The Lord's Supper..................

[Singlemom]

:coocoo: Ay, Ay, Ay!!!!


This is one of those subjects that I have wondered about and never asked. I have prayed and read and prayed some more! So before you answer, please think about it and how it applies to your life. It is so easy to give advice.....but to put it into practice ourselves, this is probably something that falls under the area of hypocrisy. I don't want any know-it-alls answering if they are not mature in the faith and are actually right with the Lord and are walking in obedience. So.........this is something that I have wondered many of times, when the Word of God talks about the Lord's supper in:

Matthew
22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."

23Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.

24"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. 25"I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."
God, the Son, speaks of the bread as His body.....are there any other implications other than this being symbolic of His death and His body, which He gave for us?

God, The Son, states the following, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. " and my questions about this go as follows:

1. What does the Lord mean when He states that it is His body and the blood of the covenant. I know it is symbolic......but are there other implications?

Also,

Next,

In 1st Corinthians 11, God says the following:

23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

What does He mean by this?

27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

How do we drink it unworthily and how will we be guilty and the consequences are?

28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

Are we damned if we have eternal life and our salvation is secure?
30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

weak and sickly, how does that look like, and sleep, does that mean dead or set aside?

31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

condemned, yet eternally saved? chastened?


I know I am asking alot........But maybe there is a pastor out there who would be gracious enough to clarify this for me and all those who are not sure? I would be eternally grateful.......God bless you for it!

 

[SpiritLedEd]

The Lord's Supper

Singlemom,

I'll take on just one of your inquiries: the one regarding The Lord's Supper:The Roman Catholic Church takes Jesus' words in Mk 14:22ff (which you quoted) literally. They preach that somehow through a process they call transubstantiation, the bread and wine actually are changed into the body and blood of Jesus.

Protestant theology, on the other hand, holds to Paul's interpretation, which you quoted from 1Corinthians 11:23-26 i.e., that the bread and juice represent the body and blood of Jesus - they do not actually become His body and blood.

SLE (SpiritLedEd)

 

[jari]

:

In 1st Corinthians 11, God says the following:

23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

What does He mean by this?

Whenever we have the Lord's supper we remember Lord and that's according to my english to "shew".

:

27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

How do we drink it unworthily and how will we be guilty and the consequences are?

28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

Are we damned if we have eternal life and our salvation is secure?
30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Unworthy drinking and eating would mean not believing in Jesus.

What translation you have? In KJV it speaks about judging (not damned) and this is because people judge.


(1Co 11:32) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

 

[Singlemom]

Hey SpiritLedEd, I like your username, I am assuming the Spirit is leading you in answering my question, of course

I never thought about the catholic church' interpretation! I have always thougth of them symbolically and as you said "representative," I will look up the new term you've thrown my way.......thanks for replying.

 

[Singlemom]

Hello Jari!

I used the New American for the first part and then New King's James for the latter quotes from God's word.

When you say:

Unworthy drinking and eating would mean not believing in Jesus.
Does it not pertain drinking and eating it with unconfessed sin?
What about if you live Monday through Saturday for yourself and not the Lord and then on Sunday the Lord's Supper was observed?
What translation you have? In KJV it speaks about judging (not damned) and this is because people judge.

Isn't it speaking about the Lord's judgment, it sure seems like it to me.


(1Co 11:32) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

 

[jari]

Hi

Hello Jari!

I used the New American for the first part and then New King's James for the latter quotes from God's word.

When you say:

Unworthy drinking and eating would mean not believing in Jesus.
Does it not pertain drinking and eating it with unconfessed sin?
What about if you live Monday through Saturday for yourself and not the Lord and then on Sunday the Lord's Supper was observed?

Lord's supper isnt the point when your new sins are forgiven but remembering the offering/sacrifce Jesus made by which all of your sins are forgiven once and for all.

What translation you have? In KJV it speaks about judging (not damned) and this is because people judge.

Isn't it speaking about the Lord's judgment, it sure seems like it to me.


(1Co 11:32) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

You are not the first one to see it that way, but it speaks about people judging other who eat onworthly and that good thing in that is that: "... that we should not be condemned with the world." (1Co 11:32)

 

[Uncle Steve]

I will reply as I find the anwsers. !st,In Matthew 26:28, where HE offers the bread & wine as HIS body & blood of the new covenant shed for many as the remission of sin. People under the old covenant (those who lived before JESUS) could approach GOD only through a priest & an animal sacrifice. Now all people can come directly through faith because JESUS' death has made us acceptable in GOD's eyes (Romans3:21-24).
The old covenant was a shadow of the new (Jeremiah31:31, Hebrews8:1), pointing forward to the day when JESUS himself would be the final & ultimate sacrifice for sin. Rather than an unblemished lamb slain on the altar. The perfect lamb of GOD was slain on the cross, a sinless sacrifice so that our sins could be forgiven once & for all. All those who believe in CHRIST recieve that forgiveness.

