What is the Holy Communion?
Question: What is Holy Communion?
Answer: Holy Communion is the Spiritual Participation or Communion in the Real Flesh and Real Blood of Christ by the believer when he partakes of it. Holy Communion was instituted by Christ Himself at the Last Supper, to be a Sacrament for the Christian Church: "When it was evening, he sat at table with the twelve disciples, and as they were eating, he said, 'Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.' And they were very sorrowful, and began to say to him one after another, 'Is it I, Lord?' He answered, 'He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me, will betray me. The Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for the man if he had not been born.' Judas, who betrayed him, said, 'Is it I, Master?' He said to him, 'You have said so.'
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body." And he took a Cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sin."
Christ, Who is God, clearly said that the bread is His flesh, and Wine is His Blood. There is no arguing with this. Unfortunately, many teachers have rejected the Real Presence in Communion because it exceeded their grasp of understanding. For how could Christ possibly give his flesh and blood to so many people? Because they follow their own reasoning, they disbelieved because they think that it is impossible. But nothing is impossible with God. The Real Presence is a crucial aspect of the Christian faith, because later, St. Paul stated, that whoever does not believe in the Real Presence, should not take Communion, and if he does so he will receive a penalty: Any church which does not believe, practice or teach the Real Body and Blood in Communion, is not a true Christian Church and should not be dispensing Communion. Luther made the great argument at the Marburg Colloquy on this subject.
When the Great Reformer was sitting at the table at this debate he inscribed in table before him: THIS IS MY BODY, THIS IS MY BLOOD. (I would give anything to have that table today, because the Great Reformer Martin Luther is one of the foremost pillars in the Holy Christian Church.) And so it is. Zwingli and other reformers, (and even Melancthon!) questioned or wavered. But Luther did not. That is one of the main reasons that Luther is such a great Pillar of the Holy Christian Faith.
"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 say, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also 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 of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. This is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we should not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are chastened, so that we may not be condemned along with the world.."
Communion is a participation or communion in the true Flesh and Blood of Christ, although the flesh and blood have the appearance of bread and wine, or as in the Lutheran interpretation, the Flesh and Blood are in, with, or under the bread and wine and the bread and wine do not lose their existence. St. Paul later explained this Sacrament in further detail (which we will investigate later) It is not the carnal eating of the flesh and blood, as some have supposed, but it is a Spiritual Participation or Communion in the True Flesh and Blood of Christ. How, or when the bread, and wine become Flesh and Blood is not explained in Scripture. According to Christ, it just is, when Christians perform this Ceremony..
Should infants or young people take Communion? In St. Paul's discussion of Communion in 1 Corinthians, he says: "Let a man examine himself." (1 Corinthians 11:28) indicating clearly that an examination by the believer of himself, and proper use of Communion is required before it is taken. This would seem to preclude children, who do not have the capability or knowledge of sin that is necessary for the proper use of Communion. But also, Christ said "Drink of it all of you," and certainly there are infants and children who Believe. So, I don't really think that it is wrong if infants and children partake of Communion. And yet, adults, who know the nature of Sin, should "Examine Themselves" before taking Communion.
Therefore, a certain amount of education is necessary, before the believer partakes of this Sacrament. That is why many Churches require that the believer receives instruction as to the principal teachings of the Christian Church (Confirmation) before taking Communion. It is also the reason that many churches have adopted what is called "close" or "closed" Communion.
In studying the teachings of the New Testament concerning Communion, it would seem that, in my opinion, that a strictly, "Closed Communion" policy goes too far, as far as adults are concerned. Jesus, did not, for example try to prevent Judas from taking Communion, and Christ admonished the Church, "to let the weeds grow up with the wheat." However, I believe in what might be called a semi-closed communion, in which the warning of St. Paul is clearly stated before Communion is dispensed, and in which younger people are still required to be Confirmed, before they begin the use of Communion.
Then the question needs to dealt with at what age should one begin taking Communion. I believe that each individual will be a little different and it will be a decision for that individual in his conscience before God. As with many theological questions, there often are not strict guidelines. In these cases, conscience must be the guide.
Question: What about those who say. "The body of Christ is in heaven at the right hand of the Father; and therefore our hearts are to be lifted up on high, and not to be fixed on the bread, neither is the Lord to be worshipped in the bread. . . Christ, although in his body he is absent from us in heaven, present with us, not corporeally but spiritually by his vivifying operation, and as he himself explained at his Last Supper that he would be present with us. Whence it follows that we do not have the Supper without Christ, and yet at the same time have an un-bloody and mystical Supper, as it was universally called by antiquity." (The Second Helvetica Confession, 5.205)
Answer: Such people, although certainly Christians, do yet understand the Power of God and His Omnipotence and Omnipresence. Let us examine this issue.
In Ephesians 1:19-23 St. Paul clearly states: "...and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe, according to the working of his great might which he accomplished in Christ when HE RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD AND MADE HIM SIT AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come; and he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, WHICH IS HIS BODY, THE FULLNESS OF HIM WHO FILLS ALL IN ALL."
Note carefully what this passage teaches us that Christ certainly did arise from the dead but is "Seated at the Right hand of the Father."
