Summary:
...To a traditionalist: The sacrament of the Lord's Supper; bread and wine. A rite, or, ceremony, regarded by some as the channel of the Spirit.
...To him that is spiritual: The Lord's Supper is a memorial: The breaking of bread; an act of recognition by the assembled company of true worshippers, in each taking thereof, to shew the Lord's death till he come again.
...Is
it not the communion, or, spiritual fellowship, of the body of
Christ? of which we are the members.
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the
works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish?
having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Jesus said, It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth
nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and
they are life. To him give all the prophets witness, that through
his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of
sins. For, While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell
on all them which heard the word.
Further reading:
(1) For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation, Heb0924.
(2) For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins, Heb1001-04.
(3) Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all, Heb1005-10.
(4) Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, 2Co0312-17.
(5) For they, Which followed after the law of righteousness,
have not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because
they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the
law. For they stumbled at
that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a
stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on
him shall not be ashamed, Rom0931-33.
(6) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, Tit0116.
(7) For the preaching of the cross is to them that
perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power
of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where
is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this
world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For
after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God,
it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that
believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after
wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock,
and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called,
both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom
of God, 1Co0118-24.
(8) And almost all things are by the law purged with blood;
and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore
necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be
purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better
sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy
places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but
into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest
entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the
world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to
put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed
unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was
once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look
for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the
very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which
they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto
perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because
that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience
of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again
made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood
of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he
cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest
not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and
sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo,
I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do
thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and
burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither
hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said
he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first,
that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified
through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes
the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this
man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat
down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till
his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath
perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy
Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,
saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their
minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I
remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no
more offering for sin, Heb0922-1018.
(9) And every priest (after the order of Aaron, Heb0711) standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man (high priest after the order of Melchisedec, Heb0711), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin, Heb1011-18.
(10) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries, Heb1019.
(11) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, Heb1028-31.
(12) Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need, Heb0414-16.
(13) We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate (have spiritual fellowship one with another, cf.1Jn0107) forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased, Heb1310-16.
(14) When the hour was come, he (Jesus) sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover (cf.Exo1201-14) with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you., Luk2214-20.
(15) I (Paul) 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: 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. 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. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 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. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body, 1Co1123-29. We, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another, Rom1205.
(16) For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit, 1Co1212,13.
(17) O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness, Gal0301-06.
(18) To him (Jesus Christ) give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word, Act1043,44.
(19) Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee
from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. The
cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the
blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not
the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one
bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread,
1Co1014-17.
(20) Purge out therefore the old leaven (the doctrine of the traditionalists, Mat1612), that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, 1Co0507.
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