What does "cup of blessing" symbolize in the context of Christian fellowship? Setting the Scene • 1 Corinthians 10:16: “Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?” • Paul is correcting believers who were flirting with idol-feasts. He reminds them that the Lord’s Table is no empty ritual; it binds them to Christ and to one another in a real, covenant fellowship. The Phrase Unpacked • “Cup of blessing” was a familiar Jewish expression for the third cup in the Passover meal, the cup of thanksgiving. • In the Lord’s Supper, that cup is lifted and blessed again—now filled with far richer meaning because of Jesus’ sacrifice. • By calling it “cup of blessing,” Paul stresses that God Himself is the source of every benefit secured by Christ’s blood. Shared Participation The Greek word for “participation” (koinōnia) speaks of intimate sharing. With one cup we: 1. Share in Christ’s blood—His once-for-all atonement counted as ours (Luke 22:20; Hebrews 9:14-15). 2. Share with one another—because every believer drinks from the same saving work (1 Corinthians 10:17). 3. Share a common gratitude—thanksgiving replaces self-reliance and pride (Psalm 116:13). Covenant Celebration • Jesus called the cup “the new covenant in My blood” (1 Corinthians 11:25). Covenants are ratified in blood (Exodus 24:8); here, the sinless Lamb’s blood seals an unbreakable bond. • Each sip proclaims: “God’s promises stand; our forgiveness is secured.” Unity and Accountability • One cup, one loaf—one body. Divisions, grudges, or flirtations with idols contradict the very symbol we hold in our hands (1 Corinthians 10:21; 11:27-29). • The ordinance publicly separates us from any rival allegiance; we cannot share Christ’s cup and the world’s idols simultaneously. Living the Picture • Approach the table with reverent joy—remembering the cost of redemption and the blessing that overflows from it. • Let the shared cup shape daily relationships: extend the same grace you’ve received, pursue harmony in Christ’s body (Romans 15:5-7). • Keep eyes fixed on the greater feast to come: “Blessed are those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). In Christian fellowship, the “cup of blessing” is a tangible, God-given symbol of our real participation in Christ’s saving blood, our unity with every believer, and our ongoing gratitude for the covenant blessings that flow from the cross. |
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