Communion is the most solemn and holy of the ordinances of the church. It is the sacred of the sacred. The holy of the holiest. But what does it mean? What do all the elements convey? A.W. Tozer had his opinion. He said “The communion table will not have ultimate meaning for us if we do not believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is literally present in the Body of Christ on earth.” ¹. Today we are going to look at some of the Bible words surrounding this most revered ceremony. We are going to look at Communion in simplest terms.

1 Corinthians 11:23-32 (KJV)
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 show the Lord’s death till he come. 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.

Simple Terms: Remembrance

DEFINITION: remembrance/ἀνάμνησις/anamnēsis – a reminder of something or to call to memory

• There are 2 ordinances that were left to the church
  • Water baptism
  • Communion
• Of the 2, communion singularly points to Jesus
• Jesus is the great separator
• Jesus is the great divider
• Jesus is the great difference maker
• Jesus is the great focal point
• Communion is not about remembering God the Father particularly
  • But you don’t get to fellowship with the Father without the Son
• Communion is not about the Holy Ghost
  • Though you don’t get the Son without the Spirit

Hebrews 1:1-2 (NASB)
1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

• These last days are about the Son and what He has to say.
• After the millennium, it is not going to be about what the Son has to say so much as what God the Father has to say.

1 Corinthians 15:24-28 (KJV)
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Simple Terms: Covenant

• Notice the phrase  ‘new covenant in my blood’
• Our celebration of communion is primarily ‘in memory of’ Jesus who established a new blood covenant to replace the old blood covenant.
• We have, in our Bible, an Old Testament or covenant and a New Testament of covenant.
• May I put you in memory of the fact that the ancient rite of blood covenanting was an eight step process?  You can see all 8 steps in the New Testament.
• Step One: Exchange Coats
  • Exchanging coats symbolized ‘All that I have is yours.’
  • This concept of “All that I have is yours” is found in Rom. 8:17
  • We are joint or fellow heirs with Christ. The inheritance of Jesus is our inheritance.
  • All that He has is ours.

Romans 8:17 (KJV)
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

• Step Two: Exchange Weapon Belts
  • Exchanging coats symbolized ‘All my strength is yours.’
  • Weapon belts were equally important as coats. Weapons belts were for war and protection.
  • There was no police force, FBI, CIA etc. in ancient Israel. What would a family or tribe do if it felt threatened? They would covenant with a stronger tribe. They would align themselves with strength.
  • The concept of ‘All my strength is yours’ is found in 2Cor. 12:9

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

• My strength is made perfect in weakness.
• When I am weak is an illusion. The truth is that at that exact moment, I am not weak. I am strong. Because all of Jesus strength is mine. His power comes to rest upon me.
• Exchanging weapons also means ‘Your enemies are my enemies.’
• Your adversary the devil is as a roaring lion…
• Because of the covenant that Jesus cut with God by His own blood, any adversary of yours is also the adversary of God’s.

1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

• Step Three: The Walk of Blood
  • The Walk of Blood symbolizes ‘May I be slain like this animal if I do not keep my promises.’
  • These blood promises were kept down to seven generations of men.
  • The concept of “The Blood Walk” is found in the New Testament in Matt. 24:35

Matthew 24:35 (KJV)
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

• Step Four: Swear By God
  • God is the third party witness of any covenant.
  • Swearing by God symbolized ‘May God hold me accountable if I fail to keep my part.’
• Step Five: The Flesh of Each Party Is Cut and Mingled
  • The life blood of the family is shed.
  • The Bible states that the life of the flesh is in the blood.
  • And without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Heb. 9:22).

Leviticus 17:11 (KJV)
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

• Step Six: The Exchange of Names
  • Each side traded names much like men and women do in the marriage ceremony.
  • Their names become one name.
  • Exchanging Names symbolized that both sides were now one flesh.

John 17:11 (KJV)
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

• Step Seven: The Covenant Meal
  • Both sides ate wine and bread together.
  • The Communion table is the New Testament counterpart. It symbolized friendship.
• Step Eight: Memorials Erected
  • To help you remember the terms of the covenant.
  • Sometimes these memorials were stones or altars erected.
• You can see from these eight steps some of the imagery connected to the Communion table we celebrate today.
• What is communion in simplest terms? It is a covenant meal. It is where believers are called to remember the terms of the covenant that Jesus cut with his own blood.

