The Gospel of His Body and His Blood
View summary here If you were to try to summarize in a few words the entire Bible regarding faith and practice; how would you do it? Maybe a simple phrase like the following would do it for you: “Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” Someone might quote John 3:16. Some might say that this task is impossible. The entire Bible is too vast and diverse to summarize in just a few short sentences; it is impossible even to summarize its basic instructions for faith and practice. And furthermore, someone might object that summarizing the whole Bible has nothing to do with the Gospel which is the title of this chapter. Well, let’s start with one basic sentence, and let’s see where it leads us. (You people need to calm down!) SIN LEADS TO DEATH The above statement is certainly Biblical. Remember when God told Adam, “ but [... read more...]Summary of The Gospel of His Body and His Blood
In presenting this Gospel we begin with the following: SIN LEADS TO DEATH “Death” here is a large concept that includes all of the consequences of sin: Hell, the Second Death, boredom, loneliness, war, sickness, famine, poverty, the killing, stealing and destroying of the devil, shame and any other negative condition one can think of. Sin and Death are all that is wrong with this world and the human condition. “Sin” and “death” are the most Biblical and all-inclusive words to describe man’s fallen condition. The above statement completely and wholly sums up man’s problems. RIGHTEOUSNESS LEADS TO LIFE (BLESSINGS) SIN LEADS TO DEATH (CURSES) This second statement, “Righteousness leads to Life,” is an equally all-inclusive and dominant theme in the Bible. This theme sums up the Law, the Prophets, and Bible promises. It is the exact opposite of the first theme. Righteousness here means right living. Life here means blessing, nourishment, support and provision in every dimension of our [... read more...]The Unleavened Bread of Communion Symbolizes the Church of Jesus-Christ
“For we, though many, ARE one bread and one body, for we all partake of that one bread”
Every so often, I hear the assertion that the bread and cup of Communion, and the body and the blood, have the same meaning. This is absolutely false. The meanings for the body and blood are wonderfully complimentary but are not identical. In order to show some of their differences, I would like to use two very ridiculous examples. Please bear with me on these. Hopefully, these two examples will give the reader some understanding of the unique meanings of the bread and the cup: Example 1: Suppose I were to say to a Christian, “You are the blood of Christ. You are also the cup of Communion.” He would probably say back to me, “I am redeemed by the blood of Christ; I am covered with the blood and forgiven by the blood of Christ; but it makes no sense [... read more...]17 For we, though many, ARE one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. 1 Corinthians 10:17
6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
7 Therefore, purge out the old leaven, that you may BE A NEW LUMP, since you truly ARE unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
8 Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:6-84 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same FUNCTION,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us USE them; Romans 12:4-627 Now you ARE the body of Christ, and members individually. 1 Corinthians 12:27 (The entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 12 teaches that each member has his God given gifts and functions; and that the members need each other and their gifts and contributions. Read chapter 12 with the bread of Communion in mind.)
15 Do you not know that your BODIES are members of Christ?…
1 Corinthians 6:15a
5b “… a BODY You have prepared for Me.
7b ” … to DO Your will, O God.’ “
10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the BODY of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10:5-10 (Think of this scripture with the bread of Communion in mind)24 who Himself bore our sins in His own BODY on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness —-by whose stripes you were healed.
25 For you all were like sheep going astray, but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:24-25 (Think of this scripture with the bread of Communion in mind.)Baptism And The Unleavened Bread Of Communion Have Similar Meanings
I want to show in this article that the meaning underlying Baptism and the meaning of the unleavened bread of Communion are very similar. Baptism is ideally performed right near the point of conversion of the believer. The bread of Communion is eaten periodically throughout the believer’s life to edify him, and strengthen his faith. It could be accurately said that the unleavened bread of Communion takes the Baptismal theme or message and repeats it, thereby establishing it in the believer’s heart. The bread of Communion then expands upon the Baptismal theme by showing how it fits in with teaching on the Christian life, with teaching on the Kingdom of God, and with teaching on the Body of Christ (1Corinthians 10:17)which is the church of Jesus Christ. The bread of Communion along with the cup of Communion, also graphically show how there are two fundamental themes to Christ’s death: forgiveness for sins (the cup) and deliverance from sin (the bread, [... read more...]Baptism: Real Repentance and a Biblical View of Salvation
Baptism, like Communion, is a gift from God meant to help believers in Christ. For example, Baptism and Communion were used in scripture, and in teaching throughout the history of the Christian church, to correct and stand against false teachings. The symbolism involved in Baptism and Communion is nothing short of world changing; if these two symbols are correctly interpreted. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. It could also be said that an aptly chosen symbol is worth one hundred thousand words or more. Because of the inherent potency of these two sacraments or symbols, the devil has focused much of his deceptive powers, confusion, and intimidation, to keep people in the dark regarding their true meaning. Biblical Baptism involves the immersion of the new believer in water. The convert is then raised up after immersion. The apostle Paul in the book of Romans used the symbolism of Baptism to correct a major misconception [... read more...]37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,” Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:383 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4
Saved by Good Works or for The Purpose of Good Works?
Most Protestants have the correct understanding that a person’s good works will not save them, or get them to heaven. The phrase, “not saved by good works,” has rightfully become one of the rallying truths of the Protestant movement. But, I have personally heard many a Protestant present the gospel to an unbeliever by stating that salvation has nothing to do with good works. I have heard many a Protestant teacher disparage and diminish the importance of what people do in reference to their relationship with God. They say that we are not on a performance basis with God. I have heard many, many Protestant teachers promote their understanding of imputed righteousness to the point of flat out saying, “you can do whatever you please because God’s imputed righteousness through Christ saves you no matter what you do.” In fact, many Protestants believe that for those in Christ, God does not even see what they do; He only sees Jesus. [... read more...]
