calling the church back to Jesus' original intent for the Lord's Supper—rooted in a historical event—so we remember Christ’s body and blood, confess our sin, and treat communion as covenantal fellowship with Jesus rather than merely a meal or ritual.
Summary
In this closing series on the sign that seals, we focus on Paul's corrective teaching to the Corinthian church, urging believers to return to the Lord's Supper as Jesus intended: a sacrament instituted by Christ, grounded in the real historical giving of his body (the bread) and his blood (the cup). Paul emphasizes sober remembrance of our sin—why Christ's body was broken—and the need for regular confession. He reminds us that the cup signifies a new covenant, a binding fellowship, and warns that modern practice often loses the full fellowship meal and the central focus on Christ himself; communion is ultimately about meeting with the Lord, not elevating the elements or treating it like a favorite meal.
Key Points
- Series focus: the Lord's Supper as the sign that seals
- Paul's correction: return to Jesus' original words and actions
- Three things to remember: Christ gave the sacrament, his body in the bread, his blood in the cup
- Historical rooting: the Lord's Supper is based on a real event in Jesus' life
- Sober remembrance: Jesus' body was broken because of our sin—weekly confession is important
- Covenant emphasis: the cup signifies a new, binding relationship (the covenant)
- Practice warning: modern celebrations often lose the full fellowship meal and shift focus to the elements instead of the person of Christ
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