IN MARK WE READ"" AND AS THEY WERE EATING IT ( THE PASSOVER), JESUS TOOK BREAD ; AND BLESSED IT AND BROKE IT, AND GAVE IT TO THEM AND SAID, "TAKE THIS IS MY BODY." AND HE TOOK A CUP AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS HE GAVE IT TO THEM, AND THEY ALL DRANK IT. AND HE SAID TO THEM, " THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE COVENANT," WHICH IS POURED OUT FOR MANY."
ST. PAUL SAYS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER:
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.?" (1 CORINTHIANS 10:16).
THOUGH RITUALS WHICH DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS USE AS THEY CELEBRATE THE LORD'S SUPPER ARE OFTEN SIMILAR, VIEWS CONCERNING WHAT THE WORSHIPPER RECEIVES WHEN HE OR SHE EATS THE BREAD AND DRINKS THE WINE DIFFER. THREE MAIN VIEWS PREVAIL WITHIN CHRISTENDOM CONCERNING WHAT THE COMMUNICANT RECEIVES.
1.) THE BREAD AND WINE ARE CHANGED.
SOME TEACH THAT DURING THE WORSHIP SERVICE, THE PRIEST, PASTOR, MINISTER, CHANGE THE BREAD AND WINE INTO THE BODY AND BLOOD OF OF JESUS CHRIST.. THOUGH THAT WHICH THE WORSHIPPER EATS AND DRINKS HAS ALL THE OUTWARD APPEARANCES OF BREAD AND WINE (ACCIDENS), IT IS NO LONGER BREAD AND WINE, BUT THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST (SUBSTANS). THIS PARTICULAR TEACHING IS CALLED "TRANSUBSTANTIATION."
2.) THE BREAD AND WINE ARE SYMBOLS
SOME TEACH THAT THE BREAD AND WINE (OFTEN GRAPE JUICE) SYMBOLS AND REMINDERS OF JESUS BODY AND BLOOD. IN THIS VIEW, THE BREAD "REPRESENTS" CHRIST'S ABSENT BODY, AND THE WINE "REPRESENTS" CHRIST'S ABSENT BLOOD.
3.) THE BREAD AND WINE ARE BEARERS OF CHRIST'S BODY AND BLOOD.
SOME TEACH THAT THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE WITH HOLY COMMUNION, THE BREAD REMAINS BREAD AND THE WINE REMAINS WINE. HOWEVER, TOGETHER WITH THE BREAD, CHRIST GIVES US HIS TRUE BODY, AND TOGETHER WITH THE WINE, HE GIVES US HIS TRUE BLOOD. EVEN SO, ONE COULD NOT TAKE ANY BREAD AND WINE USED IN A COMMUNION SERVICE AND FIND A LITERAL PORTION OF CHRIST'S BODY WITHIN THE WAFER, OR A DROP OF CHRIST'S BLOOD WITHIN THE WINE. THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST'S BODY AND BLOOD IS "REAL, BUT SPIRITUAL, SACRAMENTAL, AND A MYSTERY."
THE NEED FOR PREPARATION
IN 1 CORINTHIANS 11:27-29, PAUL WRITES:
" WHOEVER EATS THIS BREAD AND 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 OR WOMEN EXAMINE HIMSELF, HERSELF, AND SO EAT OF THE BREAD AND DRINK OF THE CUP. FOR ANYONE WHO EATS AND DRINKS WITHOUT DISCERNING THE BODY EATS AND DRINKS JUDGMENT UPON HIM OR HER SELF.
IN THIS PASSAGE, PAUL SAYS THAT A PERSON WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER SHOULD EXAMINE HIMSELF PRIOR TO DOING SO. HE POINTS OUT THAT HE WHO DOES NOT DO THIS RUNS THE RISK OF PARTICIPATING " IN AN UNWORTHY MANNER." HOW DO WE EXAMINE OURSELVES?
HOW DO WE DETERMINE OUR WORTHINESS TO ATTEND THE "LORD'S SUPPER?"
BY INCREASING OUR FERVENCY OF FAITH? BY TRYING TO OVERCOME TROUBLESOME SINS?
PAUL WORDS MUST BE UNDERSTOOD IN THE LIGHT OF THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THEY WERE WRITTEN. MEMBERS OF THE EARLY CHURCH USED TO GATHER TOGETHER FOR A COMMUNITY MEAL CALLED ("LOVE FEAST" AND CELEBRATE THE LORD'S). WHEN THE COMMUNITY MEAL WAS OVER. SOME MEMBERS OF THE CORINTHIAN CONGREGATION WERE ABUSING THE PRACTICE. THE RICH BROUGHT THEIR ABUNDANCE, SOUGHT THE FELLOWSHIP OF THEIR OWN KIND AND GORGED THEMSELVES. THE POOR WHO CAME TO THE OBSERVANCE BROUGHT NOTHING WITH THEM-BECAUSE THEY HAD NOTHING TO BRING-AND WERE LEFT TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR HUNGER. 1 CORINTHIANS 11: 17-22). PAUL REBUKED THE WEALTHY FOR THEIR HEARTLESS BEHAVIOR, THEIR NEGLECT OF THE NEEDY BROTHER.
PAUL EXPLAINS THE TRUTH CONCERNING THE INSTITUTION OF HIS HOLY SUPPER 1 CORINTHIANS (11:23-26). HE STATES THAT HE WHO PARTAKES OF IT LOOKS IN TWO DIRECTION: BACKWARDS TO CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION. AND FORWARD TO HIS COMING AGAIN.
LUTHER SAYS THAT A PERSON IS "TRULY WORTHY AND WELL PREPARED" TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LORD'S SUPPER WHO HAVE FAITH IN THE WORDS, " GIVEN AND SHED FOR YOU FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, " MATTHEW ( 6:26-28). THE LORD INVITES US TO SHARE IN HIS HOLY SUPPER TO CELEBRATE HIS RICH MERCY TOWARDS US. BECAUSE GOD HAS LAVISHED HIS KINDNESS ON US WE WILL WANT TO GO FORTH TO THANK AND PRAISE HIM BY SERVING OTHERS AS HE HAS SERVED US.
THE PERSON WHO ADOPTS AN INDIFFERENT ATTITUDE TOWARDS THIS DESIRED OUTCOME OF THE LORD'S SUPPER EATS AND DRINKS IN AN "UNWORTHY MANNER" HE FAILS TO TAKE HIS RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS OTHER MEMBERS OF "THE BODY." OF BELIEVERS SERIOUSLY. NOT THINKING OF THE HEAVENLY OUTCOME OF THE HEAVENLY MEAL. IN THE LORD'S SUPPER WE CELEBRATE THAT CHRIST HAS GIVEN HIMSELF FOR US, HAS FORGIVEN US, AND GIVES US ETERNAL FELLOWSHIP WITH HIMSELF. WE ARE MOVED TO RESPOND IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER. TOWARD THE CLOSE OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER, A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING IS USUALLY OFFERED. IN THE LORD'S SUPPER WE CELEBRATE THAT IN CHRIST WE ARE ALREADY PART OF THE HEAVENLY HOST. WE ASK GOD TO MOVE US TO PRACTICE FERVENT LOVE AND SERVICE TO ONE ANOTHER. WE NEED TO GIVE THIS MATTER SERIOUS THOUGHT, LEST WE REDUCE WORSHIP FORMS TO RITUALS DONE FOR THEIR OWN SAKE.
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