Communion in your Church

[Phil.2:12]

Why do you think Jesus makes a very special point about the bread and wine and instructs us to do this in rememberance of him. Why this "tradition". He could have told us to do any number of things. Any thoughts on why the bread and wine?

K.D.

I think what Kansasdad is asking is----why did Jesus choose this particular ritual, and the elements of bread and wine, as the way we should remember Him?

(correct me if I'm wrong, K.D.)

Actually, the bread and wine are the traditional part of the meal that seals a blood covenant between two individuals. The Old Covenant (between God and Abraham) that extended to all who submitted to circumcision is replaced with a better New Covenant (between God, the Father and Jesus, His Son). It is a better covenant because man (the seed of Abraham) could and frequently did break the Old Covenant. However, the New Covenant between our Heavenly Father and His Son is a better covenant because neither our Heavenly Father nor His Son, Jesus will break this covenant. God, our Heavenly Father never did forsake His covenant with Abraham, nor did Abraham forsake God in that blood covenant relationship. However, the descendants of Abraham shredded the Blood Covenant time after time. However, God still remained faithful on His end and never turned His back on mankind, even though He had ample reason to do so and not violate any laws or ordinances in the process.

What God really wanted was an unbreakable blood covenant between Him and mankind. This could only happen if a human being with God's nature was to shed some of his blood so that he might become the replacement for Abraham in the Blood Covenant God has with mankind. This man with God's nature was Jesus and when He shed His blood on the Cross of Calvary, He then replaced Abraham as the human element in the Blood Covenant with God Almighty.

The Last Supper, held before Jesus actually shed His blood, was the covenential meal that Jesus shared with His disciples. This is why He told them that the bread signified His Body and the wine signified His blood.This sharing oif the bread as flesh and wine as the blood is a common element found in blood covenant ceremonies worldwide, even to this day. And when Paul told the Corinthian church (and us by extension) to continue the communlon meal by the eating of the bread and the drinking of the wine, signifying the Body and Blood of Jesus, he was simply passing on a commandment of God because God never wanted the body of Christ to forget just what Jesus really did for them when He shed His blood on the cross. More than the sin debt was paid on that cross. A new Blood Covenant between Almighty God and mankind was created that day. A Blood Covenant betwen God, our Father and born-again believers in Jesus who make up the body of Christ was formed to replace the old Blood Covenant made between Almighty God and Abraham. This time, the new Blood Covenant cannot be broken by either party, so it remains in effect for all eternity.

This is the reason bread and wine are used exclusively in the communion service, for we are (once again) doing what the Disciples did in that upper room when they had a blood covenant meal with Jesus just prior to His shedding His blood on the Cross of Calvary.

[Fiosh]

Why do you think Jesus makes a very special point about the bread and wine and instructs us to do this in rememberance of him. Why this "tradition". He could have told us to do any number of things. Any thoughts on why the bread and wine?

K.D.

I think what Kansasdad is asking is----why did Jesus choose this particular ritual, and the elements of bread and wine, as the way we should remember Him?

(correct me if I'm wrong, K.D.)

Actually, the bread and wine are the traditional part of the meal that seals a blood covenant between two individuals. The Old Covenant (between God and Abraham) that extended to all who submitted to circumcision is replaced with a better New Covenant (between God, the Father and Jesus, His Son). It is a better covenant because man (the seed of Abraham) could and frequently did break the Old Covenant. However, the New Covenant between our Heavenly Father and His Son is a better covenant because neither our Heavenly Father nor His Son, Jesus will break this covenant. God, our Heavenly Father never did forsake His covenant with Abraham, nor did Abraham forsake God in that blood covenant relationship. However, the descendants of Abraham shredded the Blood Covenant time after time. However, God still remained faithful on His end and never turned His back on mankind, even though He had ample reason to do so and not violate any laws or ordinances in the process.

What God really wanted was an unbreakable blood covenant between Him and mankind. This could only happen if a human being with God's nature was to shed some of his blood so that he might become the replacement for Abraham in the Blood Covenant God has with mankind. This man with God's nature was Jesus and when He shed His blood on the Cross of Calvary, He then replaced Abraham as the human element in the Blood Covenant with God Almighty.

The Last Supper, held before Jesus actually shed His blood, was the covenential meal that Jesus shared with His disciples. This is why He told them that the bread signified His Body and the wine signified His blood.This sharing oif the bread as flesh and wine as the blood is a common element found in blood covenant ceremonies worldwide, even to this day. And when Paul told the Corinthian church (and us by extension) to continue the communlon meal by the eating of the bread and the drinking of the wine, signifying the Body and Blood of Jesus, he was simply passing on a commandment of God because God never wanted the body of Christ to forget just what Jesus really did for them when He shed His blood on the cross. More than the sin debt was paid on that cross. A new Blood Covenant between Almighty God and mankind was created that day. A Blood Covenant betwen God, our Father and born-again believers in Jesus who make up the body of Christ was formed to replace the old Blood Covenant made between Almighty God and Abraham. This time, the new Blood Covenant cannot be broken by either party, so it remains in effect for all eternity.

This is the reason bread and wine are used exclusively in the communion service, for we are (once again) doing what the Disciples did in that upper room when they had a blood covenant meal with Jesus just prior to His shedding His blood on the Cross of Calvary.

Hi Phil,

I very much appreciate you taking the time to explain, in detail, your understanding of Communion. You have a real gift for writing! Even though I don't totally agree with your interpretation---or maybe more accurately, I do agree only I take it a little further------you are a blessing to me.

Peace,

Fiosh

[Phil.2:12]

Hi Phil,

I very much appreciate you taking the time to explain, in detail, your understanding of Communion. You have a real gift for writing! Even though I don't totally agree with your interpretation---or maybe more accurately, I do agree only I take it a little further------you are a blessing to me.

