7/2/2021 [Year of Knowing God’s Holiness 6] www.lifechurchmissions.com
The Holy Communion that All Saints Must Observe <Jn 6:55-56; 1 Co 11:23-32>
Prelude: When we talk about the holiness of God, at the end, we should talk about how God lives among the saints. <Ro 8:34> tells us that the Lord who was raised to life is at the right hand of God, but our Lord also told His disciples at the last supper, I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you <Jn 14:18>. Therefore, we need to ask how does the Lord who has ascended to heaven and seated on the right hand of the heavenly throne come amidst the saints? Of course, we will say that God is with us today anytime and anywhere through His Holy Spirit but is the Lord who is seated on the heavenly throne amidst us in substance, just like how He was among the disciples after He resurrected? Indeed, even though we who are living in the flesh cannot see God physically, we all hope to experience being in union with the Lord. Unless the Lord's presence can be truly experienced, we who are living in the flesh have no means to stay guarded and continue to see God's presence. Hence, the Lord has given His saints Holy Communion, instructing that whenever they partake of the bread and cup, they are able to experience the Lord among them through the work of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, the holy communion of the saints has such a great significance. Not only does it allow us who are living on earth to experience being united with our Lord in heaven, it also allows us to be joined and united with the brethren beside us. Actually, no believer who is living in the flesh is able to live by pure faith. His faith must be combined with the sensory experience of God's presence before his faith can be strengthened. This is like the two discouraged disciples who were on the road to Emmaus, the risen Lord came up, walked along with them and enlightened their hearts <Lk 24:13-27>. When the disciples were fearful of the persecution by the Jews and locked their doors, the Lord came among them and gave them peace <Jn 20:19-20>. Then, will the Lord still come near to us? Definitely. However, the way He is near us is unlike the way He appeared to His disciples after He resurrected, but through the Holy Communion which He has given us. When all saints gather to remember the Lord’s suffering and resurrection during Holy Communion, the holy and glorious Lord is near us. If we lack the spiritual experience in this area, our faith remains largely conceptual and lacks substance. Over time, we soon find that our faith remains at the rational level and lacks spiritual and emotional elements. We can imagine if a person only reads his father’s letters but rarely meets him in person, his understanding of his father will definitely be limited. Therefore, even though the Lord is seated at the right hand of the heavenly throne interceding for us, when and where is His real presence? That is whenever we partake of the bread and cup in remembrance of Him. However, many believers regard this as a ritual and even take matters of the Holy Communion lightly to the extent of not examining themselves and instead partake of the most holy elements with an unclean heart. Hence, they will suffer much losses in their spiritual life and over time, they will also suffer some consequences physically. That is because when they partake of the Holy Communion, they do it in an unworthy manner, and so are guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. This also tells us not to view lightly the presence of our holy Lord during the sacrament. Possibly, at most times, we very easily overlook the holiness of God but it is during the Holy Communion that the Lord’s holiness shines strongly on all the saints. Those who continue not to repent will hence suffer serious punishment at this time. Then, looking from another perspective, the Lord has given us this holy gift as a form of protection. It calls us believers living in this world to often examine ourselves. Indeed, believers living in this sinful world are easily numb because of sin. Some have already fallen into the trap of the enemy, some cannot pull themselves out from their carnal desires, some may have gradually assimilated with the culture of this world and lose the joy of being a Christian. However, during Holy Communion, we are brought to an union with the Lord, we have no choice but to cleanse our defiled conscience. Indeed, the Lord disciplines us during the Holy Communion lest we be condemned like the people of this world. He also allows us to receive the power from His presence during the Holy Communion so that we can persevere to the end in this world of suffering and be victorious. Lastly, the Holy Communion also calls all brethren to join together. This is because <1 Co 10:17> says, “Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.” Therefore, a person who truly partakes of the Holy Communion will not dislike gathering. He will also not look down on or judge the brethren beside him. This is because the unity of believers comes from receiving from one body of the Lord.
1. Churches have very different views on the sacrament of Holy Communion
1）The viewpoint of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholics believe in transubstantiation. “Transubstantiation” is the belief that during the Catholic mass, the substance of the Eucharistic elements (bread and wine) is transformed into the Lord’s body and blood. Thus, the bread and wine partook by the believers only seem like bread and wine in outward appearance (look like and feel like bread and wine), but in substance, they have already changed into the Lord’s body and blood. Hence, the Roman Catholics believe that during the Eucharist, such a miracle of the transformation of the Eucharistic elements does take place, and they claim that this fits in with what the Lord said, “My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.” <Jn 6:55>
2）The viewpoint of Lutheran Church and Anglican Church
The Lutheran Church and Anglican Church believe in consubstantiation. “Consubstantiation” means that the substance of Christ’s body and blood is present alongside the substance of the Eucharistic elements (bread and wine), instead of the Eucharistic elements transforming into the holy body of Christ. Thus, when we partake of the Holy Communion, we are partaking of the bread and wine, and at the same time, partaking of the holy body of Christ.
