Body of Christ

Some Thoughts on the Lord’s Supper

/ Christopher Terry / Leave a comment
  1. TransubstantiationThis view holds that the elements of the Lord’s Supper (bread and wine) actually become the body and blood of Christ. There is a moment when priests bless the elements of bread and wine upon which they transform into the body and blood of Christ.
  2. ConsubstantiationThis view holds that the elements of the Lord’s Supper (bread and wine) contain the body and blood of Christ. There is not a moment when the elements become the body and blood of Christ, they always contain them.
  3. Reformed Model

This view holds that the elements of the Lord’s Supper (bread and wine) provide a means of grace from God. They impart spiritual nourishment. Christ’s is present spiritually in a special way when the Lord’s Supper is celebrated. It is viewed as the sign of the New Covenant.

  1. MemorialThis view holds that the elements of the Lord’s Supper (bread and wine) are symbols which represent the body and blood of Christ (Luke 22:17-23; 1 Cor. 11:24-26). The elements never contain nor become the body or blood of Christ. There is no grace conveyed by partaking of the elements. The ordinance celebrates the sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 11:23-27). It acknowledges and celebrates spiritual union with Christ and with other members of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 10:16-22; 11:17-22). It declares the sacrificial death of Christ until He returns (1 Cor. 11:26; cf. Luke 22:18).

I will deal with refuting the Reformed Model of the Lord’s Supper. There is nothing in Scripture which describes the Lord’s Supper as the sign of the New Covenant. It appears that the Holy Spirit is the sign/seal of the New Covenant, not the Lord’s Supper (Ezek. 36:22-32; Rom. 8:9-11; Gal. 3:14; Eph. 1:13-14). There is nothing in Scripture which portrays the Lord’s Supper as a means of conveying grace to those who participate. Christ is the source of strength for all those who belong to Him, not participating in the Lord’s Supper (Eph. 1:18-21; 6:10; Col. 1:29). There is nothing in Scripture which describes the Lord’s Supper as a means of grace or spiritual nourishment. It is instead a reminder of the grace already received through faith in the gospel – death and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 1:13-14; 2:8-9). There is nothing in Scripture which describes Christ as spiritually present in a special way. Christ is present in the life of a believer through the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, not through the celebration of the Lord’s Supper (John 14:16-26; Rom. 8:9-11, 15-17).

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Disciple or Disinterested?

/ Christopher Terry / Leave a comment

– Are we prepared for the life altering path that Almighty God has prepared for us? For those that have placed their trust in the cross-work of Christ they have been adopted into the family of God. Those individuals together make up the body of Christ. This is a unique privilege for those known as Christ-followers to be a part of the universal body of Christ. But the question remains, are we prepared for the life altering path that Almighty God has prepared for us?
Those Christ followers in Acts 2 lived out the instructions of Jesus through the enablement of the Holy Spirit. The community of believers garnered a great deal of attentioni, though none of them pursued it. The body as a whole prioritized: learning God’s teaching through the apostles, fellowship (mutual encouragement), communion (Christ’s command being honored), and prayer (communication, which is the life line between God’s people and Himself). They continually devoted themselves to these very important matters. The social classes faded away (or at least poverty did for the time) because of the love of God being shared among the Christ followers. They maintained the unity of the Spirit (with one mind). They practiced hospitality (from house to house). They worshiped (praising God). They also multiplied because these believers exemplified Christ and shared the good news about Him (day by day).
– Do we desire Acts 2 living? It sounds pretty simplistic! Will we “buy in” if we can complicate it? It also sounds very outwardly focused. Will we want to “emulate it” if we can benefit more from it personally? It also sounds very successful. This we want to have. We want the numbers and the attention without all the other stuff that actually made it happen.
1) We don’t want God’s teaching – At least not if it will take a lot of time or effort on my part. Oh, and I don’t want to have to adjust my life to it. Give me something that will make me feel good (not something that will make me holy).
2) We don’t want fellowship – At least not the biblical kind. It takes a lot of timeand walking in the Spirit to fellowship. Also it really takes away from my time to gossip and criticize others (if I am practicing biblical fellowship).
3) We don’t want communion – It isn’t that exciting and to tell you the truth it kind of makes me fell bad. So why would I want to be a part of that, when it doesn’t help me? Oh, and another thing, usually they do it on Sunday night and I am too tired to go to church at that time of night.

4) We don’t want prayer – Prayer really takes a lot of time and I don’t really like anyone at church anway (at least not enough to pray for them). And the pastor is always asking us to pray for lost people! I don’t know any lost people and why should I care anyway, I’m going to heaven. And the pastor usually asks us to pray for spiritual growth. Are you kidding? That stuff usually hurts and I’m happy where I am at anyway.

This is the usual sentiment of most people claiming to be Christ followers. Anyone who is acquainted with the biblical text recognizes that this is not a biblical mindset. The church in America is possibly affected more by its culture, than the church has been affected since the Day of Pentecost. This is not for its benefit that this has happened. How can a church be separate from the world in its doctrinal statement, and yet be a clone in practice?

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