 

[Uncle Steve]

In I Corithians 11:27,The Apostle Paul is giving specific instructionson how the LORD's Supper should be observed;
1) We should take the LORD's Supper thoughtfully because we are proclaiming that CHRIST died for our sins (11:26)
2) We should take it worthily, with due reverance & respect (11:27)
3) We should examine ourselves for any unconfessed sin or resentful attitude (11:28). We are to be properly prepared, based on our belief in & love for CHRIST.
4) We should be considerate of others (11:33), waiting untill everyone is there & then eating in an orderly & unified manner.

When Paul said that no one should take the LORD's Supper in an unworthy manner, he was speaking to the church members who were rushing into it without thinking of it's meaning. Those who did so were "guilty of the body & blood of the LORD." Instead of honering HIS sacrifice, they were sharing in the guilt of those who crucified CHRIST. In reality, no one is worthy to take the LORD's Supper. We are all sinners saved by grace. This is why we should prepare ourselves for communion through healthy introspection, confession of sin & resolution of differences with others. These actions remove the barriers that effect our relationship with CHRIST & with other believers. Awareness of your sin should not keep you away from communion, but should drive you to participate in it.

 

[Uncle Steve]

Each person is an individual, even though GOD loves us all equally doesen't mean that the gifts or the way HE will show HIS love will be the same for each of us nor the way that HE teaches us lessons or punishes us will be the same. As far as the consequences for not taking the LORD's Supper seriously or not discerning the LORD's body (11:29), those who do so condem themselves (Hebrews 10:29), in v.30 "sleep" is another way of describing death. That some of the people had died may have been a special supernatural judgement on the Corinthian church. This type of disciplinary judgement highlights the seriousness of the communion service. The LORD's Supper is not to be taken lightly; this new covenant cost JESUS HIS life. It is not a meaningless ritual, but a sacrament given by CHRIST to help strengthen our faith.

 

[jiggyfly]

Here's a good article that may interest you.
Cup

 

[Singlemom]

Something to think about!

Hello Friends!

I am awed by the responses I received and the depth of some of them. I am very grateful and I do not take them lightly. I don't know if there are
Christians who were/are in the same place as I? I mean about not being 100% accurate in knowledge about this subject. Being not well informed.
I am learning something today! I am going to be praying and studying some of the responses I received prayerfully and God willing, I will come to find peace with God in this area.

I judge myself, I just am afraid to do sacrilege on Sundays after not having had a close intimate walk with My Lord and Savior all week. Is it guilt? fear? I know God will help me to see.

If you have insight as to how the other religions, cults, etc. handle this piece of God's word.....I heard a little about the catholic religion........please share it with me.

You are awesome for having replied. :wink:

 

[SpiritLedEd]

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him." (Heb 11:6)

Don't let the enemy have control of your emotions. Once he gets control of your emotions, he's like a mean little kid playing with the buttons on the control panel in an elevator - he'll have you going up and down, up and down, up and down, up and down all the time. You are diligently seeking God. Its to be expected that there will be fluctuations in the day to day zeal with which you pursue Him. That's normal. Diligence does not mean maintaining a high level of zeal every day. Diligence involves (as the saying goes) "keeping on keeping on" in spite of the hindrances we all deal with.


SLE

 

[arunangelo]

:coocoo: Ay, Ay, Ay!!!!


This is one of those subjects that I have wondered about and never asked. I have prayed and read and prayed some more! So before you answer, please think about it and how it applies to your life. It is so easy to give advice.....but to put it into practice ourselves, this is probably something that falls under the area of hypocrisy. I don't want any know-it-alls answering if they are not mature in the faith and are actually right with the Lord and are walking in obedience. So.........this is something that I have wondered many of times, when the Word of God talks about the Lord's supper in:

Matthew
22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."

23Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.

24"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. 25"I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."
God, the Son, speaks of the bread as His body.....are there any other implications other than this being symbolic of His death and His body, which He gave for us?

God, The Son, states the following, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. " and my questions about this go as follows:

1. What does the Lord mean when He states that it is His body and the blood of the covenant. I know it is symbolic......but are there other implications?

Also,

Next,

In 1st Corinthians 11, God says the following:

23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

What does He mean by this?

27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

How do we drink it unworthily and how will we be guilty and the consequences are?

28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

Are we damned if we have eternal life and our salvation is secure?
30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

weak and sickly, how does that look like, and sleep, does that mean dead or set aside?

31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

condemned, yet eternally saved? chastened?


