God And His Word - A Question And Answer Approach To Understanding The Bible

LESSON 4: THE SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION IN THE CHURCH 1. WHAT THE MEANING OF THE WORD "COMMUNION"? The dictionary definition of this word suggests: "Act of sharing; communication; mutual intercourse; unity, concord, agreement; participation." 2. WHAT IS THE SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION PRACTICED BY THE CHURCH? Although Christians enjoy communion with Christ through the Holy Spirit, there is a sacred act which each Christian can do WITH the Church which lifts "communion" to a higher level. The re-creation of "The Lord's Supper" in the New Testament Church through the use bread and "the fruit of the vine" brings Christ's living presence in a very special way. 3. VARIOUS TITLES ARE GIVEN TO THIS SACRAMENT IN THE CHURCH. It is called "The Communion," "Holy Communion," "The Sacrament," "The Lord's Supper," "The Eucharist." The names and procedure vary in the different churches. God gave Israel a series of feasts throughout their calendar year which commemorated great truths. The first feast of the year was called "The Passover" (Exodus 12), and brought a yearly reminder to God's people that it was through the blood and body of the lamb that Israel was delivered from Egyptian bondage. Jesus kept this feast with his disciples (in Jewish tradition) on the night before His crucifixion. He then transformed the Passover of the Old Covenant into the Communion of the New Covenant - making His own body and blood 4. WHERE DID THE COMMUNION ORIGINATE?

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