The Purpose and Meaning of Communion
In the night in which Christ was betrayed, He took of bread and a cup to implement a reminder for all those who would come to salvation after His resurrection.
The cup of eulogy that we eulogize, is it not the sharing in common with the blood of the Christ? The bread that we break, is it not the sharing in common with the body of the Christ? – 1 Corinthians 10:16.
The Christ is the new creation God made, having raised Christ from the dead, in which Jesus is the head and the Church is the body.
So that since someone is in Christ, a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new – 2 Corinthians 5:17.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many are one body, thus also is the Christ – 1 Corinthians 12:12.
and He put all things under His feet and gave to Him [the] head concerning all the Church, which is His body – Ephesians 1:22-23a.
When we partake in communion, it is a reminder that as part of the Church we are all in one body and under a new covenant. Therefore, we all have equality within the body of Christ and are to be treating each other accordingly, for we are all part of one. It is through this new creation (the Christ) that Jesus’ death and resurrection are imputed to us, and we are no longer condemned before God (Romans 8:1).
For I received from the Lord what I also handed over to you, that the lord Jesus in the night that He was betrayed took bread and having given thanks He broke it and said, “This is My body concerning you, do this in remembrance of Me”. – 1 Corinthians 11:23-24.
Likewise, also the cup after eating saying, “This cup is the new covenant by My blood. Do this as often as you drink in remembrance of Me.” – 1 Corinthians 11:25.
The taking of communion is an important reminder concerning how we are relating to other saints and the fact that we are under a new covenant. Are you treating saints as part of one body, not separating out the rich from the poor, clergy from the people, or any other division? Also, are we living according to the new covenant, a covenant of grace.
Through our Lord’s death and resurrection we are part of a new creation in which the sin nature residing in our flesh has been rendered ineffective, Satan cannot touch us, and the world system is indifferent to us, because we belong to God and are under a new covenant by which we can mature and live a life of freedom by using what God has given to us to work out His righteousness that we have in Christ.
For as often as we eat this bread and drink of this cup, we announce the death of the Lord until He comes.
Apostasy (ἀποστασία)
Apostasy means “to stand away from”. It is created by taking the Greek preposition ἀπὸ (from) and adding it to ἵστημι (to stand). Unfortunately, often times the English definition of this word is implied to Scripture, rather than its proper translated meaning.
This is especially prevalent in 2 Thessalonians where some imply that before the coming of Christ there will be a departure from the faith. However, what is being departed from must be defined by context because apostasy (ἀποστασία) only means “to stand away from”. The English definition adds “from the faith”. This is one of the issues that is caused by not translating a word. The transliterated word begins to take on a definition of its own that does not reflect the meaning of the original word. This new definition is then applied to the original, perverting its meaning.
Apostasy (ἀποστασία) is used for departing from a religious system, but what is being departed from is defined by the context. In Acts 21 James is speaking with Paul as he tries to outwit the Jews in Jerusalem because they have been told that Paul teaches the Jews among the Gentiles to forsake Moses.
And it has been reported to them concerning you, that you teach departure from Moses, all the Jews according to the Gentiles saying, do not circumcise their children nor walk in the customs – Acts 21:21.
However, apostasy is also used of departing from the earth. In 2 Thessalonians, Paul is writing of the day of the Lord when we will gather together with Him. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, where Paul gives more details on what happens at this time, our meeting is in the air.
Now I request you, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together concerning Him, to not be quickly shaken from the mind neither be troubled whether through spirit or through word or through a letter as through us, as that the day of the Lord has happened (ἐνίστημι – in standing). Do not let someone deceive you according to any manner, because unless the departure (ἀποστασία) comes first also the revelation of the man of lawlessness, the son of destruction. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3.
Until the Church meets Christ in the air, and therefore the departure from the earth happens, the man of lawlessness will not be revealed. Since the man of lawlessness begins the tribulation period with the signing of the seven-year peace covenant with Israel, the Church is removed from the earth before the tribulation period. The “apostasy” in context here in 2 Thessalonians is clearly the departure from the earth, not the faith.
Our Happy Hope
In the city of Thessalonica, questions arose about what happens when a person dies before Christ returns. To answer this question Paul explains what will happen at the return of Christ for His Church.
And I do not desire that you are ignorant, brethren, concerning the ones having fallen asleep, in order that you are not grieved just as also the grievers, the ones not having hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose, thus also the God will bring with Him the ones having fallen asleep through Jesus Christ. For this we say to you by a word of the Lord, that we, the ones living, the ones remaining unto the coming of the Lord, will never precede the ones having fallen asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-15).
