Tuesday 19 January 2016

Holy Communion : Optional or Compulsory?

One doctrine that most christian organizations uphold unanimously is the taking of Holy communion. In actual fact, Jesus Christ himself commanded it in the book of    
Luke 22:19-20 - And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake [it], and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
However, the eating of holy communion should not be abused nor taken with levity. The fact that it is mandatory to be a partaker of this age long practice, does not mean holy communion can be taken by just anybody. There are certain conditions believers must fulfill in order to eat the holy communion.
 Please note that when you eat the holy communion, you are sharing a part in the body of our Lord Jesus. There is no gainsaying that you are eating his body. Do you realize what that mean?
Matthew 26:26-28 - And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed [it], and brake [it], and gave [it] to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Also, it is interesting to note that eating the Holy communion is not optional at all, it is absolutely compulsory.
John 6:53 - Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Having said all this, every man has to critically examine himself/herself before attempting to take it.
1 Corinthians 11:28 - But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of [that] bread, and drink of [that] cup.
You are not expected to endanger your life if you know you are not spiritually fit to take the communion. In fact, you must have no sin in you to qualify as a candidate of holy communion. That sounds weird and impossible, isn't it? The works of flesh as described in Galatians 5:  19-21 must be far from you. Aside this,if you eat the bread or drink the blood unworthily, you shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord(1Corinth 11:27).
There is a further warning in Vs 29- 30 that many believers are weary and sickly, and some even die as a result of stubbornness. If you are hungry, stay back at home to eat and do not regard the holy communion as what you would use to whet your appetite.
The hope of every believer is to make heaven , however, you should not thwart your chances by taking the holy communion when you are not ready for it. Repent from every work of flesh so that you can benefit from being in fellowship with Jesus Christ.

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