Communion of Saints

The communion of saints

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Communion is fellowship. Communion of the saints is fellowship of the saints. Fellowship is what being a Christian is really all about. This is the case, even if there are other issues that need to be addressed for us to reach a stage where we will never sin again. Jesus never sinned. If we walk in His footsteps then we can be sure we will not sin. Only walking in the footsteps of Jesus is not as easy as it may sound. This is not because Jesus is no longer on Earth in the flesh anymore. This is because we have an adversary to overcome and have been conditioned by the sinfulness of the world. Regardless of this, we are informed that walking as Jesus walked is not an impossible ideal. Whoever keeps Jesus’ word is perfected in Him with the evidence being every person who does this will walk as He walked (1 John 2:5-6). However, it needs to be understood that this is impossible if we do not have communion with saints.

In the book of Hebrews we read the following:

For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them: ‘After those days,’ says the Lord, ‘I will put my laws on their heart, I will also write them on their mind;’” then he says, “I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.”

Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.  Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having a great priest over God’s house, let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,  let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful. Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries. (Heb. 10:14:27)

The implication is that by not meeting together and celebrating the love of God in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, we are more liable to find ourselves back in the fellowship of complete darkness. To illustrate this,  consider what happens when we take a hot coal and remove it from the fire; it loses its flame very quickly. Many observers over the years have noticed this is what happens to Christians who cease having fellowship and celebrating the communion of the saints around the table of the Lord. They lose their zeal for God; their passion for doing good works and bringing glory to God; their desire for habitual holiness and their distaste for sin. The result is there is the possibility that they may even lose their hope of salvation altogether.

Those who do not believe that it is possible to lose our hope of salvation, do not accept what the aforementioned Scriptures from the book of Hebrews state. Only we know that this being the written word of God that bears witness to Jesus Christ also bears witness to how we can be saved and the reasons why we will not be saved. If we willfully sin after having come to a knowledge of the truth, then we spurn the blood of Jesus and there is no longer atonement available for us. By having been in fellowship with other believers and partaking of communion in accordance to the will of God, we are acknowledging that we identify with the Body of Christ and not the world. This way we are in the world, but not part of the world.

When we become Christians by acknowledging that Jesus rose from the dead and that He is our Lord and Savior, it is only natural that we would seek out other people who have had the same experience. The Apostle Paul writes:

 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love; being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all. But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.

He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ; 16 from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:1-17)

In this passage, the apostle says there is one hope, one faith, one baptism, one body, one Spirit, one Lord, and One God who is Father of us all. When we are baptized into the body of Christ and the Spirit of God is Lord, there is freedom to express our faith in the hope of eternal redemption of our own physical bodies. When it comes to the idea of oneness in the body of Christ, many outsiders are baffled at the lack of unity that is found among people claiming to be Christians. There are Christians, who like to say that we all have the same hope, if our faith is in the Lord, because by the same Spirit we are all baptized into the one invisible and universal body and acknowledge God as our Heavenly Father. There are some Christians, who claim that schisms among Christians exist because we use different bibles and not just the King James Version. There are some Christians who say that the differences of opinion exist because we do not fellowship in the Apostle’s teachings.

The idea that the Body of Christ is invisible is plausible because there are many people from the different nations of the Earth who are Christians. The geographical and historical and generational aspects of the makeup of the Body of Christ prevent members gathering together in one place. This is why the body is an invisible body. Unfortunately, this explanation does not satisfactorily account for the many different denominations within Christendom. Indeed the denominational differences and differing views of doctrines and reasons for gathering together among community groups are vast. These differences range from views on the divinity of Jesus and how salvation is effected to end-times theology and manuscript issues.

Since there were schisms among those using the King James Version of the Bible, before and after modern versions of the Scriptures were printed, we know Bible translations are not the reason for division.

There may be some merit about having fellowship in the Apostle’s Doctrine. For if all Christians were to fellowship in the Apostle’s Doctrine then there would be no need for schisms. However, since we contend not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities and spiritual hosts of wickedness in Heavenly places, this could be the reason why the body of Christ is not a visible unity on Earth in the present day. Initially, when the body of Christ was first formed on the day of Pentecost, not long after, as we read the book of Acts, in Jerusalem the people were of one mind as they had fellowship in the Apostle’s doctrine (Acts 2:42).

