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 1 Corinthians The Church in Communion with Christ

 Paul writes to the Church at Corinth as one who has been called out from Judaism and carried into The Love of GOD. Paul was trained to be a Pharisee in Judaism (Acts 26:35) and he once persecuted The Church of GOD.  Then he met JESUS on the road to Damascus and his life’s course was changed forever. (Acts 22:5-6)                              At the time Paul wrote to The Corinthian Church, The Jews were still sacrificing lambs, bulls and goats as they had done for about 1,500 years. Each Spring Jewish Fathers selected a Lamb for The Passover. Paul had participated in the Passover year after year, but suddenly Paul met The Lamb of GOD and JESUS became his LORD and Savior. Now Paul was called to be an Apostle (2Cor 1:1) to The Church at Corinth. He wrote as one who was trained in The Law of Moses, and as one who was trained by JESUS Christ Himself. (Gal 1:11) Paul used The Old Covenant Patterns and Shadows to help teach The Church about the realities of Christian Life. 1Cor 10:11"Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

 Through The Death of JESUS, we can receive life, Life more abundantly and Eternal Life. This new life comes as a result of The New Birth. (John Chapter 3) The Blood was shed to enable The New Covenant. (1Cor 11:25, etc) The New Covenant enables the New Life and a New Family Relationship with The Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. (1Cor 10:16-22)

                           Paul centers 1Corinthians on The Sacrifice of Christ.

   In Chapters 1 and 2, Paul reveals his Central Theme:

Christ Jesus was sacrificed as The Father's Beloved and Only Begotten Son - HE is The One and Only acceptable payment for sin, and JESUS alone is The Father's chosen Lamb.

1Cor 1:18 -- The Central Theme of the Gospel is The Cross (Stauros - Stake or Post)

1:23-24.  Christ's Sacrifice on The Cross is a Stumbling-block to Jews, or foolishness to the Greeks. But to Christians it demonstrates The Power of GOD to save those who believe 1Cor. 2:2.  Paul declares Christ's Sacrifice to be the turning point which enables everything provided in The New Covenant (which is given by The Father for all who believe.)

      Removing Sin from The House (Church) of GOD is dealt with through The Old Testament concept of Removing Leaven from each household before the Passover was to begin. Leaven is used to puff-up the bread. (Exodus 12:15, 19, 20, 34, 39, 13:3,7.)

        Paul uses the term 'Puffed Up' six times in 1Corinthians. See Previous Diagram. Five of these show the need to remove sin from The Church. These five verses precede the Communion Service in Chapter 11. Each of these shows a type of sin often found among Christians. The sixth and final reference to 'Puffed Up' states that when we are in Communion with GOD, our Love is 'NOT Puffed Up.' 1Cor 13:4.

      Finally in Chapter 16, Paul uses the Start of The Barley Harvest known as 'The Wave Sheath Offering' to direct Christians to have Charity in giving to the needy. The term 'first day of the week' is a very poor translation and gives a wrong idea of Sunday Worship rather than Sabbath Worship. A more literal translation should be 'first of the Sabbaths.'   The Wave Sheath was certainly harvested and waved on Sunday, but that day was a work day and not a Sabbath. That day was the beginning of The Barley Harvest, and Paul confirms this in verse 16:8 where he mentions he will tarry until Pentecost, which was 7 weeks later. Israel was directed to pay offerings and tithes during their harvests Deu 16:16, 2Chr 8:13. The Barley Harvest was the first harvest of the year and it began during The Feast of Unleavened Bread in the Spring of the year.

      So this final and 7th reference to The Feast of Unleavened Bread in 1Cor 16:2 confirms the idea of Charity (or Love) as we read in 13:4 ‘Love is not puffed up.’ Paul includes this final instruction  in Chapter 16 as a reference to the central theme of The Passover and The Christian Church.

       The Communion Service is how Christians are to Observe The Passover Sacrifice.

In 1Cor 5:6-8, Paul directly connects Passover, The Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Christian Life. Here we have a direct recommendation by Paul to Keep The Feast, and This Feast includes The Communion Service as 10:16-22 clearly states. In 11:23 through the remainder of Chapter 11, Paul advises The Church to eat the Bread, and Drink The Cup. Paul goes on to write there may follow some serious problems against those who do not accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Paul shows that even the Judgments and Chastening of The LORD are for our benefit and growth when we have a sincere relationship with Him.