In Roman Catholic churches, the faithful receive Holy Communion under the appearances of both bread and wine. The Holy Communion or the Sacrament of Communion, wherein, “bread and wine” are the elements represents the Body and Blood of Christ. It’s also known as the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist. In this Holy Eucharist, under the appearances of bread and wine, the Lord Christ is contained, offered, and received because He said “I am the living bread that has come down from heaven”.
These are the exact elements that even Jesus used when He gathered with the disciples at the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday. The “bread” should remind us of our unity in Christ that we all share from the one source, which is Christ, our Savior. God makes use of these physical elements so that we perform this sacrament with prayer and faith.
So, bread symbolizes the body of Christ which was sacrificed for believers. Wine represents the blood of Christ which was shed for believers. They are the "the Body of Christ" and the "the Blood of Jesus” which He shed for us. So, the Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament which contains the body and blood, soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine.
Christ is truly present in the Holy Communion. When we receive the bread and wine of this meal, we receive His body and blood. The Holy Eucharist is the oldest experience of Christian worship at which Christ instructed His disciples to offer bread and wine in His memory.
Bread and wine are most suitable elements for the Holy Eucharist because bread and wine are being very nourishing. We take the Eucharist because the bread and the cup provide an opportunity to remember what the Father expects of His children and to renew one's commitment to obey. The Holy Communion is an observance of a commandment by Jesus. We take it in His memory because He says “Do this, as often as you drink/eat it, in remembrance of me”.
We observe Holy Communion because the Lord told us to. It’s as simple as that. We are to obey His commands: The Lord's Supper is a good time to stop and recall what Jesus has given us. Jesus’ blood cleanses us of sin. Starting with Adam and Eve, God required a blood sacrifice to cover transgressions (Genesis 3:21; Leviticus 17:11). But this was just a temporary solution, as the next offense required another sacrifice. Jesus was God’s permanent answer to the problem: He took upon Himself all sin - past, present, and future - and died to pay the full penalty.
When a believer receives salvation, he is consecrated - or set apart to the Lord. His sin is forgiven, and he receives eternal life as well as the indwelling Holy Spirit. But if he at times forgets that he belongs to the Lord, he may give in to temptation. The bread and the cup provide an opportunity to remember what the Father expects of His children and to renew one’s commitment to obey.
The Lord’s Supper is also a time to be in communion. We are connected not only with the Lord who saved us but also with past and present believers. Among members of God’s family, we find comfort and support, just as the disciples and the early church did.
The Lord’s Supper is a good time to stop and recall what Jesus has given us. Partake solemnly and gratefully.
Taken from "The Cup and the Covenant" by In Touch Ministries
And so, the million dollar question here is who should take communion?
When Jesus said, “Take, eat; this is my body” and “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood” he was speaking to his disciples (vv. 26–27). Communion is a sacrament only to be performed by Christians. Non-Christians should never take Communion as the Bible warns that those who take Communion in an unworthy manner will be guilty of disrespecting Jesus and bring judgment upon themselves (1 Cor. 11:27–29).
Why Is Practicing Communion Important?
As a Christian takes Communion, they are making a proclamation that they believe in Jesus as their Savior and have trusted in his sacrificial death for the forgiveness of their sins (1 Cor. 11:26). The act of taking Communion does not save a person, but rather demonstrates a person’s personal faith and shows that they have already been given salvation in Jesus. As such, Communion is to be done regularly as a worship act celebrating Jesus. Jesus said it is important for Christians to practice Communion as a way to remember him and his sacrificial death (1 Cor. 11:24–25).
How Should Communion Be Taken?
God gives Christians clear instructions on how to take Communion in the letter of 1 Corinthians. For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
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. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. (1 Corinthians 11:23–30)
To fully understand these instructions, we need to remember the context of the letter. When the Apostle Paul wrote verses 17–34, he was rebuking the church for practicing Communion sinfully (v. 17). Yet, these instructions still give a clear framework for all churches and Christians on how to practice Communion.
1. Communion must not be done in an unworthy manner (v. 27).
The Corinthian church had practiced Communion in an unworthy and sinful manner. Divisions and factions existed within the church while Communion was taking place (vv. 18–19). People were being selfish, acting self-centered, getting drunk and neglecting the poor and needy (v. 21). In all this, the sacrament was not being taken seriously, and the people were being disrespectful to Jesus and hurtful to each other (v. 22). These sins were so vile that God disciplined some of people within the church with sickness and death (v. 30).
2. You must examine yourself (v. 28).
Before participating in Communion, a person must examine all of his or her life for sin. This includes words, deeds, thoughts, and even the motives and intentions of their heart. If any unconfessed sin is found it must be dealt with, because the unrepentant Christian is not qualified to partake in Communion. Therefore, Communion should only be taken after a Christian has fully confessed to Jesus and laid the guilt of their sin at the foot of his cross. Anything less insults the sacrifice that Jesus made and disrespects God.
3. You must discern the body (v. 29).
Communion is a personal act but is to be done as part of a corporate worship experience. To discern the body means to consider all personal relationships within the church. If there is unresolved conflict or sin, it must be dealt with. If anyone takes Communion without discerning the entire body of the church they neglect others, cause disunity, and bring judgment upon themselves.
In closing, Communion is a sacred sacrament full of meaning, truth, and beauty. It has great value in the life of a believer and the life of the church. All Christians should take the act of Communion very seriously, out of reverence and gratitude for Jesus.
Excerpts from: http://marshill.com/2012/08/09/why-communion-isnt-for-everyone
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