From the book of Revelation, however, we learn there were at least seven churches that formed the body of Christ in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). These churches were from different locations and battled different issues. We also know from the book of Acts that there were churches at other locations and that the seven churches in Asia Minor were not the only churches. If fact Jesus told His disciples that beginning with Jerusalem, then Samaria, they were to spread the gospel to the ends of the Earth before He returns. This suggests that every tribe of people needs to hear the gospel at least once before Jesus returns to receive His Body, the spiritual Eve, the Bride of Christ, in marriage. This gives credence to the idea that the body of Christ is invisible and universal, regardless of doctrinal, cultural and philosophical differences.

There is one difficulty with all these differences being acceptable and conforming to the plan of God. This is highlighted by the fact we are urged to attain to the unity of the faith and not be swayed by different doctrines and philosophical ideas about what is right or wrong and true or false. The only way division and schisms can occur is when people refuse to have communion in the Apostle’s doctrine in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. While we might talk about fellowship with one another, true fellowship only occurs when people are walking in the light, and if we have teachings that are not in accord with the whole counsel of God, as expressed by the Apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus, then darkness has a hold.

The reason there are so many different groups is because we all have free will. This means we can choose to believe whatever we want to believe. Contrary to those who claim we have no freedom of choice because God does the choosing for us, we all know we can accept or reject whatever we like, whenever we want to, if we so desire. Admittedly, there is not much we can do about preventing death. We can do things regarding health and preventing illness, just as we can choose to do good or evil. Likewise, we either choose to seek the truth or we do not. We can be like certain terrorists and believe that there are rewards of vestal virgins in Heaven if any one of us decides to become a suicide bomber, or we can acknowledge this idea for what it is: vain and unrealistic.

If we desire the truth, then we would seek out the will of God. The only way we can know the will of God is to be in communion with Him. When we read the First Epistle of John, written by the Apostle John, we learn this:

That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life  (and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us);  that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ. And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled.

This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and don’t tell the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:1-7)

What this clearly tells us is that if we are to have fellowship with our Heavenly Father and walk in the light, we need to walk in fellowship with other believers, who are walking in the light themselves. We cannot walk in darkness and be in fellowship with the Father. We need to walk in the light and have fellowship with other believers in order for the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ to cleanse us from all sins. It is one thing to believe that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin once and for all, and another to demonstrate this by meeting to have communion with the saints. The book of Hebrews warns against not fellowshipping with others for good reason. For many want to be of an independent spirit and not participate in fellowship with other saints. Tragically, these souls often end up with a root of bitterness, against which the book of Hebrews also warns; for we read:

Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it; lest there be any sexually immoral person, or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal. For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears. (Hebrews 12:14-17)

In order to obtain and remain in the blessing, we need to seek the will of God and remain in it. If we desire to become a spiritual gypsy and wander from congregation to congregation looking for teachings that suit our own liking rather than acknowledging the truth, we will become bitter. We will miss out on the blessings of God and when we realize what we could have had, bitterness will spring forth. In fact, every spiritual gypsy; every person that I have known who has refused to commit to a body; has produced elements of bitterness within his or her conversation about life that otherwise could have been avoided, if the person concerned had been willing to commit to fellowshipping around the communion table at some congregation. Admittedly, not all congregations are walking in the ways of the Lord in the same manner as we all ought, but some fellowship is better than no fellowship; a little light is better than no light at all.

One of the problems that arises from time to time occurs when people who have no anointing from the Lord God, or are not appointed by Him, take up positions of leadership. Leaders are called to be servants of God’s people not overseers. While the Bible says that we are to obey our leaders, it does not say that we are to be lorded over by our leaders. Leaders are distinguished by their ability to serve. When a leader is no longer serving the congregation then explanations are required as to why this is occurring. For as we read in the book of Ephesians, there are different types of leadership gifts given to the members of the body of Christ to build us up for the work of ministry. These gifts are for service and the work of ministry. The body of Christ does not function like a corporation where people are hired and fired on the whim of a manager, executive or owner. Therefore, while fellowship is important, it is also important that leadership encourages and serves the membership of a congregation to become overcomers and not just punching bags for letting out personal frustrations.

One man I knew was a minister of a Methodist Church. He got excited about Billy Graham when he was in town, but then his life began to flag in zeal. When the charismatic movement came his way, he began to have success praying for people and church membership began to grow. This led to a promotion within the denomination to a more prominent and larger church, which had only a few people in attendance. While this man took over the role of minister of this congregation, the church membership increased and everything was looking good—at least, for a while. But this man also found a way of diverting money into his family’s coffers, as well as making most of the largesse on offer in more legitimate ways. One day I was in his office and saw him bullying one of his deacons, who was close to tears. Not too long after that, what he thought he had, he lost, like a star falling in the night.

