Communion - What Does It Mean

[AnotherSinner]

Even as a child, I was taught only so much. However, I never fully understood its value. Seeing another topic in relation to this has opened my eyes only a little to how uninformed I am.

I know communion is a big step in a child's faith when one first comes to know and accept Jesus into their heart of his or her own accord. But what about the monthly breaking of bread within the church?

We are read scripture and I know we do this in rememberance of Jesus...but who all is allowed to participate?

What restrictions are there?

What are things that perhaps need to be considered in one's heart when taking part in this besides the obvious...that is remembering Christ and the sacrifice He made?

Are their passages that could be shared about communion?

Any and all insight would be much appreciated as I have not been taught clearly all I should and need to know. My heart is breaking on account of my own negligance...ignorance....and just blindness. So please....share with me.

May God Bless You

Dani

[AnotherSinner]

Even as a child, I was taught only so much. However, I never fully understood its value. Seeing another topic in relation to this has opened my eyes only a little to how uninformed I am.

I know communion is a big step in a child's faith when one first comes to know and accept Jesus into their heart of his or her own accord. But what about the monthly breaking of bread within the church?

We are read scripture and I know we do this in rememberance of Jesus...but who all is allowed to participate?

What restrictions are there?

What are things that perhaps need to be considered in one's heart when taking part in this besides the obvious...that is remembering Christ and the sacrifice He made?

Are their passages that could be shared about communion?

Any and all insight would be much appreciated as I have not been taught clearly all I should and need to know. My heart is breaking on account of my own negligance...ignorance....and just blindness. So please....share with me.

May God Bless You

Dani

You might find this helpful.

Cordially,

Eleanor

Thank you Eleanor. That has enlightened me a bit. There were so many things I was not made completely aware of or taught. I knew so little. This will give me more insight. Read some and plan on reading more later and will likely do a study on this very soon. Just so that way my eyes, mind, and heart may all be opened.

Thanks again....

May God Bless You

Dani

[nebula]

I know communion is a big step in a child's faith when one first comes to know and accept Jesus into their heart of his or her own accord. But what about the monthly breaking of bread within the church?

Hi Dani -

Some churches celebrate Communion every Sunday.

But in any event, to truly understand communion, one must understand where it came from.

Jesus "broke the bread" and "shared the wine" during the traditional Passover Seder celebration. The taking of the elements make more sense when you understand the bread and the wine in context of where they came from.

Here is a link that can take you through the Passover Seder celebration, from a Messianic (Jewish Christian) perspective:

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Spring_Holidays/Pesach/Seder/seder.html

(Just click on each title link for the full description and application.)

[AnotherSinner]

Even as a child, I was taught only so much. However, I never fully understood its value. Seeing another topic in relation to this has opened my eyes only a little to how uninformed I am.

I know communion is a big step in a child's faith when one first comes to know and accept Jesus into their heart of his or her own accord. But what about the monthly breaking of bread within the church?

We are read scripture and I know we do this in rememberance of Jesus...but who all is allowed to participate?

Only believers are allowed to participate (1Co 11:29).

What restrictions are there?

We must deal with (give up) unrepentant sin before coming to the Lord's table (1Co 11:30-31).

What are things that perhaps need to be considered in one's heart when taking part in this besides the obvious...that is remembering Christ and the sacrifice He made?

Consider that you are proclaiming your faith in (running up your flag for) the Lord's death which saved you (1Co 11:26; Ro 3:25).

Consider how he suffered and died for you personally because of his infinite love for you.

Consider that because of your faith in him, no power in the universe can snatch you from his hand (Jn 10:28).

Review the SUMMARY in the link below, at the end.

Are their passages that could be shared about communion?

Any and all insight would be much appreciated as I have not been taught clearly all I should and need to know. My heart is breaking on account of my own negligance...ignorance....and just blindness. So please....share with me.

May God Bless You

Dani

You might find this helpful.

Eleanor,

Thank you once again. Jesus paid it all, all so we might be free from SIN. So it does make sense that those who accept and seek forgiveness in Him should be the partakers in the rememberance thereof. Your explanation was simple. Sometimes it takes honestly spelling things out for me....or they may from time to time, go completely over my head. In short...I am not the brightest crayon in the crayon box. So I appreciate your patience with me here. The communion holds a great deal more significance to me. While I do feel it needs to be kept open, it should only be open to those who seek Jesus. After all, it is written seek and ye shall find. That is just it though huh? In order to find, one must first seek the will of God. Your wisdom is much appreciated, as are the passages you have provided.

May God Bless You

Dani

[AnotherSinner]

I know communion is a big step in a child's faith when one first comes to know and accept Jesus into their heart of his or her own accord. But what about the monthly breaking of bread within the church?

Hi Dani -

Some churches celebrate Communion every Sunday.

But in any event, to truly understand communion, one must understand where it came from.

Jesus "broke the bread" and "shared the wine" during the traditional Passover Seder celebration. The taking of the elements make more sense when you understand the bread and the wine in context of where they came from.

Here is a link that can take you through the Passover Seder celebration, from a Messianic (Jewish Christian) perspective:

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Spring_Holidays/Pesach/Seder/seder.html

(Just click on each title link for the full description and application.)

