Foundations of Faith: What Does It Mean to Be a Christian?Muestra

Communion

Just like with baptism, communion may be a term you’re vaguely familiar with, or perhaps this is the first time you’re hearing about it! Either way, let’s dive into what communion is and how we should participate in taking it. Communion is also referred to as The Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion, so you may see those being used interchangeably.

Before Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, He sat with His 12 disciples for Passover dinner. Let’s look at this account in Matthew 26:26-28:

“As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, 'Take this and eat it, for this is my body.'

And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, 'Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.'"

Today, believers practice taking communion as an act of obedience, remembrance, and honor of Jesus’ sacrifice.

“He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'"

-Luke 22:19

Communion consists of taking bread or a cracker as a holy representation of the body of Jesus broken (Matthew 26:26) and taking wine or juice that symbolizes the holy blood of Jesus that was spilled (Matthew 26:28).

Some churches practice The Lord’s Supper every week, while others do it once a month. There is no set time frame that anyone has to follow, as it is something Jesus called us to do in remembrance of His great sacrifice!

When you take communion, you are acknowledging that Jesus had to die for your sins to make a way for you to have eternal life with God. If you’re engaging in sinful living, it’s important to confess your sins to the Father and repent of (remember this means to turn away from) your sin before partaking so that you are not offensive to the holiness of what you’re honoring through communion.

In 1 Corinthians 11:27, Paul points out this necessity.

“So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.”