OVERVIEW OF COMMUNION

By Dennis Schmidt 8/2011

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This paper discusses communion (Lord's Supper). The first communion occurred at a Passover Seder service during Jesus' last supper with his disciples. The early church practice communion in various ways and various times. All scriptures are from the King James' Bible version.

INDUCTIVE COMMENTS:

THEME:

Communion is a fellowship with other Christians and with Jesus in his atonement. The believer should prepare for the service by correcting himself first. He is to go back to the cross and remember what Christ has done for him.  He is to look forward to the soon return of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 11:24-26

PURPOSE:

The meaning and significance of communion is that the broken bread symbolizes Jesus body broken in death for the Christian. Likewise, the cup of wine symbolizes Jesus spilled blood on the cross for the Christian. These elements bear witness to the death of Christ until He returns. The Christian partakes of these elements to show oneness in fellowship with other Christians in Christ.

1) Memorial & remembrance of his life (New Covenant/Testament) and his death on the cross.

Luke 22:19

1 Corinthians 11:24-25

2) Shows the Lord's death until his (second coming) return.

1 Corinthians 11:26

3) Shows the churches oneness (fellowship) in Christ atonement.

1 Corinthians 10:17  

KEY VERSE:

Luke 22:17-20  

WHO: God written mostly by Bible authors Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Paul

TO WHOM: Elected Christians

WHAT: Communion is the partaken of Jesus body and blood to show His death on the cross for Christians oneness as a memorial until Jesus returns in His second coming.

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 

WHY:

1) Memorial & remembrance of his life (New Covenant/Testament) and his death on the cross.

Luke 22:19  

1 Corinthians 11:24-25

2) Shows the Lord's death until his (second coming) return.

1 Corinthians 11:26

WAY:

1 Corinthians 11:23-31  

WHEREAS: Christians should enjoy God’s love and live their life in praises and thanks.

WHERE: Heaven and earth

WHEN: Decided by each local church, but it should not become merely ritualistic without meaning. This could occur if it is a daily or weekly part of the service.

Daily (Acts 2:46), Weekly (Acts 20:7), as part of an agape (love or charity) feast (1 Corinthians 11:20-26, 2 Peter 2:13 & Jude 12), and yearly during the Passover Seder (Luke 22:7-20).

WHILE:

1 Corinthians 11:28-31  

PAPER OUTLINE:

I) COMMUNION'S OTHER NAMES:

II) SCRIPTURES ON COMMUNION:

III) MAJOR DOCTRINE VIEWS:

IV) RELIGIOUS STATEMENTS ABOUT COMMUNION:

V) HOW OFTEN TO TAKE:

VI) HOW TO PERFORM THE COMMUNION SERVICE:

VII) PREREQUISITES & CONSIDERATIONS:

VIII) CONCLUSION:

I) COMMUNION'S OTHER NAMES:

1) Communion (fellowship): Jesus fellowship in the body & blood.  This is the best name for the Lord's body and blood offering.

1 Corinthians 10:16

2) Break bread: The context shows its part of a religious service.

Acts 2:42  Scripture example of communion done on a weekly bases.

Acts 2:46 Scripture example of communion done on a daily bases.

Acts 20:7  Scripture example of communion done on a weekly bases.

3) Eucharist (To give thanks): Not a good name for service.

Matthew 26:27  Also see Mark 14:23, Luke 22:17 & Luke 22:19. All of these only discusses cup of wine.

1 Corinthians 11:24 This only discusses the bread.

4) Eulogia (Blessing): Not a good name. Only discusses cup.

1 Corinthians 10:16

5) Lord's Supper (Agape/Love/Charity): This is the full service in which communion is only part.  Also included in the Lord's Supper may be foot washing and Christian fellowship.

1 Corinthians 11:20

II) SCRIPTURES ON COMMUNION:

Matthew 26:26-29

Mark 14:22-25 

Luke 22:15-20  

Acts 2:46

Acts 20:7

1 Corinthians 10:16-17

1 Corinthians 11:20-31

2 Peter 2:13

Jude 1:12 

III) MAJOR DOCTRINE VIEWS: Various church doctrines on communion.

1) Transubstantiation: The substances become the real body & blood of Jesus (John 6:34-54 below).  This is the Roman Catholic doctrine. Jesus is continuously being sacrificed every time a Mass occurs.

2) Con-substantiation: The substances contain the real body & blood of Jesus. The Lutheran doctrine is similar to the Catholic view. Jesus death occurs again when the bread and wine enter the person.

Hebrews 10:12-14 Jesus died only once to pay for our sins.

3) Spiritual Presence: Spiritual presence in the bread & wine.

This is not found in the scripture. Communion is a spiritual event.

4) Memorial: Communion is a memorial remembrance of what Jesus done

IV) RELIGIOUS STATEMENTS ABOUT COMMUNION:

Sacrament: A Latin word for sacred used by Roman Catholic's (7 Sacraments) and Protestant's (2 Sacraments) of which communion is one of the sacraments.  The word is not in the scriptures.

Ordinance: Commandments of God.  Used by a number of churches.

Colossians 2:14

Colossians 2:20-22

Eat flesh & drink blood: Roman Catholic Transubstantiation.

John 6:51-58, 63  The words are spirit & life.

Communion taking for remission of sins:

Matthew 26:28  Only Jesus blood atones

V) HOW OFTEN TO TAKE: Decided by each local church, but it should not become merely ritualistic without meaning. This could occur if it is a daily or weekly part of the service.

Daily (Acts 2:46), Weekly (Acts 20:7), as part of an agape (love or charity) feast (1 Corinthians 11:20-26, 2 Peter 2:13 & Jude 12), and yearly during the Passover Seder (Luke 22:7-20).

VI) HOW TO PERFORM THE COMMUNION SERVICE:

1) As part of a love feast, special service, and during a Passover Seder.

2) Elements: Unleaven bread. Unleaven symbolizes sinlessness or purity. Use Red wine except for any who do not want to take wine. They may use graph juice. Red symbolizes blood given in the atonement.

Mark 14:25  Jesus at marriage supper will take of wine again.

Revelation 19:9  Communion will be given

VII) PREREQUISITES & CONSIDERATIONS:

1) Believer only

2) Self-examination.  First confessing ones sins (1 John 1:9).

1 Corinthians 11:27-28  

1 Corinthians 11:31-32  

3) Taking communion unworthy: God's judgments of chastisement (discipline), physical weakness, illness (sickness), and physical death could occur.

1 Corinthians 11:29-30  

VIII) CONCLUSION: Communion is a fellowship with other Christians and with Jesus in his atonement.  The believer should prepare for the service by correcting himself first.  He is to go back to the cross and remember what Christ has done for him.  He is to look forward to the soon return of Jesus.  The power in communion is doing what Jesus told us to do and our faith in Christ Jesus our Lord and God.

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