If remembrance brings us back to the cross, examination brings the cross into our lives.
When the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth about communion, he does not stop at remembrance. He moves immediately into a command that carries weight and urgency: “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28, ESV).
This instruction reveals something essential about communion. It is not only a moment to look back at what Christ has done, but it is also a moment to look honestly within. It is a moment where the holiness of God and the reality of our lives meet.
To feel the weight of Paul’s words, we must remember the situation he was addressing. In Corinth, believers gathered for a shared meal that included the Lord’s Supper, yet their practice had become distorted. Some arrived early and ate their fill, while others, often poorer members, arrived later and went hungry. Instead of unity, there was division. Instead of reverence, there was carelessness. What should have displayed the gospel was instead mirroring the broken patterns of the world.
Paul’s correction is therefore pastoral and urgent. He is not trying to restrict access to the table; he is trying to restore the table’s meaning. Communion is not for perfect people, but it is not for casual participation either. It is a sacred moment that calls for honest evaluation, repentance, and renewed alignment with Christ.
“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.”
1 Corinthians 11:27–29 (ESV)
Biblical self-examination is not about achieving perfection, but about honestly aligning our hearts and lives with the truth of the gospel.
Big Idea 1: Examination Is a Response to Holiness
Paul’s warning about taking communion “in an unworthy manner” must be understood in light of God’s holiness. Scripture consistently reveals that God is not only loving and gracious but also holy and set apart. Isaiah 6:3 declares, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” When Isaiah encounters this holiness, his immediate response is not confidence, but humility. He becomes aware of his own sinfulness in the presence of a holy God.
Communion places us in a similar moment of awareness. We are not physically standing in the temple as Isaiah was, but we are spiritually confronted with the same reality. The bread and the cup point us directly to the suffering, death, and holiness of Christ. They remind us that our salvation required nothing less than the sacrifice of the Son of God.
This is why Paul’s language is so strong. To take communion in an unworthy manner is not simply to make a mistake; it is to treat something sacred as though it were common. It is to approach the table without recognizing what it represents.
It is important to clarify what Paul means by “unworthy manner.” He is not saying that we must become worthy in ourselves before coming to the table. That would contradict the gospel entirely, since none of us are worthy apart from Christ. Rather, he is speaking about the manner, the way in which we come. It is a question of posture, not personal perfection.
In Corinth, the problem was not ignorance of the gospel, but disregard for its implications. Their actions showed a lack of reverence. They were treating the Lord’s Supper like an ordinary meal, disconnected from its meaning.
Examination, therefore, begins with recognizing who God is and what this moment represents. It is allowing the holiness of God to shape our approach, producing reverence, humility, and awe.
Big Idea 2: Examination Reveals the Condition of the Heart
When Paul instructs believers to examine themselves, he is calling for an honest evaluation of the heart. This kind of examination goes beyond outward behavior and addresses inward reality. It is not concerned only with what we have done, but with who we are becoming.
Scripture consistently calls believers to this kind of self-examination. Psalm 139:23–24 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” This is a prayer of openness, an invitation for God to reveal what we may not see on our own.
In the context of communion, this examination involves asking honest questions. Is there sin I am holding onto? Is there bitterness or unforgiveness in my heart? Am I walking in obedience to Christ, or resisting Him in certain areas? Is my life aligned with what I claim to believe?
This kind of reflection can feel uncomfortable, but it is necessary. Without it, we risk participating in a sacred act while remaining spiritually disconnected from its meaning.
At the same time, biblical examination is never meant to lead to despair. It is always connected to grace. 1 John 1:9 reminds us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This means that when we honestly acknowledge our sin, we do not move away from God; we move toward Him. Confession becomes the pathway to cleansing. Repentance becomes the doorway to renewal.
It is also important to distinguish between conviction and condemnation. Conviction, produced by the Holy Spirit, draws us toward God and leads to life. Condemnation, however, pushes us away from God and leads to shame. Communion is a place for conviction, not condemnation.
Examination, then, is not about disqualifying ourselves from the table. It is about preparing our hearts to receive what the table represents. It is about bringing our lives into alignment with the truth we proclaim.
Big Idea 3: Examination Protects the Unity of the Church
Paul’s concern in 1 Corinthians 11 is not only individual, but it is also deeply communal. When he warns about failing to “discern the body,” he is addressing more than the elements of bread and cup. He is also speaking about the body of Christ as the church.
In Corinth, division had become a defining problem. Social and economic differences were shaping how people treated one another. Instead of reflecting the unity of Christ, their gatherings reflected the divisions of the surrounding culture.
Communion was meant to stand in contrast to that. It was designed to be a powerful expression of unity, a moment where believers from different backgrounds came together as one body under Christ. At the table, status, wealth, and position were meant to disappear, replaced by a shared identity in Christ.
But their behavior contradicted that reality.
When Paul says that those who fail to discern the body eat and drink judgment on themselves, he is highlighting the seriousness of ignoring unity within the church. To participate in communion while disregarding fellow believers is to misunderstand the very nature of the gospel.
This is why examination must include our relationships with others. Jesus makes this clear in Matthew 5:23–24, where He teaches that reconciliation should take priority even over acts of worship. The principle is unmistakable. Our relationship with God cannot be separated from our relationships with others.
If there is division, bitterness, or unresolved conflict, communion becomes a moment to address it. It calls us to humility, to forgiveness, and to reconciliation.
In a modern context, this has significant implications. It challenges the way we handle conflict, the way we speak about one another, and the way we carry unresolved tension within the body of Christ. Communion reminds us that we are not isolated individuals, but members of one body.
Examination protects that unity. It ensures that what we proclaim at the table is reflected in how we live together as the church.
Bringing It Together
We remember His sacrifice, we examine our hearts, and we respond with our lives.
Examination is the bridge between remembrance and response. It is where the truth of the cross meets the reality of our lives, calling us to align our hearts, our actions, and our relationships with what Christ has done.
Conclusion
Self-examination is not something to fear; it is something to embrace. It is an invitation to come honestly before God, to lay down sin, and to realign our lives with His truth.
When we examine ourselves rightly, we do not move away from the table; we come to it with greater humility, greater awareness, and greater gratitude. The table does not become a place of avoidance, but a place of renewal.
Communion reminds us that grace is available, that forgiveness is real, and that transformation is possible. As we examine our hearts, we are not disqualified; we are prepared. We are prepared to receive, to repent, and to be renewed.
The next time you take communion, take intentional time to examine your heart.
Ask God to reveal anything that needs to change, and respond in repentance and faith. Do not rush the moment. Let it become a place where God meets you and reshapes you.
Prayer
Lord, search our hearts and reveal anything in us that does not honor You. Help us to come before You with honesty and humility. Thank You for Your grace that forgives and restores. Align our lives with Your truth and help us to walk in unity with one another. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
First Blog Post in the Series: Remember, Examine, Proclaim – Part 1: Remember
Next Blog Post in the Series: Remember, Examine, Proclaim – Part 3: Proclaim and Participate
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Chad
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