I know I am asking alot........But maybe there is a pastor out there who would be gracious enough to clarify this for me and all those who are not sure? I would be eternally grateful.......God bless you for it!

In order to save us from sin and have intimacy with us God took human form and made his dwelling amongst us (as Jesus) (John1: 14). He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World (John 1:29). He is the new Pascal Lamb whose sacrificial flesh and blood brings us forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:27-28), and seals God’s new and everlasting covenant with us (Luke 22:20). Therefore, unless we eat His flesh and drink his blood, we will not have life within us (John 6:53). Since, we do not eat human flesh and drink human blood; He gave us His flesh under the appearance of bread (Matthew 26:26) and His blood under the appearance of wine (Matthew 26:2-28). He, therefore, told us that the bread that He gives us for the life of the world is His flesh (John 6:51); and then at the last supper He gave us the bread to eat and told us that it is His body (Matthew 26:26); and then gave the cup to drink and told us that it is His blood of the new covenant, which will be shed for us so that sins may be forgiven (Matthew 26:28). Furthermore, He commanded us to do this as often as possible so that He will be in our heart (memory) (Luke 22:19); thus enabling us to have a continuous love relationship with Him.

In the old covenant God wrote His words (Exodus 20) on stony tablets. His people were to follow the written words to find peace. They stored these words of God on the stony tablets in the ark and revered and worshipped them, because to them they were God’s presence among them. In the new Covenant, God became flesh (John 1:14) and feeds us with His own flesh and blood to imprint His own being on our hearts (Jer. 31:33) in order to change them from stony hearts to natural hearts (Ezekiel 11:19). This means that believers follow God’s laws, not because they are laws, but because, they love God and want to live His life of sacrificial love. Furthermore, by commanding us to celebrate the Lord’s Supper as often as possible, He makes His word become flesh (in the form of bread) ever present to us.

Communion with Christ
By receiving the body and blood Christ we unite with other believers who share in the same meal (1 Cor. 10:16-17). This brings unity among believers; which Jesus desired very much (John 17:21). Christians therefore, have celebrated this supper from the very beginning of Christianity (1 Corinthians 11:26-29, Act 2:46, 20:7 &11 and 27:35) and considered themselves very blessed for having the opportunity to celebrate it (Rev. 19:9). Because, the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper is truly the body and blood of Jesus, Paul warns us that if we eat the bread and drink the wine in an unworthy manner we will bring condemnation upon our selves (1Cor. 11: 26-29).

Accept His body and blood in faith
If we were to see a man called Jesus, who was totally powerless, carrying a cross, being mocked and spat upon by people and then see Him dying on the cross along with other criminals; and if someone told us that He is the infinitely powerful God, King of the Universe; we would think it is a joke. Yet, Peter recognized Him as the Son of God, because, it was revealed to Him by the Father (Matthew 16:16-18). John, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, also recognized Him as the Lamb of God (John 1:29). Similarly, if someone gives us a piece of bread and tells us that it is God, we would think that, that person is insane. Therefore, after Jesus’ discourse on eating His flesh and drinking His blood (John 6:51) some people stopped believing in Him. One of them was the one ((Judas) who was to later betray Him (John 6:64) and walked away from the Lord’s Supper (John 14:30). The other apostles did not leave, although they probably did not fully understand, how the bread that He gave them to eat was His flesh (John 6:51). They simply accepted it in faith, because, they believed that Jesus had the Words of eternal life; and were convinced that He was the Holy One from God (John 7: 68, 69). It is important to remember that if God could take the form of a little baby, He can easily take the form of bread.

Personal relationship with Christ
To participate in the Lord’s Supper is to have communion with Christ. This is what it really means to have personal relationship with Him. This is what we are made for. It makes us part of His family. Then His Father is our Father, His mother our mother and His house our house. Oneness with Christ brings us salvation. Without this unity with Christ we cannot have true goodness in us, because, He is the only source of true goodness.

Although it is possible to have spiritual communion with the Lord in meditation and intense prayers, perfection of communion can only occur when there is, both physical and spiritual communion. Prior to Jesus’ coming, the prophets and holy people of the Old Testament did have spiritual communion with Him. However, the Lord had to come, both, spiritually and physically into this World in order to bring us salvation.

When we truly love someone, we are not content with merely speaking to that person on the phone or via e-mail; we also desire physical communion with that person, because, we are both, physical and spiritual. Furthermore, holiness is not only spiritual but also physical; because, God took physical form (in the person of Jesus) to make us holy; and also, because, expression of God’s love (by human beings) requires the physical acts. We, therefore, need both, spiritual and physical union with God. This union occurs when we receive the body and blood of Jesus.

