The Sacraments in Worship 1 - Holy Communion

In my first post on worship, I discussed how we are a word and sacrament church. Last post, I discussed the Word, so today I am beginning the discussion of sacraments. First of all, a sacrament is a means through which God gives us His grace through a material and earthly element that is connected with God’s Word. Using that definition, the two sacraments are Holy Communion and Baptism.  Today, I will discuss the sacrament of Holy Communion.

In Holy Communion, we believe teach and confess that we receive the actual body and blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in, with, and under the bread and wine. When we do this, we receive the forgiveness of our sins (Matthew 26:26–28; Mark 14:22–25; Luke 22:14–20; 1 Cor.11:25). This makes Communion a means through which God gives us His grace.

 

We also believe that those who commune together at the same altar are declaring publicly they are united in doctrine, or teaching. During Communion we have fellowship with God, but we also fellowship with each other, because those who eat together are one body (1 Cor. 10:17, Acts 2:42). This public profession of unity is a great and wonderful thing!

Since the distribution of Communion is so wonderful, why do we practice close, or closed, communion? Those that are not in doctrinal unity, are living in sin, or do not recognize the body and blood actually “eat and drink judgment on themselves”. Some even became weak, sick, or died from doing so (1 Cor.11:26–30). Therefore, denying some is merciful and done out of love for our neighbor, so as to not give them something that is harmful to them.

Lastly, it is clear from scripture and early church writings that Christians met around this sacred meal, and that they practiced communion whenever they got together. Since it is a means of forgiveness and grace, as well as a public profession of their faith, why would they not do it as often as possible? In fact, since the marks of the Church are the word and sacraments, we should partake of communion as often as the Gospel is preached. That is why I thank God that he instituted the sacrament!

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