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Communion
On the night of
Jesus' betrayal, at the Passover feast, He
instituted the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26: 26-28;
Mark 14: 22-25; Luke 22:19-20). The
elements present were the unleavened bread
and the fruit of the vine. The unleavened
bread was to represent His body; the cup
(or fruit of the vine) was to represent His
blood (Matthew 26: 26-28). This memorial
supper is to commemorate Jesus' sacrificial death
on the cross (1 Corinthians 11:26). All
Christians are expected to partake of this
commemorative supper every first day of the week.
We learn from the New Testament that the early
disciples met on Sunday (the first day of
the week), to partake of the Lord's Supper
(Acts 20:7). Since this is to be a weekly
observance, we are to partake of it every
first day of the week. For example,
when Moses introduced the Sabbath to the Children
of Israel, he did not have to specify that
this was to be observed every
seventh day of the week. This was already
made clear by the that this was to be a special
day observed on a particular day of the week
(not on a particular day of the month or a
particular day of the year). Since the
Lord's supper (or Communion as it is also called)
is to be observed on a particular day of the
week, it is to be honored as a weekly
observance.
The Lord's Supper is open to all
Christians. We have no right to withhold
Communion from any child of God wishing to
participate. The Bible makes clear that a
Christian is to "examine himself" as he
partakes of this blessed Communion (1 Corinthians
11:28). However, one must be a member of
God's Kingdom (i.e. a Christian) in order to
partake of this Supper (Mark 14:25; Luke 22:30).
And as they were
eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and
brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said,
Take, eat; this is
my body.
And he took the cup,
and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink
ye all of it;
For this is my blood of the new testament, which
is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Matthew 26:26-28
And
as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed,
and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take,
eat: this is my body.
And he took the cup,
and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them:
and they all drank of it.
And he said unto them, This
is my blood of the new testament, which is shed
for many.
Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of
the fruit of the vine, until that day that I
drink it new in the kingdom of God.
Mark 14: 22-25
And
he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and
gave unto them, saying, This
is my body which is given for you: this do in
remembrance of me.
Likewise also the
cup after supper, saying, This
cup is the new testament in my blood, which is
shed for you.
Luke 22: 19-20
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