The devil always tries to get in and destroy what God is attempting to do in the lives of believers who start to look earnestly towards Jesus. We see this if we look at the many people who head up Christian organizations around the world. The one way, and possibly the only way, we as Christians can prevent the enemy getting the better of us is by having fellowship with other believers around the table of the Lord. If we are not in fellowship with other believers and committed to having fellowship on a regular basis we cannot grow as Christians and neither can we exercise our gifts. We need fellowship to be enriched and we need commitment to fulfill our purpose as a member of the body of Christ.

Fellowship does not have to be in a mega-church where thousands of people attend. Fellowship occurs where two or more people meet and participate in communion. Jesus said that when two people come together in His name, He is in their midst.

One day I was invited to attend the confirmation rite of a girl at a Roman Catholic church. I accepted the invitation. The church building was large and from the outside appeared to be modeled on the temple of Solomon. Inside, the church looked empty, even though there were a few hundred people present.  I was seated near the centre of the church in the middle row. When the people went up to receive the communion bread from the priests they formed a long line and this took some ten minutes before the dispensing of the bread ended. What surprised me was after about ten people had taken the bread, I saw a figure of what appeared to look like our Lord Jesus standing where the people were receiving the communion bread. This figure was dressed in white, and had dark brown hair falling down upon his shoulders and appeared to be about two hundred feet tall, rising through the A-framed roof.

The Roman Catholic Church teach that when the priests pray over the wine, this turns into the literal blood of Jesus. When they pray over the bread this becomes the literal body of Jesus. This teaching is known as transubstantiation. Opposed to this view is the Protestant view that the tokens of the bread and the wine are merely symbolic representations of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Among some protestants, there is a view that Jesus is not present when the believers meet together to partake of communion. On the other hand, consubstantiation is the protestant view that Jesus is present when believers partake of the bread and the wine.

When I saw that vision of Jesus at the Catholic Church, the words in the book of Matthew flowed into my head. “Where two or three gather in my name, there I am in the midst.” The Bible teaches that if two or three meet together for communion in the name of Jesus, our precious Lord is present.

(Some people find it difficult to believe that people in the Roman Catholic Church could be saved, but the Bible teaches that God overlooks our ignorance. —Acts 17:30-31; Romans 3:21-26—This also includes the ignorant laity within the Roman Catholic Church who actually trust in Jesus, even if it is better that they come out of it—Revelation 18:4)

Unbelievers do not believe it is possible for Jesus to be in the midst of all the believers over the world when they are meeting in different locations at the same time. The Spirit of God is able to manifest the presence of Jesus at any time, and at every location at the same time. Just because we have a limited understanding of time, place and space, does not mean the mysterious Master of the Universe has to function according to our theological or philosophical constructs. If we are to be overcomers, we cannot afford to be arrogant and, like the wise of the world, attempt to compartmentalize the Lord God with reductionist thinking to appear scientific, as theologians are wont to do. God is infinite in presence and power and creativity. How foolish of people to think they can reduce the Almighty and place Him in little boxes. These people are not little David’s challenging a big Goliath. They are more like ants thinking they are going to lift an elephant up by its foot just before it squashes them.

There is a Scripture that we need to take on board, among the many, and this is the one that states God overlooks our ignorance—which is a good thing really, otherwise very few people would be getting saved. However, since none of us asked to be born, God has to demonstrate that He is just and has a purpose for our existence:

But now apart from the law, [the[i]] righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;  even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance; to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 21:26)

The righteousness of God has been revealed apart from the Law of Moses. Or as the Aramaic Bible in Plain English[ii] reads: “But now the justice of God has been revealed without The Written Law and The Written Law and The Prophets testify of it.”  This actually captures the key truth that is being expressed here regarding the righteousness of God. Many commentators overlook this point because they are focused on comparing the Law of Moses to what they refer to as the Dispensation of Grace. What commentators refer to as the dispensation of grace, in the Bible is actually called the dispensation of the Spirit or the dispensation of righteousness as is evident in the following Scripture:

Now if the dispensation of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such splendor that the Israelites could not look at Moses’ face because of its brightness, fading as this was, will not the dispensation of the Spirit be attended with greater splendor? For if there was splendor in the dispensation of condemnation, the dispensation of righteousness must far exceed it in splendor. (2 Corinthians 3:7-9 RSV)

We say this is the dispensation of righteousness for two reasons: One. because God Himself has declared His own righteousness by demonstrating how the injustice of children being born into futility to suffer and die has been dealt with; and, two, because it is now possible for people to become the righteousness of God in the body of Christ. Effectively, the nation of Israel is no longer the vehicle that is being used by God to demonstrate His wisdom to the other authorities that exist within His Creation (Ephesians 3:10).