Worshiping God
To worship God is to offer our entire life as a sacrifice to Him. As sinners we are incapable of making this sacrificial offering. However, Jesus, who is pure and sinless, made a perfect sacrifice of His life to the Father on our behalf and allows us to join in His sacrifice by sharing with us His sacrificial body in the form of bread and His sacrificial blood of the new and eternal covenant in the form of wine (Matthew 26:26-28). Furthermore, He asks us to continue to offer this sacrifice, as often as possible so that His presence in our heart is kept alive (Luke 22:19) and we may thereby have life (John 6:53). Therefore, every time we offer this sacrifice at the Lord’s Supper we re-enter into Jesus’ sacrifice. His sacrifice is the only pure sacrifice. Therefore, when the Lord’s Supper is celebrated through out the world, it fulfills Malachi’s prophesy (Malachi 1:11) which stated that, from the rising of the sun to its setting, in every place a pure sacrifice will be offered to God.

 

[Singlemom]

Hey You! :star:

Thank you so much for this post! It makes so much sense! I do have to ask............if you would be so gracious to answer.......if you don't feel comfortable with it, then that is okay. My question basically is this...........I understand that since communion is taken for the most part during the morning services.........how best can you accomplish.......the right type of mind set in order to achieve this sacrament in a way that is well pleasing to the Lord. What I mean is this.........If we take it, let's say......once a month......and we come and we are not really focusing on His death on Calvary for us.....but do it as a habit/ritual, I am assuming it loses its value, no?

Would it then be appropriate to not take it, in that case? I would also like to think that in the case of being simply being in church, our whole heart, mind, and spirit should be focused on the Lord and this sacrament simply adds to the other things that are part of the service.

When is it better to not take it? Are there times when perhaps you have not asked of forgiveness of an injured party, then I am also assuming you should refrain?

AND........last, but not least.........I would love to know if those persons who have been the most gracious, and have answered in the form of a post.......perhaps maybe even in an e-mail......tell me a little of themselves......denomination, how many years saved, etc......I just like to know who I am talking to.......although this is practically not as important to me as the information you all have provided, it is something I would love to know. Thank you so very much...........

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Hey You! :star:

Thank you so much for this post! It makes so much sense! I do have to ask............if you would be so gracious to answer.......if you don't feel comfortable with it, then that is okay. My question basically is this...........I understand that since communion is taken for the most part during the morning services.........how best can you accomplish.......the right type of mind set in order to achieve this sacrament in a way that is well pleasing to the Lord. What I mean is this.........If we take it, let's say......once a month......and we come and we are not really focusing on His death on Calvary for us.....but do it as a habit/ritual, I am assuming it loses its value, no?

Would it then be appropriate to not take it, in that case? I would also like to think that in the case of being simply being in church, our whole heart, mind, and spirit should be focused on the Lord and this sacrament simply adds to the other things that are part of the service.

When is it better to not take it? Are there times when perhaps you have not asked of forgiveness of an injured party, then I am also assuming you should refrain?

AND........last, but not least.........I would love to know if those persons who have been the most gracious, and have answered in the form of a post.......perhaps maybe even in an e-mail......tell me a little of themselves......denomination, how many years saved, etc......I just like to know who I am talking to.......although this is practically not as important to me as the information you all have provided, it is something I would love to know. Thank you so very much...........

Singlemom:

Check my profile. All available info on me is there.

SLE

 

[arunangelo]

Hey You! :star:

Thank you so much for this post! It makes so much sense! I do have to ask............if you would be so gracious to answer.......if you don't feel comfortable with it, then that is okay. My question basically is this...........I understand that since communion is taken for the most part during the morning services.........how best can you accomplish.......the right type of mind set in order to achieve this sacrament in a way that is well pleasing to the Lord. What I mean is this.........If we take it, let's say......once a month......and we come and we are not really focusing on His death on Calvary for us.....but do it as a habit/ritual, I am assuming it loses its value, no?

Would it then be appropriate to not take it, in that case? I would also like to think that in the case of being simply being in church, our whole heart, mind, and spirit should be focused on the Lord and this sacrament simply adds to the other things that are part of the service.

When is it better to not take it? Are there times when perhaps you have not asked of forgiveness of an injured party, then I am also assuming you should refrain?

AND........last, but not least.........I would love to know if those persons who have been the most gracious, and have answered in the form of a post.......perhaps maybe even in an e-mail......tell me a little of themselves......denomination, how many years saved, etc......I just like to know who I am talking to.......although this is practically not as important to me as the information you all have provided, it is something I would love to know. Thank you so very much...........

We constantly need God and He desires intimacy with us. We must, therefore, received His body and blood as often as possible. We must receive Him in a spirit of love humily, surrender and sacrifice. Every time we receive Him we must remember that we are reetring His sacrifice. It will, the, never become routine.