Nebula,

Thank you so very much for a deeper insight into the Passover. I had known why that was originally performed by the Jews. They endured a lot of hardships under the cruel slavery of pharoah and sought freedom. God answered that long awaited prayer with Moses. God's mercy was ever present even in those difficult times, and it is not hard to understand why so many Jews cherish God's mercy and love for them in that way. I knew of the eating of bitter herbs and..to a point the story telling. However, I did not know other things....it is very ceremonial. As was most of their strict practices that were meant for God. They did things....rather organized but with such love and attentiveness that it is hard for me not to admire their faith at times, even if it constantly wained and failed. They are only human, like the rest of us, and struggle with the things they cannot understand.

Trying to truly grasp all that Jesus endured...now that...is where I sometimes struggle myself. He endured so much...but how? How did he do so without fail? How did He not run away? The fate he endured was by far the most grissly of the time. Especially seeing how well educated the Romans and Greeks alike were in terms of torture.

I feel very enlightened and plan on reading much more of what you have given me. Thank you for sharing. As I said...in so many words, it has been a real eye opener.

May God Bless You

Dani

[nebula]

You're welcome!

[jasoncran]

thanks for the info.

[Zemke]

Something exciting to think about is the understanding that passover was not just a looking back but we know it was pointing forward to the cross. Well Jesus said He will not drink of this cup again until He drinks it with us in heaven. We are not only looking back but also looking forward to partaking at the marriage feast with the Lord. We got a wedding to prepare for. A mission to accomplish and then we go home. Not that it is an emphasis I just mention it in passing.

Edited March 19, 2012 by ZEMKE

[gdemoss]

Upon my reading of 1 Corinthians 11, I wonder what is the point of pointing out the divisions and heresy that is among them while speaking about the Lords supper. As well as bringing up the fact that it was in the night he was betrayed. We understand that Judas partook of the Lords supper unworthily and we have seen his end. And what of this reference to being drunken and shaming those who have not? How can being drunk shame someone who doesn't have any wine? Christians were not supposed to be drinking to excess, so how would this shame those who have not? This reproof was aimed at a church body that Paul said was carnal in nature and said he could not speak to them as unto spiritual but as unto carnal. What then would the natural end of these divisions be? Would it not be to find the divisions leading to complete separate assemblies (denominations) that agree on the interpretations of the texts and therefore have unity within their own circle? All of those who are stuck in carnal mode assembling together to misunderstand the scriptures as one?

In the churches that I have attended, the focus of 1 Corinthians 11 have always pertained to the giving of the 'elements' as symbolism of the body and blood of Christ with no mention of division, heresy or betrayal. In those days they had the OT and prophets who received and shared the new revelation from God within their assemblies. Today we have the NT as well as the OT revelation at our fingertips. I try to remember that God orchestrated these events to cause Paul to write what is written that became part of our NT. The body of Christ, the church, in that day had to 'feed' off of each other spiritually for the purpose of edification. What would divisions do to this 'feeding' off of the body of Christ? How about the heresies? In our day people just heap up to themselves teachers having itching ears and the flock is fed by one or two people twice a week and sent home to think on the sermons they heard for a week. In the early church we hear that they went from house to house and broke bread together daily in the Apostles doctrine. We are warned in Hebrews as we see the day approaching that we are to call one another together all the more often.

When I read 1 Corinthians 11, I read less about the 'elements' being ministered and taken in a worthy way and more about warnings of betrayal, heresy and divisions. The true elements of the Lords Supper are the Word of God and the Holy Spirit as we are all one body and made to drink into one Spirit. Heretics and those who cause division within the body are they who partake in the Lords supper in an unworthy manner. They are respecter of persons and betrayers of those that are righteously seeking God and his ways who have their own lusts they follow after and wish to fulfill. Truly our understanding and enlightenment of the Word of God along with any gifts that we have been given by the Holy Spirit are for the edification of others and not for self-exaltation or gratification. As Paul segways into spiritual gifts he expounds on this unity the more.

As to the true communion of the body of Christ, the church, the breaking of bread and the drinking of the cup show the betrayal of Jesus our Lord and his subsequent death due to said betrayal and serve as a warning unto those who would be betrayers, dividers or heretics within the body and therefore not discerning the Lords body and being guilty of the body and blood of Christ. Taking in of the bread and drinking of the cup also signifying that we are identifying ourselves as his body who are prepared to drink of the cup that he drank of that night as he said to his disciples 'you will indeed drink of the cup that I drink of' (when he spoke to the two brothers who wanted his left and right hand side). It is more about our dedication to follow him even unto death as we pick up our cross and follow him.

The carnal ordinance to preform this command is intended as other carnal based tasks, to lead the one preforming the task to understand the deeper spiritual significance of the act and not to dwell upon that which is the carnal counter part as with the washing of the feet of the disciples, it isn't really about washing feet although the carnal act of washing another persons feet is a true dose of humility.

