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What Is Communion?
Why Do Christians Observe Communion?
by Mary Fairchild
Unlike Baptism,
which is a one time event, Communion is a practice meant to be observed over
and over throughout the life of a Christian.
It is
a holy
time of worship when we corporately come together as one body to remember
and celebrate what Christ did for us.
Names Associated With Christian Communion
·
Holy
Communion
·
The
Sacrament of Communion
·
Bread and Wine (the Elements)
·
The
Body and Blood of Christ
·
The Lord’s Supper
·
The
Eucharist
Why Do Christians Observe Communion?
· We
observe Communion because the
Lord told us to. We are to obey His commands:
“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.’" 1 Corinthians 11:24 (NIV)
· In
observing Communion we are remembering
Christ and all that He has done for us in his life, death
and resurrection:
“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.’" 1 Corinthians 11:24 (NIV)
· When
observing Communion we take time to examine
ourselves:
“A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the
bread and drinks of the cup.” 1
Corinthians 11:28 (NIV)
· In
observing Communion we are proclaiming
His death until He comes. It is, then, a statement of faith:
“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26 (NIV)
· When
we observe Communion we show our participation
in the body of Christ. His life becomes our life and we
become members of each other:
“Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of
Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of
Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one
loaf.” 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (NIV)
3 Main Christian Views of Communion
· The
bread and the wine become the actual body and blood of Christ. The Catholic
term for this is Transubstantiation.
· The
bread and the wine are unchanged elements, but Christ's presence by faith is made spiritually real in and through
them.
· The
bread and the wine are unchanged elements, used as symbols, representing
Christ's body and blood, in remembrance of his enduring sacrifice.
Scriptures Associated with Communion:
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke
it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then
he took the cup, gave thanks and offered 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 (NIV)
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke
it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take it; this is my body.’ Then he
took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. ‘This
is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.’" Mark
14:22-24 (NIV)
“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them,
saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the
same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new
covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’" Luke
22:19-20 (NIV)
“Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a
participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a
participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are
many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.” 1
Corinthians 10:16-17 (NIV)
“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, after
supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do
this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this
bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.” 1
Corinthians 11:24-26 (NIV)
“Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, 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 him up at
the last day.’" John 6:53-54 (NIV)
Mary Fairchild
Christian
minister since 1988 with General Biblical Studies and Missions degrees
Full-time
writer and editor specializing in Christianity, Bible study, and Christian
living since 2005
Author
and general editor of "Stories of Calvary"
Experience
Mary
Fairchild has worked full time in Christian ministry since 1988. While in Bible
School, she worked for a major city church as the assistant to the dean of
Christian education. Next, Mary served on the foreign mission field in Brazil
from 1990-1994. Upon returning to the States, Mary became a pastoral assistant
and office manager for a large intercity church.
Mary
worked as the general editor on several Christian books and booklets for
Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg from 2006 until 2017. Recently, Mary joined the
team of writers for GotQuestions.org, where she provides responses to
questions related to the nature of God, the Scriptures, salvation, and
other spiritual topics.
Education
Mary
received a General Biblical Studies degree from an Interdenominational
Christian Training Center in Central Florida. She also holds a Missions degree
from Youth With A Mission Discipleship Training School.
Publications
"Stories
of Calvary" (2008, Winepress Publishing)
"Exposing
Samson" (General Editor, 2009, Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg)
Mary
Fairchild
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