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NASB | 1 Corinthians 11:29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 11:29 For anyone who eats and drinks [without solemn reverence and heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ], eats and drinks a judgment on himself if he does not recognize the body [of Christ]. |
Subject: communion: symbolic or something more? |
Bible Note: Jesus' words in verse 25 of 1Corinthians 11 says that "this cup is the new covenant in my blood". It is with the cup of Communion that he establishes his covenant. As for the why he must be present... the incarnation is what makes Christianity different from any other religion. The idea that God took on the form of a man, not that man was a god. We believe in the incarnation. God said in the presence of the human Jesus "this is my som in whom I am well pleased". The fact that Jesus declared the bread to be his body and the wine to be his blood while still present in no way prevents it from being literally true. God took on human form and Christ takes on the form of bread and wine when offered in the context of Holy Communion. The check is worthless until it is signed by the owner of the money. Then the money takes on the form of the check. The chekc doesn't actually become gold which is in it self just another "token". But effectually the money takes on the form of the check. Likewise the sacrificial body and blood of Christ Jesus takes on the form of bread and wine. When we partake of it in a worhy manner, that is discerning the body of the Lord, we then are united as the body of Christ. If we say that the bread and wine are merely symbols then we are saying that they have no effect other than what we bring to it. There is no forgiveness of sins apart from our own contribution. But if we recognize that the body and blood are truely present to us in the form of bread and wine, the forgiveness of sins is already accomplished. Paul says in 1Corinthians 10:16 This cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a distribution of the blood of Christ. This bread that we break, is it not a distribution of the body of Christ. |