1 Corinthians 11 says that for this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep. This was a serious issue within the Corinthian church. The churches that I have attended in the past partook in an offering of the body and blood in symbolism and there were divisions and heresies among them but not many were weak and sickly among them or dying because of it. In the end though, I understood that that was because they were heretical based congregations period and not the body of Christ but partaking in the table of devils. Doctrines of devils abound in our day as the ministers of Satan have conformed themselves to appear to be the ministers of Christ. They shall all fall in lockstep with Antichrist when he comes.

Gary

[AnotherSinner]

Upon my reading of 1 Corinthians 11, I wonder what is the point of pointing out the divisions and heresy that is among them while speaking about the Lords supper. As well as bringing up the fact that it was in the night he was betrayed. We understand that Judas partook of the Lords supper unworthily and we have seen his end. And what of this reference to being drunken and shaming those who have not? How can being drunk shame someone who doesn't have any wine? Christians were not supposed to be drinking to excess, so how would this shame those who have not? This reproof was aimed at a church body that Paul said was carnal in nature and said he could not speak to them as unto spiritual but as unto carnal. What then would the natural end of these divisions be? Would it not be to find the divisions leading to complete separate assemblies (denominations) that agree on the interpretations of the texts and therefore have unity within their own circle? All of those who are stuck in carnal mode assembling together to misunderstand the scriptures as one?

In the churches that I have attended, the focus of 1 Corinthians 11 have always pertained to the giving of the 'elements' as symbolism of the body and blood of Christ with no mention of division, heresy or betrayal. In those days they had the OT and prophets who received and shared the new revelation from God within their assemblies. Today we have the NT as well as the OT revelation at our fingertips. I try to remember that God orchestrated these events to cause Paul to write what is written that became part of our NT. The body of Christ, the church, in that day had to 'feed' off of each other spiritually for the purpose of edification. What would divisions do to this 'feeding' off of the body of Christ? How about the heresies? In our day people just heap up to themselves teachers having itching ears and the flock is fed by one or two people twice a week and sent home to think on the sermons they heard for a week. In the early church we hear that they went from house to house and broke bread together daily in the Apostles doctrine. We are warned in Hebrews as we see the day approaching that we are to call one another together all the more often.

When I read 1 Corinthians 11, I read less about the 'elements' being ministered and taken in a worthy way and more about warnings of betrayal, heresy and divisions. The true elements of the Lords Supper are the Word of God and the Holy Spirit as we are all one body and made to drink into one Spirit. Heretics and those who cause division within the body are they who partake in the Lords supper in an unworthy manner. They are respecter of persons and betrayers of those that are righteously seeking God and his ways who have their own lusts they follow after and wish to fulfill. Truly our understanding and enlightenment of the Word of God along with any gifts that we have been given by the Holy Spirit are for the edification of others and not for self-exaltation or gratification. As Paul segways into spiritual gifts he expounds on this unity the more.

As to the true communion of the body of Christ, the church, the breaking of bread and the drinking of the cup show the betrayal of Jesus our Lord and his subsequent death due to said betrayal and serve as a warning unto those who would be betrayers, dividers or heretics within the body and therefore not discerning the Lords body and being guilty of the body and blood of Christ. Taking in of the bread and drinking of the cup also signifying that we are identifying ourselves as his body who are prepared to drink of the cup that he drank of that night as he said to his disciples 'you will indeed drink of the cup that I drink of' (when he spoke to the two brothers who wanted his left and right hand side). It is more about our dedication to follow him even unto death as we pick up our cross and follow him.

The carnal ordinance to preform this command is intended as other carnal based tasks, to lead the one preforming the task to understand the deeper spiritual significance of the act and not to dwell upon that which is the carnal counter part as with the washing of the feet of the disciples, it isn't really about washing feet although the carnal act of washing another persons feet is a true dose of humility.

1 Corinthians 11 says that for this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep. This was a serious issue within the Corinthian church. The churches that I have attended in the past partook in an offering of the body and blood in symbolism and there were divisions and heresies among them but not many were weak and sickly among them or dying because of it. In the end though, I understood that that was because they were heretical based congregations period and not the body of Christ but partaking in the table of devils. Doctrines of devils abound in our day as the ministers of Satan have conformed themselves to appear to be the ministers of Christ. They shall all fall in lockstep with Antichrist when he comes.

Gary

Gary,

In your explanation....I think I have found the most clarification. The communion is important for so many reasons which are gradually becoming more and more clear to me. From the sacrifice Jesus was on the cross for us all...to the manner in which he was betrayed...for it had not occurred to me...and I do not know how such a simple but significant detail went unnoticed...but...I had not realized until now that Jesus was with his disciples during the Passover around or during His time of betrayal.

That in itself paints...a much more intimate picture than it did before to me. The disciples were to have been Jesus' closest friends and family in essence. To have one of those very same betray him..in such a way, it is cruel. It in itself brings to life...the wolf in sheep's clothing saying. Gives it a whole new and frightening meaning that I am only now starting to appreciate. This is all the more reason why the communion must be kept holy and pure. It is a place for those who wish to seek Jesus to come and seek Him. A place to remember that He died and gave all so that we might be free of the wages of sin.

Thank you. And thanks to the others who also have given insight. I feel my eyes are really being opened.

May God Bless You

Dani