Communion its frequency-covenant keeping

http://accordingtothebook.blogspot.com/2012/01/as-often-as-by-stan-butler-in-all-my.html

I will investigate your logic and theses but commonsense in the argumentatio seems to predominate using the prescription analogy for the covenant is the reality but used for the secondary purpose of weekly remembrance based on the creation cycle. Much of Our Lord's life coalesced with the Hebraic festivals and designedly so.They were new moon interphasing with agricultural seasons aligning with passover,and shavuoth, showing the reality of the foreshadowings of the law. Thank you for your insighful analysis.


Look at the word “often” as used in 1Corinthians 11:26 like this: You have a prescription filled and it says to take this medicine with water or food as often as you take it or when you take it. You then have to go to the directions to see how often the doctor wants you to take the pills. I believe the same applies to this verse, go to the directions given by the Holy Spirit on how often to “eat this bread and drink this cup.”

At the institution of Communion by our Lord, nothing is said of the frequency with which it was to be observed. Had nothing more been said or written, every congregation of believers would have been left to its own judgment as to the frequency of its observance. Most Christians claim to be silent where the Bible is silent and speak where it speaks. The Holy Spirit is not silent on this matter of when or how often. He did guide the apostles, and what they canonized in Scripture is our example to follow. That example is the first day of the week and nothing is said of any other day, only on “the first day of the week.” (Acts20:7)
Many churches claim that where the Scriptures are silent, there is liberty. Yet, in the matter of the observance of the Lord’s Supper, even though the Scriptures are not silent, they take liberties anyway. They seem to turn a deaf ear to the Scriptures when they include Communion in special services on days of the week other than Sunday such as Christmas Eve, Good Friday, etc.

Communion is Covenant keeping and Covenant renewal. Matthew 26:28; “This is my blood of the New Testament.” The Holy Spirit set it up as a seven-day covenant renewal. Almost all churches that I know of are not in the practice of baptizing more often than the example set forth in the Scriptures, so why would they want to blatantly observe the Lord’s Supper more often than the example we have to follow?

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http://accordingtothebook.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2011-01-01T00:00:00-05:00&updated-max=2012-01-01T00:00:00-05:00&max-results=17
The world at large does not apply the term “breaking bread” to eating today as they did in the first century church. Therefore, when seeing the term “breaking bread” used in the Scriptures, we must examine the context to determine when a common meal is being referenced or if the verse is speaking about the Lord’s Supper. Let’s look at the examples given in the Scriptures and put them in perspective.
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The world at large does not apply the term “breaking bread” to eating today as they did in the first century church. Therefore, when seeing the term “breaking bread” used in the Scriptures, we must examine the context to determine when a common meal is being referenced or if the verse is speaking about the Lord’s Supper. Let’s look at the examples given in the Scriptures and put them in perspective.

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When He met unnamed follower(s)(?) on the road to Emmaus, he appeared only as another person, then revaeled Himself as only He could on the breaking of Bread, I surmise the Holy Communion , a special way and chastised them for non belief in the prophecies from Moses onward as regards Himself and His sufferings. The breaking of the bread opened their eyes of recognition.





Why 1John1:7-9?


As I sat in the worship service this past Lord's Day preparing myself to participate in the body and blood of my Savior (1 Corinthians 10:16) by way of the Communion portion of the service, I was reading the passage of scripture found in 1John 1:7-9.


1John 1:7-9; (7) if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. (8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


“Why 1John 1:7-9 you may ask, for a passage to meditate on before taking Communion?” “What does this passage of Scripture have to do with Communion anyway?” Well, I believe it has everything to do with Communion. Allow me to explain my thoughts on this passage.


First off, Communion is not something I participate in to remember Jesus; I do so because I remember Him. For me, the Bible teaches that Communion is: 1) Covenant keeping (Luke 22:19; Jesus commanded, “This do”) and 2) Covenant renewal (John 6:56; “He that eateth (a continuing action) my flesh, and drinketh (also a continuing action) my blood dwelleth (also a continuing action) in me and I in Him”). By partaking every week, I’m telling Jesus that I want to continue in a Covenant relationship with Him and so I’m renewing that commitment I made when I was baptized into Christ, who is the New Covenant. So 1John 1:7-9 to me is steeped in Covenant, it is soaked in Covenant language, and it shouts Covenant in every word.


Why do I connect Covenant to Communion? That’s easy to understand and explain.


