Only the Real Presence Demands Worthy Reception
1 Corinthians 11:27-29: Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.
St. Paul tells us that unworthy reception of Holy Communion is a sacrilege, indeed, it desecrates the real body and blood of Christ. It is the ultimate in hypocrisy. Such an assertion that the sacrament might bring damnation instead of salvation must be seriously considered. Catholics in mortal sin should not receive the sacrament until that time that they have repented and the sin is absolved. If Holy Communion were no more than bread and wine, this assertion from St. Paul would make NO sense. How can a piece of bread or a sip of wine damn you for all eternity? How could such a empty symbolic gesture desecrate Christ, himself? They could not, unless Catholics are right and the bread and wine are truly transformed into the body and blood of Christ.
posted by Father Joe Jenkins | 8:59 PM
1 Comments:
Again, let's compare Scripture with Scripture.
"And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God." (Mark 14:22-25
"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." (Matt. 26:26-28)
"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 he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body." (1 Cor. 11:23-29)
"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." (1 Cor. 12:13)
"......the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." (Eph. 1:22-23).
"Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet not henceforth know we him no more." (2 Cor. 5:16).
Paul gives the meaning of the "Lord's Supper,"or "Communion." It doesn't deal with the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. It is always a reference to the risen body of a living Lord.
The risen body of Jesus has no blood (1 Cor. 15:50; Luke 24:39).
This risen body is composed of people who are "members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones" (Eph. 5:30).
The body is his church, and the church is his "body"; the body is "flesh and bones," not "flesh and blood." This body is a body risen with a risen Saviour.
The "body" taken at communion is a risen body of believers who have been crucified, dead, buried, and risen with Christ (Rom. 6:1-6). Thus, Catholics would not only be eating Jesus as they claim, but all Christians as well!
The post-resurrection of the Lord's Supper is said to be a remembrance of Christ, showing His death "till he come" (1 Cor. 11:26)!
Therefore, the Lord's supper is to be repeated as a memorial, not as a sacrifice.
It says he drank the fruit of the vine, not wine.
Paul makes it clear that we are not occupied with an earthly Jew who sat at the table in Matt. 26. We know "no man after the flesh" (2 Cor. 5:16). The born again believer is not occupied with a piece of bread and some booze, trying to pretend that it's Jesus Christ's dead body. Our present preoccupation with Christ is with affections on things above, things which are unseen and eternal (Col. 3:1-4; 2 Cor. 4:16-18).
A man who doesn't discern the Lord's body is damned. (1 Cor. 11:29)
If a Christian doesn't discern what is the Lord's body, he eats and drinks damnation to himself every time he partakes of the Lord's supper.
Reposted for SANDY HOOPER
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