Question: "What is the right hand of the Father?"
Answer: The right hand of the Father is not some physical place where Jesus Christ actually sits on the right hand of God. Rather, when Scripture speaks about the "Right hand of the Father," it means the Omnipotence and Omnipresence of God. So that Christ truly rules with the Father at the Right Hand of God.
And we can see this from everything else that follows in this passage, in which God has put all things under Christ.
But then note carefully what St. Paul says about Christ: "and he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which IS HIS BODY, THE FULLNESS OF HIM WHO FILLS ALL IN ALL."
This is the foundation of Luther's doctrine of the Ubiquity of Christ's Body and a profound mystery of the Christian Church: "His Body, the Fullness of Him who Fills All in All."
Question: "Where else in the Bible do see evidence of this?"
Answer: In many places. For example:
1 Cor. 10:16-17: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a Participation in the BLOOD of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a Participation in the body of Christ?
(Here, note very carefully, St. Paul does not say the "Spiritual Blood of Christ," but the BLOOD OF CHRIST. Nor does he say the Spiritual Body, but instead, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, Amen.)
1 Cor. 11:23-27: "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 the cup, after supper, saying, 'This is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
Eph. 4:10: He who descended is he who also ascended far above all heavens, that he MIGHT FILL ALL THINGS."
There are also many examples of where Jesus appeared CORPOREALLY after His death and Resurrection. For example:
Matthew 28:9: "And behold, Jesus met them and said, 'Hail.' And they came up and TOOK HOLD OF HIS FEET and worshipped him." (Obviously, He had a CORPOREAL presence)
Mark: 16:9: "Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had case out seven demons.... After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country."
(Note here very carefully, the Bible says "another form." What form this was, the Bible does not explain. So here we see a Great Mystery: Christ can appear in whatever Form He wants CORPOREALLY. The Mystery of Communion is this: Christ Himself chooses to present Himself Corporeally in the Bread and the Wine, Body and Blood. So that, we not only have a Spiritual relationship with Christ, but like the Apostles and Disciples, we ALSO have a physical relationship with Christ. Why should the later Followers be any different from the first Apostles and Disciples? Are they the only ones who had a physical or CORPOREAL relationship with Christ? I don't think so. And the Bible also confirms this in the Doctrine of the REAL PRESENCE, a crucial Element of our Faith and a GREAT COMFORT to ALL CHRISTIANS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
Just like the earliest Disciples and Apostles, who often disbelieved this TRUTH, many Christians STILL DO NOT BELIEVE in the REAL PRESENCE. That Christ is WITH US TO THE END OF THE AGE, not only SPIRITUALLY, BUT ALSO CORPOREALLY in COMMUNION.)
IT IS A CRUCIAL DOCTRINE FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAITH and one that needs to be AFFIRMED constantly.
Question: Where else do we find evidence of the REAL PRESENCE of Christ after the Resurrection?
Answer: In passages such as these:
Luke: 24:15-39: "While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.... And he said to them, 'O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?'... As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, 'Why are you troubled and why do questionings rise in your hearts. See my hands and my feet, that it is I MYSELF; HANDLE ME, and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have."
(So now, here are many things to observe: First of all Christ is CORPOREALLY PRESENT. This means HIS TRUE BODY BLOOD AND BONES. Not a Spirit.)
So what does this SIGNIFY to us Christians? This, that Christ's BODY IS UBIQUITOUS. That is, it fills ALL IN ALL as we have observed in other passages.
And also, that Christ can and does present HIS CORPOREAL PRESENCE wherever He wants and whenever He wants and that He does so in COMMUNION. He presents His Corporeal Presence in Communion in the appearance of Bread and Wine. NOT A SPIRITUAL PRESENCE ALONE, BUT A TRUE CORPOREAL PRESENCE. So that we too, just like the first Disciples and Apostles might handle Him not only Spiritually, but CORPOREALLY. That is, the REAL PRESENCE OF CHRIST!!! Amen.
Not to be worshipped in Communion. Not to be allowed to be a reenactment of the Crucifixion, as in Roman Catholicism, but rather to be accepted as a Sacrament of God's Grace and Forgiveness in Jesus Christ.
Some other observations:
In 1 John 5:8 it says: "There are Three Witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, these three agree."
Here he DOES NOT SAY that there is ONLY ONE WITNESS, but THREE.
So, what are these three? We have discussed this in another Bible Study, but we will review:
They are:
The Spirit, which is the Word, because in the theology of John these are the same.
The Water, which is Baptism.
The Blood, which is Communion
Note very carefully here, that the Blood is not referred to as some sort of "Spiritual Blood." I can understand a "Spiritual Body." But how can there be a Spiritual Blood? It is impossible. And this is another PROOF OF THE REAL PRESENCE IN COMMUNION. Not just a Spiritual Presence, but a REAL Presence which Christians eat and drink in a SUPERNATURAL WAY. Not carnally as the Capernaums thought but SUPERNATURALLY in Christ Jesus.
There is also a SPIRITUAL EATING OF THE WORD, through the Holy Spirit. But here, in COMMUNION, THIS IS NOT WHAT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT.
Hopefully, God willing we will continue this Study in the future.