The Breaking of Bread.

  • “Now they were steadfastly continuing in the teaching of the apostles, and [in the fellowship, in the breaking of the bread], and in the prayers.” Acts 2:42
  • “And all those having believed were together the same, and having all things in common… And every day they were steadfastly continuing with one accord in the temple and [breaking bread at each house. They were partaking of food with gladness] and sincerity of heart.” Acts 2:44,46

The claim the bread transforms to the Lord’s body and the wine transforms to the Lord’s blood is a GROSS misinterpretation of Scripture. The Lord NEVER said, the bread you bless I will turn into My flesh. But has set a remembrance to be held of His suffering and death through the bread and wine, in the course of our fellowship. “For as often as you may eat this bread and may drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He should come.” 1 Corinthians 11:26 That is to say, “Remember the price I have paid for you.”

Communion is fellowship: Acts record how the early church had all things in common, and that they broke bread house to house, and ate their food with gladness [with one accord]. In contrast when the Corinthians gathered together to eat, some ate ahead of others some got drunk, neither did they share their food with one another. So he rebukes them for not waiting for one another and for embarrassing those who do not have anything. So he says for this reason you come into judgment and have become weak and sick and some have died.

By not sharing with ones who lacked, knowing they are a part of Christ as much as they are, the Corinthians flaunted themselves before those Christ died to save. They gave an occasion for offence. In 1 Corinthians 8 and Romans 14:15,20, Paul teaches how a careless conduct, by not giving due regard could cause one who is weak in faith to be made to stumble so he says, “Thus sinning against the brothers and wounding their being weak conscience, you sin against Christ.” 1 Corinthians 8:12 This is what is meant by not discerning the body.

The Lord’s table is compared to the altar sacrifice. The sons of Eli, by their conduct and mistreatment of those who came to give sacrifice, so offended the people they despised the Lord’s offering and the Lord judged them for it [1 Samuel 3:17]. And the Corinthians because they did not discern the body of the Lord [the church], the believers they are sharing with He judged them for that fact. So he says when you come together wait for one another UNLESS you come to judgment. We ought to eat and drink in that respect, examining ourselves on how we are treating His body, His church and the manner of our conduct as we gather. Judging ourselves lest He holds us accountable.

The bread does NOT become His flesh and the wine His blood.

But He gives us the opportunity to celebrate Him, and in the affirmation of our faith we are strengthened. Even if we say, it is a point of contact for faith to be released, as the cloth that is taken from the body of Paul to heal the sick.

And God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons from his skin were brought to the ailing, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits left.”  Acts 8:11-12

It is God who works miracles, the cloth did not change. Paul through the manner of his life, walked in the Spirit and the abundance that is on him was taken to one who is in need. A cloth taken from another might not have had the same effect.  We are the Temple of God, the Spirit of God dwells in us, then in whose hand does the bread become more? Does the Spirit live our hands to the bread and return to our mouth by our own hands? Why then does the bread has to become more than it is? Faith in what He has done for us, it is not the cloth that healed the sick and it is not the bread nor the wine. Paul says, “let a man examine himself, and in this manner let him eat of the bread, and let him drink of the cup.” 1 Corinthians 11:28 He does NOT say, “let him eat the body and let him drink the blood.”

The point is fellowship, the Lord’s disciple were eating and drinking taking part in the Passover meal.  “Now as they were eating, Jesus, having taken bread and having blessed it, broke it, and having given it to the disciples, He said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” [Matthew 26:26, Mark.. 14:22] [And] “The cup likewise, after having supped, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is being poured out for you.” Luke 22:20 It is in the course of fellowship in sharing a meal, the Lord took a moment in breaking bread and drinking the cup in recognition of His suffering and death.  Paul and Luke record this statement, “ in remembrance.”

“The Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed, took bread, having given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise also the cup after having supped, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you might drink it, in remembrance of Me.”” 1 Corinthians 11: 23-25


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