We will not precede them because when our Lord comes the dead in Christ will rise first and we who are alive will be caught up together with them to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
In Paul’s next letter to the saints of Thessalonica, he explains the timing of the day of the Lord, which is our gathering together with Him (2 Thessalonians 2:1). It happens before the man of lawlessness is revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Since the signing of the peace covenant with Israel and the beast (Man of lawlessness) begins the tribulation period (Daniel 9:27), and the Church will be removed from the earth before the man of lawlessness is revealed, Scripture is clear that we will not go through the Tribulation. In addition, we of the Church are not appointed unto any wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Therefore, we are not to be looking at the tribulation period and allowing it to cause us grief, but the happy hope that is the return of our Lord for His Church.
It is God’s grace that child-trains us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live having a saved frame of mind and righteously and godly in this present malignantly evil age, while we look for the happy hope of the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11-13).
Let us keep this in mind as we go through the day. Christ will return and He will take His Church from the earth before the Tribulation period for through Him we have been saved from the wrath of God (Romans 5:9). So let us live today as if we are going to meet Him today, for the night is well spent, the day is at hand (Romans 13:12), and the day of our salvation is nearer than when we believed (Romans 13:11).
Perhaps Today!
2 Corinthians The Certainty We Have in Christ
Our Boast in the Day of the Lord, 2 Corinthians 1:14
Our Crown of Rejoicing, 1 Thessalonians 2:19
It is Not About the Crowns, it is About the People
Incorruptible Crown – for exercising self-control in all things, 1 Corinthians 9:25
Crown of Life – for enduring a temptation, James 1:12
Crown of Evangelism, Philippians 4:1
Crown of Righteousness – for those who love His appearing, 2 Timothy 4:8
Crown of Rejoicing – for Preaching the Gospel, 1 Thessalonians 2:19
Crown of Glory – For Pastors, 1 Peter 5:4
Not Boasting of Bad Conduct, 1 Corinthians 5:6
Not Boasting About Our Works for Salvation, Romans 4:2
Examining Your Own Works, Are They Worthy, Galatians 6:4
Holding Fast in the Word of Life, Philippians 2:16
Christ is our Confidence and Boast, Hebrews 3:6
Assisting In Paul’s Ministry, 2 Corinthians 1:15-16
Coming to them in Confidence, 2 Corinthians 1:15
They Have Turned again to Paul
A Second Grace
Paul giving them a benefit by working with them
Not another blessing, there is no add-on to the faith
Often Used to Imply the Holy Spirit is Given After Salvation
Misunderstanding of the Progression of the Gospel
First to the Jews, Acts 2:5
Speaking in Tongues Was a Sign to the Jews, Acts 2:8
God Showing Peter the Gentiles are Being Accepted along with the Jews, Acts 10:44-46
Then Unto the Samaritans – Who are Mixed Jews
Philip Preaching the Gospel in Samaria, Acts 8:5
God Performed Signs and Great Miracles Through Philip, Acts 8:13
They Believed but the Holy Spirit Had Not Yet Come Upon Them, Acts 8:14-16
The Apostles Laying Hands on the Samaritans, Acts 8:17
Lastly to the Gentiles
After the Rejection of the Gospel Paul Goes to the Gentiles, Acts 19:9
No Signs or Wonders, 1 Corinthians 1:22
Passing Through Them to Macedonia and then to Judea, 2 Corinthians 1:16
Certainty, 2 Corinthians 1:17-22
His Determination to Come to Them, 2 Corinthians 1:17
Not done lightly
A light load, Matthew 11:30
Light affliction, 2 Corinthians 4:17
Not Switching Between Yes and No
Paul’s Word the Them is Not with Uncertainty, 2 Corinthians 1:18
The Certainty of the Word Proclaimed, 2 Corinthians 1:19
The Promises of God are with Certainty, 2 Corinthians 1:20
Through His Promises in Christ We Have Certainty
Expressing a Proper Opinion of God through Us
The One Who Secures Us With You, 2 Corinthians 1:21
In Him our Faith is Established, Colossians 2:7
The Heart Should be Confirmed by Grace, Not Foods, Hebrews 13:9
Sealed by the Holy Spirit, 2 Corinthians 1:22
Happens at Salvation, Ephesians 1:13
Means We Belong to God, Revelation 7:3
We are Sealed Until the Day of Redemption, Ephesians 4:30
Earnest of Our Salvation
A Down Payment, or Guarantee for Final Completion, 2 Corinthians 5:4-7
Involves our Inheritance in Christ, Ephesians 1:14
Revelation Babylon and Those Who Take the Mark of the Beast
