Communion 3 questions
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My church used to serve communion on the first Sunday of the month, but sometimes it was not possible to be there that day, or church would even be cancelled sometimes due to a community event shutting down the streets of our beautiful neighborhood, so I always felt that once a month was not enough, especially if I missed it for some reason. Lately, however, we have undergone some changes, with lots of growth happening, and communion is now served once a week. I am very happy about that 
I do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. I partake every time I am there. I should be getting ready to go soon!
I do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. I partake every time I am there. I should be getting ready to go soon!
Necessary?
Extremely. The church is the body of Christ. So let’s use a physical body for example, then you can think of it in spiritual terms. Blood flows through the entire body, to keep all tissues alive. The Bible says “The life is in the blood.” And indeed it is- both physically and spiritually.
But what happens if you cut off circulation? Your foot ‘falls asleep’ and returning circulation is hard, cause it causes those pricklies. But the tissue is still alive. (This is like a prodigal son returning to church). But let’s say you tie a rubber band tightly around your finger. Eventually it will turn gangrene, die and fall off. Once the tissue is dead, it can never be part of the body again. It needs the continual circulation of the blood.
In the same way, we spiritually need to partake of Christ’s body and blood on a regular basis- just like a heart continues to bring blood back to an area. If you miss a Sunday or two, you won’t die (spirituality) but you will eventually if you refuse to take it. This is why the Lord’s Supper is brought to those in the hospital or shutins.
How Often?
Upon the first day of the week (Sunday) in the assembly of the saints (Christians).
Why?
Because we need Christ’s blood on a continual basis in order to stay spiritually alive. Yes, yes, I know, it is not physically His blood, only a representation of it. But when we take it we remember Christ’s sacrifice and examine our walk- which is the spiritual effect.
Extremely. The church is the body of Christ. So let’s use a physical body for example, then you can think of it in spiritual terms. Blood flows through the entire body, to keep all tissues alive. The Bible says “The life is in the blood.” And indeed it is- both physically and spiritually.
But what happens if you cut off circulation? Your foot ‘falls asleep’ and returning circulation is hard, cause it causes those pricklies. But the tissue is still alive. (This is like a prodigal son returning to church). But let’s say you tie a rubber band tightly around your finger. Eventually it will turn gangrene, die and fall off. Once the tissue is dead, it can never be part of the body again. It needs the continual circulation of the blood.
In the same way, we spiritually need to partake of Christ’s body and blood on a regular basis- just like a heart continues to bring blood back to an area. If you miss a Sunday or two, you won’t die (spirituality) but you will eventually if you refuse to take it. This is why the Lord’s Supper is brought to those in the hospital or shutins.
How Often?
Upon the first day of the week (Sunday) in the assembly of the saints (Christians).
Why?
Because we need Christ’s blood on a continual basis in order to stay spiritually alive. Yes, yes, I know, it is not physically His blood, only a representation of it. But when we take it we remember Christ’s sacrifice and examine our walk- which is the spiritual effect.
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Foremost, Jesus said do this. Do this in remembrance of Him. And He said only 'as often as you do this' - He didn't appoint a time.
Unless.. He was referring to what they were doing in relation to the feast day / week that they were in Jerusalem celebrating at the time. A person could cogently argue it should be done in conjunction with first fruits, once a year, a Passover. I'm not out to make that argument I'm just saying it can be made. You could equally argue we should remember Him with every meal.
Historically the church did it more regularly, I think - though historically, particularly reading Paul talking to the church in Corinth about it, it was celebrated with something alot closer to a feast / fellowship supper than it was with any resemblance to the ritual sip and nibble we mostly do today.
Unless.. He was referring to what they were doing in relation to the feast day / week that they were in Jerusalem celebrating at the time. A person could cogently argue it should be done in conjunction with first fruits, once a year, a Passover. I'm not out to make that argument I'm just saying it can be made. You could equally argue we should remember Him with every meal.
Historically the church did it more regularly, I think - though historically, particularly reading Paul talking to the church in Corinth about it, it was celebrated with something alot closer to a feast / fellowship supper than it was with any resemblance to the ritual sip and nibble we mostly do today.
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The Jesus said, unless you eat the flesh of Son of Man and drink his blood,you have no life in you KJVJohn6:53-55 53."Then Jesus said unto them,Verily, Verily,I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Men, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.54. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, has internal life and I will raise him up in the last day; 55.For my flesh is a meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed."
Greetings 20,
Jesus also said that he was the sheep gate, the bread of life and the water of life, which were/are all figures of speech.
Roman Catholicism took the figurative meaning of eating the Lord's flesh and drinking his blood, literally, which is why they believe in Transubstantiation. This is when the priest calls Christ down out of heaven where he enters into the Eucharist, where a change takes place where it becomes the literal flesh and blood of the Lord, which isn't true.
When Jesus instituted the breaking of bread it was figurative of his body, where the cup containing the wine represents his blood that was shed for many. That this is meant to be figurative can be seen by the fact that the Lord broke literal bread and said this is my body. Likewise, he took the cup of wine and said, this is my blood
Therefore, the scriptures which say "unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood" is figurative of consuming Christ into your life. Even the word of God is spoken of figuratively as food.