1) Jesus is the New Covenant, (Isaiah 42: 6 & 49:8) and 2) it is the blood of Jesus that is the blood of the New Covenant, (Matthew 26:28) and 3) His blood was shed for the forgiveness of my sins under the New Covenant, (Matthew 26:28) and 4) I must continually confess and repent of my sins to continually to be cleansed with His blood under this New Covenant. (Luke 13: 3&5) (1John 1:9) So, Communion is Covenant connected, or at least to the Covenant minded individual it is.


Here’s more: I feel that I would break the Covenant I entered into and was baptized into if I blatantly missed being at the Lord’s Table for any selfish earthly motives such as, 1) acting on the thought that I need a few extra winks of sleep on any given Lord’s Day, 2) on vacation and not feeling the need to concern myself with such spiritual matters, 3) I have company (house guests) and wouldn’t be a good host if I left them alone to go to church. Such willful actions on my part I feel would cause me to break fellowship with my Lord. For me, there are only two reasons to miss being around the Lord’s Table on the first day of each and every week: 1) Sickness, at which time I would have the bread and cup brought to me. Or 2) Being in a comatose state or dead. It’s just that important.


Let me put it this way and see if 1John 1:7-9 becomes any clearer. Using the Greek word, “koinonia” as translated from the Greek and used in the scriptures. 1Corinthians 10:16, a Communion Scripture, reads like this;


1) The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion (koinonia) of the blood of Christ? KJV


2) Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation (koinonia) in the blood of Christ? NIV


3) Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing (koinonia) in the blood of Christ? NASB


This same word (koinonia) is translated “fellowship” in 1John 1:7b.

Thus, this passage could read:

…we have fellowship with one another…

…we have a sharing with one another…

…we have communion with one another…

…we have a participation with one another…

And still be 100% the true word of God.


Thus here’s my thinking when I read 1John 1:7-9.


If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, (that’s pure Covenant terminology: “walking in the light”) we have Communion (koinonia) with one another, (and while doing so) the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, (claiming we’re perfect and have nothing to repent of or confess) we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (Jesus is the truth; John14:6) But…If we confess our sins, He is faithful (1Corinthians 1:9; God is faithful) and just (He is the Justifier; Romans 3:26) to forgive us our sins (Ephesians1:7; redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (simply a rewording of the “cleanseth us from all sin” in verse #7)


There’s a very good reason God has told us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. (Hebrews 10:25)

There’s a very good reason God calls it a sin to willfully do so. It’s in the next verse. (Hebrews 10:26)

It’s because when we do… we tread under foot the Son of God (Jesus’ body), count the blood of the covenant an unholy thing (Jesus’ blood), and do despite (insult) to the Holy Ghost, who prompts us to be there. (Hebrews 10:29)


In closing, I lovingly ask the question, “If we willfully ignore God on the Lord’s Day, and if we willfully show so little respect for the Lord’s Supper to willfully miss participating in it, do we think that the Almighty God of this entire universe just shrugs it off?

Or do we think that just maybe we have willfully broken fellowship with the One who is able to destroy both body and soul? (Matthew 10:28)

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31)


Written in love…please receive it in the same manner.


In Christ through baptism, remaining in Christ through the Lord’s Supper. (Romans 6:3) (Galatians 3:27) (John 6:56)


I wish to express my gratitude to Michael, a “brother in Covenant”, who is my corrective grammarian.



Posted by covnitkepr1 at 10:27 AM 55 comments
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Only one thing - the New Covenant, which is one of grace and love, quickly becomes the old covenant if we do not guard against becoming "legalistic". You must consider that, an emphasis on linking your monthly participation in Holy Communion with keeping the Covenant, is legalistic. If it is, then it is not the New Covenant, but the old. We are to act out of love, not compulsion (even internally) lest the act become ritual not life. We know that we are creeping close to compulsion once we codify why we do something (apart from love), and then apply that rationale to ourselves. It is only a matter of time before we begin to look at others who miss Holy Communion and judge their lack of Covenant Keeping. In love dear brother I am only saying, beware of legalism. Keep your covenant keeping pure and blameless.
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I have read your comment, my brother,and deeply have taken in what you have said. Legalism and the covenant are connected and the L-rd stated that He would fulfill and not abolish the Law as He was the Law. The law of the covenant was His to make and with a purpose and to be taken as written, and to be done with Love, part of the New Covenant. Love ad legalism are mutually complementary and not mutually exclusive.