Simple Terms: Unworthily

• There is a proper manner and an improper manner to partake of communion.

DEFINITION: unworthily/ἀναξίως/anaxiōs – in an improper or inappropriate manner; careless manner ².

• What’s a proper manner to take Communion?
• What frame is our mind in when we take the elements to our lips? Several words come to mind. The first, reverence.
• The Kingdom of God is built on reverence and respect for God.
• When the day is spent, when all is said and filed away, God is still the Most High God.
• To understand reverence, you must go further.
• Respecting God is also respecting God’s creation, man.
• To respect another man, to regard the individual members of the body of Christ properly, know this.
• If you respect someone, you won’t lie about or to them.
• If you respect someone, you won’t gossip about them.
• If you respect someone, you curb your anger and put strife away.
• Another word that should garb our attention here is the word honor.
• Believers in Jesus must honor Jesus and His sacrifice for us.
• How do we honor Jesus sacrifice?
• The answer is compelling, believe in it and all that it means.
• Not only believe in it but appropriate all of its provisions for your life.

Simple Terms: Examine

DEFINITION: examine/δοκιμάζω/dokimazō – to judge as good, approve, regard as worthwhile or trustworthy.

• What is your judgment of yourself?
• Let a man judge himself as good, as clean and pure.
• Most times when people examine themselves, they are looking for the bad stuff. They are plowing their life trying to turnup something bad.
• The word examine does not mean that you should ask yourself, ‘What have I done wrong?’
• This word ‘examine’ means to judge as good.
• It means you look at your life through the eyes of the blood of Jesus.
• What if you are aware of sin in your life?
• Don’t wait until communion to get that right.
• Don’t allow yourself to stay in wrong doing.
• As soon as you mess up, fess up. Fix your failure with the Blood.
• Now, you can judge yourself as good because it is the blood that you are celebrating.
• I am clean because of the blood. I examine myself and the verdict is I am clean. I am approved. I am worthwhile in His sight.

Simple Terms: Damnation

DEFINITION: damnation/κρίμα/krima – judgment or verdict

• Damnation is a legal term.
• The scripture tells you what the judgment is.
• ‘For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep.’
• Notice the judgment is not hell.
• Many equate damnation and hell but it is not what is referenced in this verse.
• How do we know?
• Communion is a sacrament for believers.
• Hell is for unbelievers, not believers.

Simple Terms: Discerning

DEFINITION: discerning/διακρίνω/diakrinō – carefully evaluate

• If you don’t carefully evaluate the communion table, and appropriate it to your life you eat and drink a ‘verdict’ or judgement to your self.
• You really do not want any part with this ‘verdict’ business.
• It is not in your favor.
• The verdict comes, the judgement appears in your life, when you break the covenant and fail to appropriate the Blood.
• Let’s clarify here,because people get superstitious.
• People think, ‘if I don’t get partake then I’ll be alright. I won’t be in danger of the verdict.’
• Not true at all.
• You cannot continually sin and be successful. You will not prosper.

Proverbs 28:13 (KJV)
13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

• This is the same wrong thinking people have when they hear this statement; ‘Once you hear God’s Word you are responsible for it.’
• And so they reason, if I just don’t hear God’s Word then I’m okay. I am not responsible for what I don’t know.
• No, you are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. What you don’t know can ruin you.
• If you don’t partake, and you won’t repent, judgment is inevitable.
• You are in a blood covenant relationship everyday of your Christian experience.
• You are not just a covenant child of God on Communion Sunday.
• Take the time to look at yourself in quietness.

Simple Terms: Chastened

DEFINITION: chastened/παιδεύω/paideuō – instruct, train, or teach. This is a word used in raising children.

• God’s chastening is always to bring recovery of the person.
• God never chastens because of anger.
• It is never because he’s ticked off with you.
• It is always to bring you in line with his Word so that He can bless you.

Call to Action:

There is great joy in celebrating Communion. Look forward to it in your church. Allow it to have a special place in your heart. Partake of the elements, remembering the Covenant of grace and mercy that we walk all because of Jesus.

Question: What does Communion Sunday mean to you? Please share your comments in the comments section below.

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