Declaring The Fall of Babylon, Revelation 14:8
Babylon the Great Has Fallen, Revelation 14:8
A Reference to False Religions
A Result of the Ecumenical System Setup to Bring the Man of Lawlessness to Power, Revelation 17:3
Babylon is the Center of all False Religions – She Has Many Daughters, Revelation 17:5
She is Not the Only Religion Upon the Earth At This Time
Other Nations Will Have Their Religious Systems, 2 Thessalonians 2:4
She Drinks of the Nations, Revelation 14:8
Nations is the object (τὰ ἔθνη)
She drank out (πεπότικεν) from the wine of her inner burning anger of her fornication
Spiritual Fornication
Drunk With the Blood of the Saints, Revelation 17:6
She is Destroyed by the Beast at Mid-Tribulation, Revelation 17:16
Warning To Those Who Worship the Beast, Revelation 14:9-11
Those Who Follow the Beast, Revelation 14:9
The Ones Worshiping the Beast
They Receive His Mark Upon Their Forehead or Hand
This is the Mark of His Name, Revelation 14:11
Implemented after the Resurrection of the Beast at Mid-Tribulation
The Image Makes All the Ones Dwelling Upon the Earth to Take a Mark, Revelation 13:16
This is a Visible Mark – Engraved, inscription, or branded formed by Humans, Acts 17:29
Used for Commerce, Revelation 13:17
They Will Drink of the Wine of the Full Burning Anger of God, Revelation 14:10
These are Ones Who Never Received the Truth, 2 Thessalonians 2:10
God Will Permit Them to be Thoroughly Deceived So they will Face Judgment, 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12
They will be Tormented in the Presence of the Holy Angels and the Lamb
They will reside in the lake of fire with the Beast and the False Prophet, Revelation 19:20
The lake of Fire is the Final Place of Judgment, Revelation 20:14
During the Millennial Kingdom All Who Scandalize Will Be Cast Into the Lake of Fire, Matthew 13:41-42
They will be the First to Reside in Gehenna
The Holy Angels are the Ones That Did Not Follow Satan, Revelation 12:4
Their Torment Will Not Stop, Revelation 14:11
They Chose to Worship the Beast
They Chose to Reject the Truth
They Knew God’s Wrath Was Being Poured Out
The Two Witnesses in Jerusalem
Angel – (ἄγγελος; מַלְאָךְ)
An angel is a spirit being; however, since the word “angel” actually means “messenger” it can also be used for humans. When it is not translated correctly, the meaning of a passage can be changed by implying it is a spirit being rather than a human messenger, such as with the seven churches in Revelation. Context clearly shows it is the human messenger (pastor) of the assembly being addressed, not an angel (spirit being).
Angels only appear to men in the likeness of men (Daniel 9:21, the man Gabriel). They appear in person, in visions (Daniel 8:15-16), or in dreams (Matthew 1:20, an angel appearing to Joseph in a dream).
John the Baptist is referred to as a messenger in Matthew 11:10, which is a quote of Malachi 3:1.
There are different ranks of angels: Archangel (Michael), who is the single highest-ranking angel (Jude 9), Thrones (Colossians 1:16), Dominions (Ephesians 1:21), Principalities (Ephesians 3:10), and Powers (Ephesians 6:12). Demons are from the lower ranks of the angels (Ephesians 6:12 Principalities and powers. The world powers of darkness and spiritual malignant evil in the heavens). They are angels who followed Lucifer (Satan) in his attempt to put his throne up in the third heaven with God (Isaiah 14:13; Revelation 12:4). Therefore, the word “angel” is not exclusively used to describe this type of spirit being.
For the sake of understanding a passage in Scripture, it is important to distinguish between whether a spirit being is referred to or a human, who both can act as messengers. In addition, Lucifer can also disguise himself as a messenger. Therefore, who the messenger is can also be important to identify.
The laws received by Israel were not from angels, but human messengers (Moses and the Prophets), Acts 7:53; Galatians 3:19.
Satan, who is a cherub, can disguise himself as a messenger of light, 2 Corinthians 11:14.
The Angel of Jehovah is the second person of the Godhead prior to His incarnation (Genesis 16:11). It is important to note that “The Angel of Jehovah” is different from “an angel of Jehovah”.
Often context will make it clear as to which type of a messenger is being referred to, spirit or human. Other times it requires a greater level of study to determine who the messenger is, such as in Acts 7:53 which is translated as “angel”; however, Scripture records God using men to bring the law to Israel not angels.