Communion With the Christ:: The Communion Inclusion

"Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?" 1Cor: 10:16

There is one great sacrament which is shared by all Churches within the body of Christ, that of the Communion, Eucharist the Lord's Supper. This Holy Sacrament, as simple as it is, is a most profound observance within the body of Christ regardless of our denominational affiliation.

Introduced by Jesus

This Sacrament has the unique distinction of having been introduced by our Lord Jesus Christ himself, as he took the elements contained within the Old Covenant Passover and transformed them into the Communion, the New Covenant, Lord’s Supper. So, in one sense it was the “Last Supper of the Old Covenant and simultaneously the “First Supper of the New Covenant”.

"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

"Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matt: 26:27-29

The Communion Inclusion

The Communion of Jesus with its elevated meaning speaks to us regarding God's divine intention not just for the people of Israel but for all people. The New Covenant which Jesus brought and inaugurated is not just the commemoration of the freeing of the Children of Israel out of bondage of Egypt which the Passover Table had in view, Ex:12: The Communion was made to go far beyond the scope of Israel, though it proceeds out of Israel to in include peoples of all nations.

The very Creator God who called Abraham and made a Covenant of Promises to him and with him had in purpose which is the inclusion of all nations into fellowship with himself through the fulfillment of those promises contained within the Covenant which was made with Abraham. Gen:15

St. Paul in his Galatians Epistle identifies the fulfillment the these promises as being Jesus himself.

"The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ." Gal: 3:16

At The Table

Why does St. Paul address this fulfillment of the Covenant Promises to the Galatians? St. Paul begins to expound on this subject due to an incident which had occurred in the Galatian Church when St. Peter traveled there to minister among them for a time.

"For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group."Gal:2:12

St. Peter withdrew from these Gentile Christians at the arrival of the "men from James" who, we are told elsewhere, were from Jerusalem, for St. Peter knew that "to eat with the Gentiles" was disproved of in the tenants of the Law, or Torah.

The Law, or Torah, separated the people of Israel from the Gentiles. The Jews drew their identity and boasted of their identity in the Law or Torah in spite of the revelation through the Scriptures themselves that Gentiles would be included into fellowship with Israel's God through the very Messiah whom they longed for.

"And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious."Isa:11:10

St. Paul, quoting the Prophet Isaiah, about this very truth of a Messiah for the Gentiles, through which, they too are included apart from the Law or Torah.

"And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope." Rm: 15:12

This inclusion was to end the separation of Israel and the Gentiles which the Law enforced. God had even from the calling of Abraham, who himself was a Gentile, called out of a Gentile nation and received all the Promises of God by faith, a part of the Law or Torah. Gen:12

St. Paul tells us that it is by faith, not by any works of the Law or Torah that we are brought into the family of Abraham out of all nations and included in the promises through Jesus not by Law.

"Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”meaning one person, who is Christ. What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise." Gal: 3:15-18

"Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all" Rm: 4:16

Justified at the Table

This tells us that we are all now a part of the inclusion represented by the Communion sacrament, and are welcome to the table of fellowship. That we are all welcome at the table of the Lord if we will but come when invited through the Gospel.

What St. Peter had been doing, under the pressure of the "men from James”, in withdrawing away from the Gentile Christians was to say that these Gentiles were not "justified”, that is, in this context declared members of the family and somehow not quite included in to fellowship.

In this context St. Paul’s confrontation with St. Peter was telling St. Peter that these Gentiles were "justified”, that is, they have received the same status as members of the family, they are "justified" and are included.

St. Paul is not talking about the "moral or ethical" qualities, but rather, they are more than just positionally "justified” through faith of Jesus and his faithfulness. By St. Peter withdrawing away from theses Gentiles Christians he was reconstructing the dived which the Law or Torah had put between the Gentiles and the Jews.

All Through Jesus

What St. Paul, in his confrontation with his fellow Apostle, was declaring is that the Gentiles have the right to be at the table and be included in the Communion, that is the fellowship of the Church and family of God all through Jesus not by the Law, the Torah.

Addressing this inclusion St. Paul tells us, that those who have come to believe in Jesus are all included in the "Communion of the Saints”, meaning that, all, regardless of what nation they come from who accept Jesus as the Messiah they can now experience the inclusion that Jesus has accomplished for us all, if we will be freely receive it. It is all based upon Jesus not Law or Torah.

Jesus died to remove that separation by the Law, the Torah, so all people could be included. St. Paul explains this removal of the Law, the Torah, so all can be one and included in this Communion. The Cross of Jesus makes it possible for any who will but receive it all that God has decreed in eternity all that we should have, if will but accept it.

"Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."Eph:2:14-22

St. Paul was telling St. Peter that if you withdraw not accepting the Gentile you are putting up the barrier of the Law, Torah once again. Declaring the Gentiles are not included in the unique Communion in Christ, and unwelcome, for if it was through Law, Torah, then none could be included "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

Come to the table

St. Paul tells us that all who have come to accept the inclusion through Jesus are all apart and welcome to come to the table of the Lord and included, as one, in the Communion which Jesus alone has made possible.

The table in the ancient world represented a place, of fellowship, belonging, honor, provision , of being reckoned as being worthy, of being apart of the family for servants could not sit and partake of a meal with master of the household. All of this the cross of Jesus makes possible if we will but accept it.

This inclusion is not bound nor limited by time and space, but through Jesus, he being both God and humanity in one person, brings us into fellowship with all the people of God regardless as to when they or we live; this means, that wherever or when ever the Communion, Lord’s Supper or Eucharist is enjoined we all are present and there as part of the that “one loaf” of the body of Christ.

"Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf."1Cor:10:14-17

The simple sacrament of the Communion portrays to us and speaks of the inclusion which any and all can experience all through Jesus apart from the Law or Torah. In this Communion we find that we are all wanted and included as one with our Lord and one another.

Benediction: May we each and all give glory to God that he has made us all, through His Holy Son Jesus, members of the family and included in his Communion, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.