Bible Study with the Cincotti's - Communion - 06/27/2021

 Today's Bible Study, Authored by Arthur Cincotti. 06/27/2021

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Communion

 

At face value we see, in the word “communion” two words

         common and union and is similarity to words such as:

         community, commune, communicate.

 

The Greek word is “koinonia” which can be translated, fellowship, distribution and contribution. It’s meaning is participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction.

 

It’s an interesting word in that it is not the word used to describe our, “union with Christ” Col. 2:10, or “unity of the faith” in Ep. 4:13

or “with one accord” Acts 2:46

 

The “communion of saints” is described, in Catholic Doctrine as, “the spiritual solidarity which binds together the faithful on earth, the souls in purgatory, and the saints in heaven in the organic unity of the same mystical body under Christ its head…”

It appears in the 5^th cen. version of the Apostles’ Creed.

 

It is also specifically defined as, “the service of Christian worship at which bread and wine are consecrated and shared.”

 

We see it used in this sense in I Cor. 10:16

         The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not      the communion of the body of Christ?

 

This is where we shall focus our attention for the balance of our study today.

 

 

 

 

Luke 22:14-23 records that Jesus institutes, what we call, “the Lords’ supper” or “communion”, by saying, vr. 19, “do this in remembrance of Me.”

 

This occurs at the last Passover, of which God instructed the children of Israel to “remember”.

 

Three meals mentioned in Scripture of covenant grace are:

         1) The Passover, which points ahead to a redeemer; Christ.

         2) The Lords Supper, a bloodless meal that points to the cross

         3) “The marriage supper of the Lamb” Rev. 19:9 anticipated.

 

Roman Catholic and Orthodox theology has turned this into something mystical where in the “elements” (the bread and wine) actually become the body and blood of Christ, (Transubstantiation)

 

In Lutheran  theology the elements become the body and blood of       Christ as soon as they mingle with our bodies.

 

II Cor 11:3 Paul says, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent          deceived Eve by he craftiness, so your minds may be     corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

 

Every aspect of our Christian Faith is designed to draw us, drive    us, and bind us into unity with Christ and with one another.

 

The meal is a popular fellowship motif. Consider the fellowship aspects of sharing a meal.

 

The violation occurred over a meal, Gen. 3:6, not surprising that    the restoration should involve a meal.

The power of remembrance, and of fellowship far outweigh some presumed miracle that happens. Jesus said in Mat. 15:17, “Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?