Christian Living

For This Is My Blood Of The New Testament, Which Is Shed For Many For The Remission Of Sins

Suggested Reading: Matthew 26:17-29

      Jesus and his disciples were preparing for Passover, one of the 4 main Jewish feasts, which was to be kept on the evening of the 14th day of the first month Nisan.It was kept in remembrance of the Lord's passing over the houses of the Israelites (Exodus 12:13) when the first born of all the Egyptians were destroyed¹¹.That same night an angel of the Lord passed by, and the houses marked with blood were spared the death of the first-born son and animal while those houses without blood experienced the death of the first-born son and animal. This event, the 12^th plague, caused Pharaoh to finally allow God’s people to leave Egypt.

      At Jesus’ last Passover celebration, he offered bread and wine to his disciples, saying that the bread was his body and the wine was his blood. The unleavened bread is analogous to Christ as the sacrificial lamb on the cross without spot or blemish, and the wine represents his blood atonement for the remission/forgiveness/pardon for sin.

      When Jesus said to his disciples eat the bread for it is my body, was he saying that it would become his literal flesh, or was he saying that it would symbolize (represent) his sacrifice of suffering for us on the cross? And, when spoke of the wine, was he saying that the wine would literally become his blood, or that it would symbolize what is was shed for, that being for the remission of sins?

      And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. (Matthew 26:19, 26-29)

At Communion, Are The Elements Of Bread And Wine Changed Into Christ’s Literal Body And Blood?

At Communion, Are The Elements Of Bread And Wine Changed Into Christ’s Literal Body And Blood?

•  No


•  The bread symbolized Jesus as the sacrificial lamb on the cross without spot or blemish, suffering in mankind’s place, both physically and spiritually.


•  The wine symbolized Christ’s blood, which was the ransom paid to God the Father for the release of mankind from being a prisoner to the debt of sin, and for the forgiveness (the wiping away; erasing the record of the debt; to cancel a debt) of the sins of the whole world.


• Yes                                          


• The bread is changed into Christ’s literal body at communion.


• The wine is changed into Christ’s literal blood at communion.

This Do In Remembrance Of Me

Suggested Reading: Luke 22:7-20

      At the last supper, Jesus told his disciples that he would not eat the Passover again until that of which the Passover is a type was fulfilled by his death, through which the kingdom of God, or heaven, is established among men¹².  After which he gave them the bread and wine and told them to continue this tradition in remembrance of him.

      And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (Luke 22:15-19)

At Communion, Are The Elements Of Bread And Wine Changed Into Christ’s Body And Blood?

At Communion, Are The Elements Of Bread And Wine Changed Into Christ’s Body And Blood?

•  No


•  When Jesus said, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me, he meant that the bread represented the sufferings in his body, both physically and spiritually.


•  To continue to break bread and drink wine in remembrance of him means to recall what he accomplished for us on the cross—i.e. redemption (to no longer be a prisoner to the debt of sin; to let one go free) through his blood (the payment to divine justice for our sin) and the forgiveness (the wiping away; erasing the record of the debt; to cancel a debt) of sins.  


•  Yes


•  When Jesus said, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me, he meant the bread would be changed into his literal body at communion.


•  When a person partakes of the literal bread and wine in remembrance of him, they will become more and more transformed into Christ.

He That Believeth On Me, Out Of His Belly Shall Flow Rivers Of Living Water

Suggested Reading: John 7:2-53

      Jesus attended the feast of Tabernacles (of Weeks), which lasted for 8 days and was celebrated immediately after the harvest of corn, wine, and oil, near the end of September and the beginning of October. The name of the feast came from tents that were erected around the temple, public places, courts, gardens, and on the flat roofs of houses. The Jews lived in them during the eight days to commemorate the 40 years their ancestors lived in the wilderness in booths (Leviticus 23:43).

      As the feast began, all of the people would proceed to cut down branches from palm trees, willow, and myrtle, and tie them together. After which they would carry these arrangements with them when they entered the synagogue where at times they would pray and at other times they would walk around the altar singing Hosanna.