3）The viewpoint of theologian, Ulrich Zwingli
4）The viewpoint of theologian, Calvin, and many other reformed theologians
Calvin and other reformers rejected the transubstantiation view of the Roman Catholics, they also did not agree with the consubstantiation view of the Lutheran Church. That was not because they had particularly insistent views about the Holy Communion, but because they were very careful about Christology. Why was that so? Because Christ has both complete humanity and complete divinity at the same time. Of course, His divinity is present everywhere. However, His humanity (body) is currently present at the right hand of God’s throne, interceding for all saints. If His body (humanity) is also present concurrently in many places (example: in heaven, and also in the places where Holy Communion is being conducted), that is like making His humanity divine. Furthermore, during the partaking of the Holy Communion, if it is said that saints are practically eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking Jesus’ blood, then that is almost like denying the finished work of Christ once and for all on the cross. Thus, this seems to imply that whenever saints observe the Holy Communion, Christ has to once again break His body, or still has to shed blood. Due to these careful arguments, reformed theologians eventually did not really accept transubstantiation and consubstantiation. However, whether it is the Roman Catholics, or Lutherans, or reformers, they all believe that during the Holy Communion, Christ is indeed present with saints in a very real and strong sense. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, He brings saints before the presence of His humanity. Thus, Holy Communion cannot merely be viewed as a ritual, it indeed comes with supernatural experience. Therefore, with regard to the Holy Communion, Calvin faced two tensions. First, he must tell the Lutherans and those with them that although Christ is present in essence, saints are not eating His flesh and drinking His blood. However, to Ulrich Zwingli and those who followed him, Calvin told them that Christ is indeed present in essence but also in a real sense. When saints partake of the sacred elements and concentrate on thinking about the Lord’s cross, the Lord’s presence will manifest among the saints.
2. Why do churches have so much disputes regarding the Holy Communion?
1）Because the church values “life and worship”
Even though churches are always embroiled in many arguments concerning sacraments, this also shows that the churches deem the life and worship within the sacraments as very important. Indeed, we do not want to ritualistically conduct some sacraments. We all yearn to receive deeper spiritual experience through the sacraments, so that we can draw closer to God, and love fellow saints even more deeply in Christ. Indeed, our spiritual make-up not only comprises rationality, but also spirituality (such that we can believe in God), as well as, emotion (so that we can draw near to God). These are the needs of our entire life. However, we also know that because of these needs, we tend to interpret God’s word in a far-fetched manner, and over-rationalize our own experiences. Otherwise, we will go another extreme, which is to mystify the sacraments out of worry, thus only observe them like a ritual. In fact, the make-up of us humans comprises of spirit and body. When our body is engaged in a very holy ceremony, our spirit must have an image. If we still remember, when the resurrected Lord appeared to the two discouraged disciples on the road to Emmaus, He enlightened their hearts about what was said in the Scriptures concerning Himself. After that, when the Lord was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then they recognized Him. <Lk 24:30>. In fact, this move of the Lord must have made the disciples remember what the Lord had ever done with them. Actually, when we practically partake of the Holy Communion, the image of the Lord dying and resurrecting for us and that of Him being with His disciples, will surely appear in our hearts. It is also at this moment that we once again experience the peace, joy, gratitude, power, etc, of being in union with the Lord.
2）Some churches went the wrong direction in the Holy Communion in their attempt to seek certain life experiences through the sacrament
We who have spirituality all yearn to have spiritual experiences. Furthermore, we believe the Lord will not ask believers to do something which totally cannot edify us. But concerning this, some believers over-emphasize the effects of the sacrament or advocate the effects in a far-fetched way, thinking that as a result of practically partaking in the Lord’s body and precious blood during the sacrament, the sick body will surely be healed, the aging body can reduce its decay, or they will flourish in life and in their material possessions. In fact, the Bible does not promise any such experiences, but we do not deny that when a person experiences the real presence of God, he may have the possibility of receiving such blessings. Perhaps during the sacrament, as he ponders upon the Lord’s grace, the chains in his heart fall off, or because of his repentance, his body gets healed, all these can possibly happen. However, if we treat the Holy Communion as a form of magic which can remove sicknesses and bring about health, then that is a kind of mysticism. When people partake of the Holy Communion for this motive and get what they wanted, their situation later on will be worse than their former situation. Because they treat the sacred holy things as the means to satisfy their own selfish desires. This will surely lead to them being taken captive by the devil, such that they lose a clear heart and mind to understand God’s word, they will also not love all saints more deeply. Over time, because they eat and drink judgment on themselves during the Holy Communion (partake of the Holy Communion with their selfish desires), their bodies also gradually decay. Thus, we must be careful not to hold onto the wrong beliefs to gain the blessings we desire.
