The Bread of Life
God did not send a book. God sent His Son. And just as God did not send a book but His Son, so did He send His Son not just as a mere messenger but as the bread of life.
Communion is more than a memorial. It is participation in a feast, where the Church partakes of the bread of life and the blood of the new covenant.
The reason why Christian spiritual worship involves matter is because our God became flesh and gave Himself for the remission of our sins (Gal 1:4, Eph 1:7). This is because of our nature, God's nature, and the nature of Christ, who is fully man and fully God. The Apostle Peter talking about the promises of God stemming from His goodness and glory, says that through that call and revelation of the knowledge of God, we are partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).
"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:26-28)
According to Jesus' words, this is not an option, but a must.
“Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me." (John 6:53-57)
"This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” (John 6:58)
So He is referring to actual eating; and eating of not just as a shadow or representation or letter, but actual eating of the actual real substance.
Therefore although a mystery, partaking of the body and blood, through the bread and wine of communion truly is a participation not just mental (memory), emotional, but material and spiritual, or rather substantial.
Have you ever wondered why many partaking of the body and blood were dying in the Church because of their unworthy manner? Can it be because the bread and blood truly are of a divine substance?
"Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world." (1 Cor 11:27-32)
Without going into denominational debates regarding transubstantiation, it is evident from the scripture and basic truths of the Christian faith that the Lord's supper is an eternal feast that takes place in Heaven and on earth and we participate in it as the body of Christ on earth.
Although it is worthy to mention that Gnostic dualism is to blame for much of the confusion regarding this matter in the Church today, it is a too lengthy topic to discuss here. However, the issue at heart is not about the Eucharist or the bread and the wine, but the very nature of Christ, which is of utmost importance, not for the sake of mere doctrinal correctness, but for a deeper spirituality and relationship with God. That is the main drive I personally have in discussing this topic. My main aim is to help people come to a fuller revelation knowledge of the Son of God and enable the people of God to walk in the fullness of Him.
Communion is more than a memorial. It is participation in a feast, where the Church partakes of the bread of life and the blood of the new covenant.
The reason why Christian spiritual worship involves matter is because our God became flesh and gave Himself for the remission of our sins (Gal 1:4, Eph 1:7). This is because of our nature, God's nature, and the nature of Christ, who is fully man and fully God. The Apostle Peter talking about the promises of God stemming from His goodness and glory, says that through that call and revelation of the knowledge of God, we are partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).
"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:26-28)
According to Jesus' words, this is not an option, but a must.
“Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me." (John 6:53-57)
Furthermore, Jesus makes it clear that He is not talking metaphorically or symbolically; not just by stating that the bread and wine are truly His body and blood, but also by comparing it to the manna the people of Israel ATE and died in the desert.
"This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” (John 6:58)
So He is referring to actual eating; and eating of not just as a shadow or representation or letter, but actual eating of the actual real substance.
Therefore although a mystery, partaking of the body and blood, through the bread and wine of communion truly is a participation not just mental (memory), emotional, but material and spiritual, or rather substantial.
Have you ever wondered why many partaking of the body and blood were dying in the Church because of their unworthy manner? Can it be because the bread and blood truly are of a divine substance?
"Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world." (1 Cor 11:27-32)
Without going into denominational debates regarding transubstantiation, it is evident from the scripture and basic truths of the Christian faith that the Lord's supper is an eternal feast that takes place in Heaven and on earth and we participate in it as the body of Christ on earth.
Although it is worthy to mention that Gnostic dualism is to blame for much of the confusion regarding this matter in the Church today, it is a too lengthy topic to discuss here. However, the issue at heart is not about the Eucharist or the bread and the wine, but the very nature of Christ, which is of utmost importance, not for the sake of mere doctrinal correctness, but for a deeper spirituality and relationship with God. That is the main drive I personally have in discussing this topic. My main aim is to help people come to a fuller revelation knowledge of the Son of God and enable the people of God to walk in the fullness of Him.
"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (Heb 10:19-25)
I pray for the goodness, glory and power of God to be revealed in the body, not by having our focus on the bread and wine, but on Christ and Him crucified as a sacrifice for the atonement of mankind, without neglecting the full measure of His grace in the Church. Blessings!
I pray for the goodness, glory and power of God to be revealed in the body, not by having our focus on the bread and wine, but on Christ and Him crucified as a sacrifice for the atonement of mankind, without neglecting the full measure of His grace in the Church. Blessings!
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