The Sacraments – Communion
Communion (1 Corinthians 11:24-27; Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:15-20; John 6:48-58)
This is the second fundamental sacrament often celebrated by the local church. How is it celebrated, and who serves it, its frequency, its location, setting and the precise elements served, vary widely across denominations. Accordingly, scripture allows great freedom in how churches or individuals celebrate communion. The rite is based on the last supper of Christ, when after the Passover meal, He broke the bread and poured wine to remember His sacrifice upon the cross for sins and our salvation at His coming again. Christ further explains in the Gospel of John that we must eat His flesh and drink is blood to be saved. This passage also appears reflected in the communion meal.
Meaning of the elements
- The wine– The wine represents Christ’s blood spilt on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. By drinking the wine we remember that He is a fully sufficient sacrifice for our sins as a pure and perfect savior.
- The bread– This represents His broken body on the cross by which took the punishment for our sins. By eating the bread, we remember His substitutionary death for us and His glorious resurrection and our accompanying regeneration to new life, access to God and salvation (John 6:48-58; Hebrews 10:19-20).
These two elements are typed in the Old Testament, the wine by the sprinkling of blood on the mercy seat at the Day of Atonement for the coverage of sins. The bread is typed by the manna given daily by God that sustained the Israelites in the desert.
Although some denominations believe (i.e., Catholic, transubstantiation) that our Savior is actually Himself in the elements of the communion meal there is no evidence in scripture to indicate this.
God graciously has given us a beautiful remembrance of his benevolent death upon the cross and life-giving resurrection for our salvation in the rite of communion. We should remember His death and resurrection frequently in gratitude and responding service (Philippians 2:12; Romans 12:1).
William C. Stewart, MD
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