      On the 7^th day of the feast, they would walk around the altar seven times (the Hosanna Rabba).

      On the 8^th day, a priest would draw water from the pool at Siloam, place it in a golden vessel that contained wine, and then pour it out over the morning sacrifice as the people sang.

      On the last day of this particular feast, Jesus stood and declared loudly that whosoever believed in Him would have rivers of living water flowing out of their belly, not meaning what he said to be taken literally but speaking of the Holy Spirit who would come inside and indwell after: his work on the cross was completed, he rose again after three days, he had ascended into heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father. This indwelling of the Holy Spirit occurred for the first time on the Day of Pentecost, when those who believed in Him, his disciples, received the Holy Spirit. The indwelling Spirit and the “rivers of living water” refer to the Holy Spirit satisfying the inner person enabling a believer to bear fruit.

      In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37-39)

At Communion, Are The Elements Of Bread And Wine Changed Into Christ’s Literal Body And Blood?

At Communion, Are The Elements Of Bread And Wine Changed Into Christ’s Literal Body And Blood?

•  No


•  Jesus said belief in Him would result in the reception of another member of the trinity, the Holy Spirit, who would indwell them. The “rivers of living water” coming out of the belly are figurative of the Spirit satisfying the inner person, enabling them to bear fruit.


•  Bearing fruit is not determined by how often a believer partakes of the communion elements, but once the Holy Spirit has come in to indwell, it has do with Him assisting the believer by means of His ministry to bear fruit.

•  Yes


•  The communion elements are changed into the literal body and blood of Christ, causing the child of God to be in union with Him, withheld from evil, strengthened to do well, and to go forward to renewed growth in virtues and graces¹³.


•  According to Catholic doctrine the receiving of the Holy Spirit occurs at Confirmation, when the bishop lays hands on the person who has previously become a child of God through water baptism.

~   It is believed that when a person is baptized in water the

     Holy Spirit shows up and participates and causes the

     person to become born again, a child of God. However,

     He is not received at this time.

~   Confirmation is when the Holy Spirit comes into the

     believer’s life to indwell and strengthen them so that

     they can confess boldly the name of Christ.  

•  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)

That Ye Abstain From Meats Offered To Idols, And From Blood

Suggested Reading: Acts 15:1-30

      The elders and apostles of the Jerusalem church sent Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas to read a letter to the churches of Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia; informing them that Gentile believers do not need to be circumcised in order to be saved.

      The background to this was that there were many Jews who believed that before a Gentile can become saved they must first become circumcised which would signify their conversion to Judaism. Once circumcised they would be obligated to keep the entire Mosaic Law. If they followed in these steps, then their subsequent belief in Jesus would secure their salvation.

      The conclusion by the elders and apostles was that a Gentile does not have to be circumcised and subsequently keep the law of Moses in order to be saved. However, there were some conditions which the Gentiles should abide by. These are that they should abstain from: eating meats offered to idols, fornication, things strangled, blood. It is pretty obvious that the warning to not engage in fornication would inhibit their spiritual growth. But why were they asked to abstain from: eating meats offered to idols, things strangled, blood?

      Eating meats offered to idols had to do with the association of eating meats that were involved with animal sacrificial offerings in regards to pagan worship. As far as not eating things strangled (animals killed by strangulation whose meat contained blood) and blood (drinking blood) these were dietary restrictions for the Jews under the Mosaic Law.

      The reasons for these prohibitions was because the early church would meet together for group meals, called agape feasts, initially daily and then later on to once a week, at which time food was shared amongst one another. Some of the Jewish Christians were still abiding by the dietary Mosaic laws, which prohibited them from consuming blood whether in meat or drink. When the Gentiles brought food to the feast they were not to bring meat offered to idols, meat with blood in it, and any drink with blood in it. Meat that was drained of blood would be considered acceptable.

      That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. (Acts 15:29)

At Communion, Are The Elements Of Bread And Wine Changed Into Christ’s Body And Blood?

At Communion, Are The Elements Of Bread And Wine Changed Into Christ’s Body And Blood?