3）But we also cannot neglect the practical experience of being in union with the Lord during the Holy Communion
The Lord said in <Jn 6:55-56>, “For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.” Calvin said that during the Holy Communion, we are involved in “spiritual eating”, and as we eat and drink, Christ’s body comes into our midst through the power of the Holy Spirit. However, that is not His body descending from heaven, but we can ascend through the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. In other words, Christ’s descent does not happen on earth, but it occurs in heaven. That is not Christ coming down, but we going up. Through the Holy Communion, we are united with Christ who is seated at the right hand of Father God. Think about it, if it is in heaven, then doesn’t that surpass all typical things and worries on earth? Moreover, when we partake of the Holy Communion together with all saints, isn’t that also a union with Christ together with all the saints in heaven? Thus, we know that the Holy Communion is a sacred gift that Christ has given to saints. When we partake by faith, the power of the Holy Spirit will let us truly be fed by Christ’s body and blood. This is the bread of life received by eating the Lord’s flesh and drinking the Lord’s blood. Furthermore, when we partake of the Holy Communion, we are also at the same time joined together in love with all brethren. The conclusion is we love the Lord, as well as, brethren, and we do not bear grudges or resentment against one another. If we partake of the Holy Communion while having resentment or strife toward our brethren, that is eating and drinking judgment on ourselves.
3. How to partake of the Holy Communion in accordance with the Lord’s instructions?
1）Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, “do it in remembrance of me”
The way we remember our Lord and remember our loved ones who passed away is different. Our Lord is living today, and He is with us through the Holy Spirit. Thus, when we remember the Lord who died and resurrected for us, we are not merely remembering Him mentally, but we actively submit to the Lord who is with us. Therefore, the Holy Communion is to prepare us to receive the power of the Holy Spirit to submit to the Lord, but it is not the means for us to receive health and prosperity.
2）Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, “you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes”
Here, it says “proclaim”. Thus, whenever we partake of the Holy Communion, we are proclaiming to God, to the devil, and to the world our Lord’s death, as well as, our hope in His return. Thus, the Holy Communion is to set believers’ hearts apart, so they can go into this world under the ruler of the kingdom of the air, and be a witness of the Lord. On the contrary, after many believers partake of the Holy Communion, instead of going to the world to witness for Christ, they compromise with the world. Hence, we cannot partake of the Holy Communion with the wrong motives or with a ritualistic attitude, but whenever we partake of the Holy Communion, we should once again set ourselves apart because we have united with the holy Lord, so as to prepare ourselves to be His witnesses.
3）Do not eat and drink judgment on ourselves
Who are those who eat and drink judgment on themselves? First, they are non-believers. Those who have yet to believe in the Lord are still in sin, because they do not discern that this is the body of the Lord, so when they partake of the Holy Communion, it is like eating and drinking judgment on themselves. They did not partake of the Holy Communion by faith, and the Bible clearly says that everything that does not come from faith is sin <Ro 14:23>. Also, the Bible demands those who know that they are living in sin yet have not repented to examine themselves, then eat of the bread and drink from the cup. This verse does not demand that man must be worthy to partake of these holy elements before the Lord, because none is us is deserving. However, the Holy Communion is to bring us to examine ourselves, and what the Bible demands is “submission”, and what it hates is “wilfulness”. Perhaps we can walk out from certain transgressions, but during the sacrament when we come before the holy Lord, we must know that He demands that we present our sins before Him, and seek His mercy. If we partake of the Holy Communion while remaining stiff-necked, then over time, this sacrament is not beneficial to us, but instead, it will bring us harm. Therefore, Paul used the example of some who are weak and sick to warn those who are eating and drinking judgment on themselves. However, Paul also said that if we are being disciplined, then we will not be finally condemned with the world.
4）The frequency of observing the Holy Communion
The Bible does not clearly specify the frequency, but the Holy Communion is personally instructed by the Lord, telling us to do it in remembrance of Him. Therefore, believers cannot do away with Holy Communion. The reformers of faith valued this sacrament very much, Calvin suggested that every week when the word of God was being proclaimed, saints should come together to partake of the Lord’s bread and cup. Some denominations do it once a month, some do it once every three months. Because the Bible does not clearly indicate the frequency, different denominations are led by the Holy Spirit to set the frequency. In this matter, our church continues to make adjustments, from this year onwards, we will change from once every three months to once a month, and we will conduct this sacrament on the first week of that month. If we do not bear a superstitious heart and do not ritualize this, but purely observe this sacrament in accordance with the Bible’s instructions, then it will surely build up our spirituality.