ARE YOU DINING WITH CHRIST OR SATAN

1 Corinthians 10:21 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.

Beginning with verse 15 and continuing through the lesson text, one may think there is an inconsistency with the preceding chapter eight. That chapter dealt with the eating of meats offered to idols. Paul's conclusion was that, to do so, one is neither made better nor worse (Vs. 8). The indication there seemed to be, according to many bible scholars, that meat sacrifices used in idol worship was sometimes sold on the open market. Therefore, there were those, primarily having Jewish background, that refused to eat any meat bought at these markets, that frequently sold meat sacrifices used in pagan worship, and were offended by those Christians that chose to do so. Paul's teaching was that, even though the act was not sinful in, and of, itself, it was sinful to do so in the presence of others that may be offended. In these instances, the eating of meats offered to idols was not carried out as an act of worship, but it was merely the purchasing of meat in the normal course of life, in order to provide food at mealtimes.

However, in the subject chapter, of his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul's concern is more than simply the unknowing act of eating sacrificial meats. Here he is concerned with Christians participating in the worship services of idol and demons. Referring to the Lord's Supper, Paul writes, The 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? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread (Vss. 16-17).

Within the worship services of Christians, the observance of the Lord's Supper is the act around which all other acts of worship focus. The fruit of the vine represents the blood shed by Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary, and the unleavened bred is emblematic of His body that was broken when crucified. By participating in this act taking place around the Lord's table, the Christian is reminded, on every first day of the week, of Jesus sacrificial death. This act is the Christian's confirmation to God that His Son, Jesus Christ is, indeed, the Savior sent to reconcile mankind to Himself, and, in doing so, obtain the hope of eternal salvation, that He has promised to those that obey His will. By this act, Christians worship God.

Verse 18 indicates that Israel worshipped God at many proscribed occasions, and through various sacrifices made on the altar. This was required under the Mosaic Law given by God to the Jewish nation. However, the necessity of these acts of worship authorized by God during the Old Testament era was made void by the coming of Christ and the Christian Dispensation, which He ushered in. Today such acts, required by Jews under the Mosiac Law, not recognized by God as worship to Him under the Christian Dispensation. Paul went to great lengths to prove, they were not to be carried over, and included in New Testament worship. To do so would be as if one is worshiping two separate covenents of God.

Paul wrote that an idol (was) nothing in the world, and neither was the eating of those things that (were) offered in sacrifice unto idols (1 Cor. 8:4). This, too, is the meaning found in the rhetorical questions found above in Verse 19. However, the following verses 20 and 21 carry a new, and different, inspired instruction for Christians. It is that children of God are not to participate in pagan worship services to idols. To do so, would be sinful idol worship. In the sight of God, to participate in sacrificing to idols and the resulting fellowship with ungodly pagans, would be considered worshiping at the tables of devils. To this Paul adds, ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

Worshiping God by partaking of the Lord's table, and worshiping of Satan as a partaker of the tables of devils, are diametrically opposed to each other. To partake of both demonstrates contempt, or sacrilege for one or the other. Any act of Satanic worship automatically renounces true worship of God. To worship God, the worship of Satan must be totally eliminated. Two masters cannot be served at the same time. Our Savior stated emphatically that no man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Matt. 6:24). One cannot, at the same time, please the worldliness of mankind and the spiritual-ness of God (Gal. 1:10). Friendship of the world is enmity with God (James 4:4). If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15). Unless offensive to others, the eating of meats offered to idols is meaningless to God, but to worship idols is to demonstrate hatred toward God. This begs an answer to this question:Are you dining with Christ or Satan?