•  No


•  Even though many Jews became Christians, they continued to observe aspects of the Mosaic dietary laws, two of which were they were prohibited from eating meat with blood in it and of partaking of any drink with blood in it.


•  When the Jews and Gentiles ate together at the Agape Feast, the Gentiles would make sure that if they brought meat it would not have been offered to idols, the blood would be drained out of it, and if they brought drink it would not contain any blood.


•  If communion was celebrated and the Jews were told that the wine would become Christ’s literal blood, which they would have to digest, they would have not only walked away from participating in it, but they probably would have left the church.  

•  Yes


•  Even though many Jews became Christians, they continued to observe aspects of the Mosaic dietary laws, two of which is that they were prohibited from eating meat with blood in it and they prohibited from drinking blood.


•  When the Jews and Gentiles ate together at the Agape Feast, the Gentiles would make sure that if they brought meat it would not have been offered to idols, the blood would be drained out of it, and if they brought drink it would not contain any blood.


•  If communion was celebrated the Jewish Christians would be told that even though the wine became blood they wouldn’t be able to taste or notice it. Because they couldn’t see or taste it this would be considered as an acceptable practice for them to engage in.

If You Attend A Heathen Feast, Whatever Is Set Before You Eat, Asking No Questions

Suggested Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:14-33 

      The issue of eating meats previously offered in pagan sacrifices is revisited here because many believers took issue with fellow believers who knowingly ate such meat. Paul’s recommendation was to ask no questions when buying meat in the market place or when attending a feast held by unbelievers where meat was offered. However, if you were told in advance that the meat had been used in pagan sacrifices the believer should abstain because by eating knowingly they would, in effect, be participating in the worship of the demons to which the sacrifices were offered in pagan rituals.

      Just as Jews who ate sacrificial meat as an indication of sharing in worship, so the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the wine in the Lord’s Supper at communion is an indication of a sharing or joint participation in the worship of Christ.

      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? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. …Israel…are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? (1 Corinthians 10:16-18)    

At Communion, Are The Elements Of Bread And Wine Changed Into Christ’s Body And Blood?

At Communion, Are The Elements Of Bread And Wine Changed Into Christ’s Body And Blood?

•  No


•  Communion is a sharing or joint participation of the church in the worship of Christ.


•  Yes


•  Communion is a sharing or joint participation of the church in the worship of Christ by means of the bread and wine changing into His literal body and blood.

  When You Come Together, It Is Not To Eat The Lord’s Supper:

Suggested Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:18-34

      The Corinthians held agape or love feasts, which involved church members coming together for a social meal on the first day of the week. These feasts were intended for mutual relief or charity to the poor. Apparently when the richer members of the church came, they ate their own food, consumed enough wine to get drunk, and left nothing for the poor to eat or drink. When the Lord’s Supper was to be observed following the consumption of the meal the poor looked upon it with physical motivation (satisfying one’s hunger and thirst) rather than spiritual motivation. The solution to the problem was to wait until all had arrived and received their food and drink before any consumption was to take place.

      Further instruction was brought forth stating that before anyone partakes of the Lord’s Supper, they should examine their motives or state of mind, otherwise, the result could be discipline from the Lord which could involve the loss of physical strength through disease or even physical death.

      For as often as they ate of the bread and drank of the wine, they evidenced a visible sermon that proclaimed "the message of the Cross", that is, the reality of the Lord's death, and also the certainty of His return (until He comes¹⁴).                       

      When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. (1 Corinthians 11:20-21; 23-30; 33)

At Communion, Are The Elements Of Bread And Wine Changed Into Christ’s Body And Blood?

At Communion, Are The Elements Of Bread And Wine Changed Into Christ’s Body And Blood?

•  No


•  Partaking in the breaking of the bread and drinking of the wine is a memorial or proclamation of the reality of the Lord's death, and also the certainty of His return (until He comes).


•  Yes


•  Partaking in the breaking of the bread and drinking of the wine is a proclamation of the reality of the Lord’s death by changing into His literal body and blood.