Peace,

Fiosh

Thanks, Fiosh, I very much appreciate your comments. My Lord has called me to be a teacher to the body of Christ ans I was fulfilling that calling in my younger years behind the pulpit. But when at 65, my Lord wanted me back in college (this time to study Theology), I discovered the writing talent He had given me from the beginning, The class papers I had to write started the ball rolling, but my Lord really revealed the talent He had given me when I started writting my Master's thesis and continued on through the writing of my doctoral dissertation. After I had earned my Ph.D. in theology, then He told me that my mission, throughout my later years, was to write the books He gave me so that the body of Christ may be better informed on what He wants. So far, He has given me two books that have been written and several others brewing on the back burner.

Edited March 19, 2007 by Phil.2:12

[Fiosh]

Hi Phil,

I very much appreciate you taking the time to explain, in detail, your understanding of Communion. You have a real gift for writing! Even though I don't totally agree with your interpretation---or maybe more accurately, I do agree only I take it a little further------you are a blessing to me.

Peace,

Fiosh

Thanks, Fiosh, I very much appreciate your comments. My Lord has called me to be a teacher to the body of Christ ans I was fulfilling that calling in my younger years behind the pulpit. But when at 65, my Lord wanted me back in college (this time to study Theology), I discovered the writing talent He had given me from the beginning, The class papers I had to write started the ball rolling, but my Lord really revealed the talent He had given me when I started writting my Master's thesis and continued on through the writing of my doctoral dissertation. After I had earned my Ph.D. in theology, then He told me that my mission, throughout my later years, was to write the books He gave me so that the body of Christ may be better informed on what He wants. So far, He has given me two books that have been written and several others brewing on the back burner.

Wow! What a blessing! What are the titles of your books?

[Phil.2:12]

Wow! What a blessing! What are the titles of your books?

The first one is "Walk where Jesus walked" taken from 1 Peter 2:21 explores the statement Jesus made in John 14:12 "Verrily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do: because I go unto my Father". If we are to follow in the steps of Jesus because He has left us an example to emulate and if He said we would do the same things He did, even greater, then why are we not doing what Jesus did? When was the last time you saw a missing limb fully restored? Or when was the last time you saw someone raised from the dead? Well, don't feel lonly, I haven't seen these things either and that is the situation this book explores. It is in print and can be purchased from Lulu Publishing.

The second book is called "What do you mean? Born Again!" and examines the entire Salvation experience. Chapter 6 looks at the end purpose of the salvation experience and it is here that what Jesus said in John 14:12 takes on new meaning. This book is in the final editing stage and hopefully will be published by Lulu Publishing probably sometime in April. Thanks for asking.

[Guest Jude 1:3]

Communion is symbolic. We eat 'in remembrance' of Jesus.

Edited April 1, 2007 by Matthitjah

[ParanoidAndroid]

We have communion once a month (I think the 2nd Sunday, but I could be wrong, I don't really keep track of the week it happens). Our communion is fairly old-school Anglican, with recitations from the prayer-book and such (it's rather strange actually, since as a general rule, our church is fairly progressive and doesn't really go for the traditional way things were always done).

But that aside, I'd just point out that biblically speaking, I'm not sure I agree with communion. Jesus broke bread (in other words, had dinner) with his apostles when he did communion. Should not we also hold communion when we have dinner? I can't say that Jesus would approve of the ritualised process of mouthing prayer-recitations that we do in church these days. Especially if it were a once-a-week communion, I wonder how reciting a prayer put up on the projector, or read from the prayer book would strike people - do people even think about what they are saying or just say it because it's "tradition"?

Just some ramblings from an old android. All the best,

~ PA

Edited April 1, 2007 by Matthitjah

[Fiosh]

We have communion once a month (I think the 2nd Sunday, but I could be wrong, I don't really keep track of the week it happens). Our communion is fairly old-school Anglican, with recitations from the prayer-book and such (it's rather strange actually, since as a general rule, our church is fairly progressive and doesn't really go for the traditional way things were always done).

But that aside, I'd just point out that biblically speaking, I'm not sure I agree with communion. Jesus broke bread (in other words, had dinner) with his apostles when he did communion. Should not we also hold communion when we have dinner? I can't say that Jesus would approve of the ritualised process of mouthing prayer-recitations that we do in church these days. Especially if it were a once-a-week communion, I wonder how reciting a prayer put up on the projector, or read from the prayer book would strike people - do people even think about what they are saying or just say it because it's "tradition"?

Just some ramblings from an old android. All the best,

~ PA

Thanks for your comments, PA.

just a thought that came to mind while I was reading your post....

The Bible doesn't actully say to much about them having an actual meal.

Have you ever noticed that there is no mention in any of the accounts of the Last Supper, of the lamb?

Could it be because the Lamb was seated at table with them?

Peace,

Fiosh

[Butler]

Hey there!

Communion is a very serious part of our service. We have it the first Sunday of every month.

I believe that the importance of Communion is watered down in todays society. Lots of people see it as "that boring part of the service". How sad.

I believe that we are doing almost exactly what the disciples did that supper, just on a bigger scale. I dont believe that we are in fact eating Jesus' flesh and drinking His blood. Instead I believe that the bread and wine is a symbol.

God bless

Sean

[Fiosh]

Hey there!

Communion is a very serious part of our service. We have it the first Sunday of every month.

I believe that the importance of Communion is watered down in todays society. Lots of people see it as "that boring part of the service". How sad.

I believe that we are doing almost exactly what the disciples did that supper, just on a bigger scale. I dont believe that we are in fact eating Jesus' flesh and drinking His blood. Instead I believe that the bread and wine is a symbol.

God bless

Sean

Thanks for sharing your comments, Sean. all the way from South Africa...cool!