Meanings of Communion

A. An antitype of the Jewish Passover:

1 Corinthians 5:7-8 (Amplified Bible) - "Purge (clean out) the old leaven that you may be fresh (new) dough, still uncontaminated [as you are], for Christ, our Passover [Lamb], has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of vice and malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened [bread] of purity (nobility, honor) and sincerity and [unadulterated] truth."

B. A memorial:

1 Corinthians 11:24-25 (Amplified Bible) - "And when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and said, Take, eat. This is My body, which is broken for you. Do this to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance. Similarly when supper was ended, He took the cup also, saying, This cup is the new covenant [ratified and established] in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink [it], to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance."

C. A proclamation:

1 Corinthians 11:26 (Amplified Bible) - "For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord's death until He comes [again]."

D. An anticipation:

1 Corinthians 11:26 (Amplified Bible) - "until He comes [again]."

E. A fellowship, sharing, communion:

Acts 2:42 (Amplified Bible) - "And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [including the Lord's Supper] and prayers."

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (Amplified Bible) - "The cup of blessing [of wine at the Lord's Supper] upon which we ask [God's] blessing, does it not mean [that in drinking it] we participate in and share a fellowship (a communion) in the blood of Christ (the Messiah)? The bread which we break, does it not mean [that in eating it] we participate in and share a fellowship (a communion) in the body of Christ? For we [no matter how] numerous we are, are one body, because we all partake of the one Bread [the One Whom the communion bread represents]."

Manner of Partaking

A. We can partake in an unworthy manner:

1 Corinthians 11:27 (Amplified Bible) - "So then whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is unworthy [of Him] will be guilty of [profaning and sinning against] the body and blood of the Lord."

1. Examine self

2 Corinthians 13:5 (Amplified Bible) - "Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [[a]not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you--unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?"

1.1 Are your thoughts on Christ or some activity after assembly?

1.2 Is there unrepented sin in yourlife?

1.3 Have you obeyed Christ through baptism in order to become a Christian?

B. A time of reverence

Hebrews 12:28 (Amplified Bible) - "Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe;"

C. A time of meditation:

1. Look backward to the cross

2. Look forward to Christ's return

3. Look inward to examine your own heart & faith

4. Look outward to those you are sharing the family meal with, God & Christians