Communion – (Gr. Koinonia) Fellowship, Association, Participation

John 6:48-53
48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This
is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am
the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for
ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52 The
Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of
man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my
blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and
my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and
I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even
he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did
eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

•        Receiving Jesus Christ as Lord is the foundation for the communion meal
•        “Eating” and “drinking” His flesh and blood are spiritual concepts – not literal
•        Taking communion does not bring about salvation


1Corinthians 10:16
16 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? 17 For we being many are
one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

•        Communion is a symbol of our relationship with Christ, that we are “partakers” of
Him


Matt. 26:26-28
26 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. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and
gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is
shed for many for the remission of sins.

1Cor. 11:23-26
23 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: 24 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. 25
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.  26 For as often as
ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

•        Jesus established the practice of communion
•        The bread and cup are only symbolic of His body and blood
•        Communion is conducted to remember and declare His sacrifice in anticipation of
His return

Acts 2:39-47
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added
unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine
and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

•        The early church, including new believers continued to participate in communion


1Cor11:20-22
20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. 21 For in
eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame
them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

1Cor 11:27-32
27 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. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of
that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and
drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak
and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be
judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be
condemned with the world.

•        Taking communion with disregard for it’s significance and meaning is a sin
•        Communion is an act of worship, not a time for selfish indulgence
The Meaning Of Communion (Lord's Supper) - January 21, 2010
Love of Christ
Fellowship Ministries
Love of Christ
Fellowship Ministries

"Where we endeavor to learn His word,
live by His principles and love His people"