FELLOWSHIP OF THE LORD'S TABLE

(Continued from page 355.)

Considerable confusion exists in the minds of many of the Lord's people regarding the Lord's Table and the Supper. That these are distinct truths, though blessedly allied, must be evident to every careful reader of the Word. 1 Cor. 10 speaks of the Table; and chapter 11 speaks of the Supper.

It may be helpful to notice that the expression "Lord's table" is found twice in the Old Testament-Ezekiel 41:22 and Malachi 1:7. These scriptures make clear that the altar and the table of the Lord are identical, and are inseparable in thought from the sacrifice.

Is it not evident that in taking up Israel in 1 Cor. 10 the apostle does so to illustrate Christian position and responsibility? All Israel "passed through the sea," and all "were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;" all "ate the same spiritual meat," and "all drank of that spiritual Rock." The whole nation was evidently in a certain position before God.

The apostle next shows that many were not true to their God-given position. He says, "But with many of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness." Three things are especially charged:

(1) Religious corruption (idolatry).

(2) Worldly associations (fornication).

(3) Profanity (the people spake against God and Moses and despised the manna.)

How significant in the light of what we see in Christendom today!

The apostle next proceeds to speak of Christian position and responsibility, speaking as to "wise men," that they may weigh his words. Communion, or fellowship, of which the Table is the expression, is what he desires to bring before them, that the Corinthians might shun all association with idolatry.

In relation to the Table we must guard against materializing-a mistake which has greatly hindered the people of God in the proper appreciation of this important truth. Scripture speaks of being "partakers of the Lord's table," which evidently points to the elements of which we partake. Might we not say that, since the Lord's table speaks of that which is the basis and bond of fellowship- the death of Christ-every believer is positionally connected with the Table. "We being many are one loaf, one body," surely cannot be limited to any section or company among the Lord's people, but is true of all. But, as in Israel, many of the people of God are not true to their Gad-given position; we could not say that all Christians are true to the fellowship of the Lord's table.

The death of the Lord entirely closed before God the history of man in the flesh, and every link with Him now must be in the Spirit. Whatever has been introduced in the house of God, which is of man, or appeals to the flesh, is a practical denial of the cross of Christ. Everything must be excluded which the death of Christ has excluded. Paul, writing to the Galatians, says, "God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world." This is not the world in a bad sense only, but all that would reinstate man in the flesh. In the 19th chapter of Numbers, Eleazar, the priest, was to burn the red heifer wholly, with "cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet"-that is, all from the greatest to the least in creation was cast into the fire. To sanction, by association, that which falsifies the cross of Christ, is to be untrue to the table of the Lord.

It will be noticed that in 1 Cor. 10 the cup is spoken of first, then the loaf. This fully accords with the thought expressed, viz.; that in 1st Corinthians 10 it is Christian position. In the chapter following, this is reversed, and the order of the institution of the supper maintained. The supper is Christian privilege. So, it would seem that one might be in the fellowship of the Lord's table, and not be able to partake with fellow-saints in the celebration of the Lord's supper. There is no "meeting" in chapter 10, but individual responsibility:1:e., we are, as believers, in a certain bond of fellowship (through the Lord's death) and each is responsible to be true to that fellowship- hence the warnings.

At the close of the chapter this is elucidated, and it is evident that the action of some-eating in idol temples, or of that which was offered to idols, chap. 8:10-compromised fellowship; for not only did they commit themselves by their act, but the whole company of saints. One might claim liberty to pursue a certain course, connecting one's self with some religious corruption inconsistent with the death of Christ. No suck liberty exists. We are obligated to be true to the fellowship of the Lord's table, and those who seek to walk consistently with it.

In service for the Lord, while there is surely the liberty of the servant, yet we have our assembly associations, and should see that we do not recognize anything inconsistent with the death of Christ, and so compromise fellowship, lest the spirit of Israel mark us, as in Malachi 1:7, and we lose the Lord's approval in our service.

After the foregoing it need hardly be pointed out that the Lord's table has existed since the Cross. This thought should preserve from the presumptuous claim put forth by some to-day, that they alone have ".the Table," and it should guard against unscriptural expressions, such .as "Receiving to the Lord's table;" also "Putting away from the table," and "Setting up another table." As to the first, Scripture says, "Receive ye one another to the glory of God"-Christians are received to the breaking of bread. As to the second expression, Scripture says, "Put away from among yourselves." As to "setting up another table," nowhere in the New Testament, that I am aware of, have we such a thing contemplated. In 1 Cor. 10 there are the two fellowships, the "table of the Lord," and the "table of demons." To apply the latter term to any company of believers is, to say the least, most reprehensible.

In the breaking of bread we manifest a fellowship already existing:here, we are on the ground of privilege. We come together as in association with Christ, to go back in memory to Gethsemane, Gabbatha, and Golgotha. Our hearts recall His undying love, we think of Him in circumstances of unparalleled sorrow and loneliness, when that blessed heart must have yearned for sympathy, so soon to be betrayed and sold to a rabble crowd who were clamoring for His blood-and in the sense of that hour when, absolutely alone, He must drink that bitter cup, and His holy soul be shrouded in midnight darkness!

It was on that night He instituted the memorial supper, that His own, during the period of His absence, might ever have before them His love in all its greatness. Does not such unfathomable devotion appeal with irresistible power to our hearts? Can we ever treat lightly those words ""REMEMBER ME?" Can we treat this desire with cold neglect? What, beloved fellow-believer, will be our feelings, when we see Him, if we have not kept His word?

It must be clear to every single-eyed believer that the saints in the first days met thus together for this simple service, the bond which united them, and still unites all the people of God-Christ's precious death-and that eternal bond formed by the Spirit which always exists, though the outward manifestation of it may be lacking. "By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body." For an obedient heart no other membership is desired or necessary, and the principles upon which those early believers acted remain true for faith to-day. They met together as members of the body of Christ, owning no other headship than that of Christ, as "Head of the body." The presence of the Spirit was recognized, and God was worshiped in the Spirit. But of this we hope to speak more fully later. J. W. H. N.

(To be continued, D. V.)