7. The blood of Jesus Christ is the center of union among Christians while on earth. As it is written: " The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion [or fellowship] of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" (1 Cor. 10:1616The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16).)
And thereby, secondly, it is the power of separation from false worship of every kind; " Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and of the table of devils." (Ver. 21.) And further, observe, thirdly, this is the saint's principle of separation from evil generally-for, chapter 11:25-27, " This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord."
From this context in the Corinthian epistle, I learn three things: first, where the saint is to be in communion. Even there, where all who know and trust to the death and blood of Jesus are received. For they that have done so have the Spirit, or they could not have done it (1 Cor. 2:1111For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11)); and having this Spirit, they are thus " one Spirit with the Lord," and so " members one of another," one bread and one cup. The knowledge of the death and blood (which can be only by the Spirit, for who knoweth the things of God save the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 2:11, 1611For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11)
16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)) is the condition of salvation, of church-fellowship, and of a place at the marriage-supper of the Lamb.
Secondly, I learn where the saint is not to have communion. Even there where, instead of the Holy Ghost gathering simply by the blood, Satan is found displaying principles of his own-which, whether it be teaching Christians to worship demons, false mediators, &c., or the bringing' of the condemned worldling into the place of worshipper of the true God as well as the pardoned Christian; or the establishment of schism, by saying that in addition to knowing the blood, which is by the Spirit, a man must always have light upon other truths, as baptism, or church order, &c., in order to be on an equal footing with all there; or again, whether it be by setting an order of man's making, and gifts of man's cultivation, in place of the order and power of the Holy Ghost, as edifier; these things the saints should shun.
Thirdly, I learn that those who are in such communion together are watched over by the Lord, and that if any of them live in sin, or carelessly, and do not search after, and confess, and put away whatever is evil, the Lord will judge and chasten them, that they may not be condemned with the world.
How plain are the directions for the communion of saints! How separate is it from the allowance of evil, as from Satan, the world, or the flesh! How safe is the position! God to watch over them! And how needful, if this is not to bring present discipline, is self-examination and confession for the saint!