Lesson 14: Holy Communion

When we take communion, what are the actions? Let's read Luke 22:19-20 to see what Jesus did at the Last Supper. "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you". Jesus' actions were taking the bread and wine, giving thanks, and distributing it to his disciples. To break the bread means to distribute it. It is the pastor's job to take bread and wine, give thanks, and distribute it. Jesus' words are the words of institution, which when spoken, bless the bread and wine. 

What is the food? Let's read the Last Supper again, in Mark 14:22-24. "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take it; this is my body. Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and the all drank from it. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many, he said to them". What earthly elements do we eat? Bread and wine. What is the blessed bread? Jesus' body. What is the blessed wine? Jesus' blood. How is this so? Because Jesus said so, in plain words. He didn't say "This is a symbol of my body" or "This is a symbol of my blood". He said in plain words, "This is my body, this is my blood". So are the bread and wine Christ's body and blood, or was Jesus a liar? 

What is present in the sacrament? 1 Corinthians 10:16 in the NKJV says "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?". Christ is present at the sacrament. When the words of institution are spoken, Christ is there. Jesus' body and blood is distributed by the pastor and received by the communicants. 

How is the reception of the body and blood of Christ to be done? 1 Corinthians 11:26 says "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes". The reception is to be done in faith. We receive Christ's body and blood with our mouth. By doing this, we are certain we have the blessing of Salvation, and we partake in this communion as often as we desire. 

Other denominations of Christianity undermine the teaching of communion. The Reformed Baptist teaching is that the bread and wine are nothing more than symbols, that don't make you receive Christ. You see this teaching in many Baptist and "non denominational" churches. The Roman Catholic teaching of communion is that forgiveness is won by the priest for the people, where the bread and wine are no longer present and only Jesus is there, and he is "re-sacrificed". This is not biblical. Christ died once and for all. 

Who is prepared to receive this sacrament? 1 Corinthians 11:28 in the NKJV commands "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup". We are to examine ourselves and confess our sins. We confess whatever sins we know we've done and desire forgiveness, then we receive the sacrament. 

Who is not prepared to receive the sacrament? 1 Corinthians 11:27 declares "Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord". How does someone eat and drink in an unworthy manner? By not believing, being unrepentant, or not knowing what they are receiving. You sin against the body and blood if you don't believe, or if you don't believe what you are receiving is Christ's body and blood. They still eat and drink Christ's body and blood, but they sin against the body and blood because they don't believe, and they don't receive forgiveness if they don't believe. Only by believing can you receive forgiveness. 

The first union is the union of bread and body, wine and blood. We kneel because God is present. The second union is that we are united to Christ, and we receive Him. The third union is that we are united to the Church. We are one, and we kneel together. Closed communion consists only of those who confess what we confess. 

The bread and wine are truly Christ's body and blood, and Christ is present with us. Many churches substitute bread and wine with crackers and grape juice because they doubt Jesus' words and lack faith. But we should not question what Jesus said, and what earthly elements Jesus used. If you are able to confess, then come to communion in faith!