You also have to remember that under the law it was forbidden to eat blood. Animals that were considered clean had to be drained of all of their blood before eating. Therefore, it would not be plausible to think that Jesus was saying to literally eat his flesh and drink his blood. For those who were under the law, this saying would have been repulsive, but they misunderstood what he was saying in his parables.
Hope this helps
Jesus also said that he was the sheep gate, the bread of life and the water of life, which were/are all figures of speech.
Roman Catholicism took the figurative meaning of eating the Lord's flesh and drinking his blood, literally, which is why they believe in Transubstantiation. This is when the priest calls Christ down out of heaven where he enters into the Eucharist, where a change takes place where it becomes the literal flesh and blood of the Lord, which isn't true.
When Jesus instituted the breaking of bread it was figurative of his body, where the cup containing the wine represents his blood that was shed for many. That this is meant to be figurative can be seen by the fact that the Lord broke literal bread and said this is my body. Likewise, he took the cup of wine and said, this is my blood
Therefore, the scriptures which say "unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood" is figurative of consuming Christ into your life. Even the word of God is spoken of figuratively as food.
You also have to remember that under the law it was forbidden to eat blood. Animals that were considered clean had to be drained of all of their blood before eating. Therefore, it would not be plausible to think that Jesus was saying to literally eat his flesh and drink his blood. For those who were under the law, this saying would have been repulsive, but they misunderstood what he was saying in his parables.
Hope this helps
I was raised/taught that it was a once a week thing... on the first day of the week. There are records from first century historians that mention that the believers did that.
I've been thinking about it for the past couple of years... some of my thoughts are as follows...
Jesus "instituted" the communion during a meal. He seemed to want us to see it as a family "meal" type of thing. He used bread and wine... two common staples at a meal. The bread was unleavened, because they were eating the Passover meal.
And, not only are bread and wine staples at a meal, they are also rich in symbolism. Jesus taught that he is the "bread of life"... and that he is the vine and we are the branches, etc... We are to take of the bread of life, and the fruit of the vine as a reminder of him, and what his life and death did for us. We are becoming (re-becoming?) one with Jesus when we commune with one another.
I don't think Jesus wanted to establish a "time" or "special day" to partake in communion, which is why he told the disciples "as often as you do this....."
How often do we eat a meal together?
I personally would like to see us share/partake in communion any time disciples are gathered together. Although, like I mentioned, early historians said that the church gathered to "break bread" on the first day of the week. I personally don't like the idea of once a month, or quarterly, or whatever....
When does the body of believers meet together? They should break bread at that time, I believe.
I've been thinking about it for the past couple of years... some of my thoughts are as follows...
Jesus "instituted" the communion during a meal. He seemed to want us to see it as a family "meal" type of thing. He used bread and wine... two common staples at a meal. The bread was unleavened, because they were eating the Passover meal.
And, not only are bread and wine staples at a meal, they are also rich in symbolism. Jesus taught that he is the "bread of life"... and that he is the vine and we are the branches, etc... We are to take of the bread of life, and the fruit of the vine as a reminder of him, and what his life and death did for us. We are becoming (re-becoming?) one with Jesus when we commune with one another.
I don't think Jesus wanted to establish a "time" or "special day" to partake in communion, which is why he told the disciples "as often as you do this....."
How often do we eat a meal together?
I personally would like to see us share/partake in communion any time disciples are gathered together. Although, like I mentioned, early historians said that the church gathered to "break bread" on the first day of the week. I personally don't like the idea of once a month, or quarterly, or whatever....
When does the body of believers meet together? They should break bread at that time, I believe.
Depends on how catholic you want to be.
Necessary? Only in the sense that we ought to be obedient but not necessary to have or maintain salvation.
Frequency? When appropriate but not such as to diminish the holiness of the privilege.
Why? The Lord told us it is to remember His sacrifice, His death, burial and resurrection.
It is a time of self inspection and time to confess our need of His presence to live holy and pure lives for His glory.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
Necessary? Only in the sense that we ought to be obedient but not necessary to have or maintain salvation.
Frequency? When appropriate but not such as to diminish the holiness of the privilege.
Why? The Lord told us it is to remember His sacrifice, His death, burial and resurrection.
It is a time of self inspection and time to confess our need of His presence to live holy and pure lives for His glory.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
O
2 Corinthians 11:4 King James Version (KJV)
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
You know false Christ is Coming . And few hav the gospel armor on !
If you dont know Christs teachings you only have half truths, and false doctrines ..
When such hear truth, they wont recognize it ! All threads are a witness to that.
playing church wont teach you the Bible ..
and dont know Christ is real life ..
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1) It certainly is.
2) The early church did it every day. Acts 2v46.
3) It reminds us of the great sacrifice and suffering that the Lord Jesus had to go through to purchase our redemption, even suffering the pangs of death in the abyss in Hades. Isaish 53 (all), Acts 2v23-33, Rom 10v7, 1Peter 3v18-22.
2) The early church did it every day. Acts 2v46.
3) It reminds us of the great sacrifice and suffering that the Lord Jesus had to go through to purchase our redemption, even suffering the pangs of death in the abyss in Hades. Isaish 53 (all), Acts 2v23-33, Rom 10v7, 1Peter 3v18-22.