Only those who have faith in Jesus can be justified, grace alone is insufficient. Our faith is demonstrated when we come together and participate in communion. Nevertheless, it needs to be remembered that God overlooks our ignorance (which is what the Apostle Paul told the Athenians) and will hold everyone to account through the judgment that has been brought about through the death and resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 17:30-31). The grace of God allows us to make mistakes, be caught up in error, and believe what various authorities claim to be the truth. The extent of the rewards that we are to receive as Christians will be revealed after having been tested by fire. As we have already noted if our works are those that equate to straw (stubble), hay and wood, we will suffer loss, even if we are saved. If what we do as believers is able to withstand fire like precious stones, silver and gold, we will be adorned with additional honor when we are raised from the dead. Because of God’s grace, it is possible for people to be Roman Catholics, partake in their form of the communion, and be saved in their ignorance, if they have faith in Jesus.

The bread and the wine are significant factors in being a Christian. Among certain groups, unless a person is an actual member of the congregation or denomination, participation in the Holy Communion is not permitted. The majority of Bible believing evangelicals permit only adults to take communion when it is passed around the congregation. Among various Pentecostals and Charismatic Christians, children are also permitted to partake of the bread and the wine. Nevertheless, what needs to be understood is that the rite of communion is a very serious matter and its significance even for personal health cannot be underestimated.

The Apostle Paul was not present at the Lord’s Supper when the disciples were told about the significance of the bread and the wine and that it was to be a symbol of remembrance. However, the Apostle was told by Jesus Himself that this was to be instituted as a testimony to His death and resurrection until He returns at the Second Coming. This is what the Apostle Paul wrote by way of instruction:

For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread. When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.”  In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a way unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy way eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he doesn’t discern the Lord’s body. For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn’t be judged. But when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. (1 Corinthians 11:23-33)

As is evident in what the Apostle wrote, when we gather together to participate in the bread and the wine, we are making a proclamation that Jesus died for the sins of the world and has risen from the dead, because we meet together as members of His body. In doing this, there is a therapeutic element involved, because we are told to examine ourselves in the light of Jesus death and assess our worthiness to be called by His name. About this the Apostle Peter says:

Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you. But because you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men’s matters. But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don’t obey the Good News of God? (1 Peter 4:17)

In the event that we fall short of the glory of God, because we know we are going to gather together to take communion each week, we are being reminded constantly of the standard to which we have been called. We also know that if we are experiencing sickness of any sort, this is because of some element of sin in our lives. Many people feel that this is judgmental to assert this truth, but this is what the Bible states. If we are honest, we will admit the truth about ourselves and come to God in humility. Although, as Peter says, sometimes we can find ourselves going through issues that are more about strengthening our faith and bringing glory to God, than dealing with the sins we do not want to let go. Nevertheless, if we confess our sins to one another and pray for one another we will be healed. This is what the Apostle James[iii] has to say: 

 Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praises. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective. (James 5:13-16)

The importance of abiding in the Apostles teaching cannot be overlooked. This is why we need to come around the communion table in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit as children of God who walk in the light. For it is impossible to pray for one another and minister to one another if we do not meet together. The communion of saints takes place around the Lord’s Supper, which is what Abraham partook of with Melchizedek, when he brought out the bread and the wine. If we are God’s children, then we are to do what Abraham did. Abraham partook of the Bread and the Wine.[iv]

The bread represents the body of Christ being formed into its constituent parts after the resurrection and not the body of Jesus on the cross. Many people mistakenly think that when Jesus was on the cross his body was broken. But this is a misconception that prevents people from understanding significant truths about the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and why we are individually members of His body. The wine is the cup of blessing which also is often misunderstood.. Consider the following teaching from the Apostle Paul:

No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread. Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?

(1 Corinthians 10:13-18)

There are five significant truths expressed in this passage of Scripture which are rarely given much thought.

1)       We are going to be tempted, but if we are honest with ourselves, we can trust God to deliver us from evil.

2)       We need to flee from idolatry and putting anything before our Lord Jesus Christ.

3)       The blood of Christ is what enables us to be sanctified, set apart from the world and receive the inheritance that Jesus has bequeathed to everyone who has faith in Him.

4)       The bread that is broken represents the body of Christ that began to come into being after the resurrection of Jesus, on the day of Pentecost and, of which, we are individually members, once we have been baptized by the Holy Spirit.

5)       Being baptized in the Holy Spirit means we can share in the glory of God by being transformed into His likeness.

Many people, who believe that Jesus died on the cross, talk about being at the foot of the cross and the body of Jesus being broken for them on the cross. They speak about the blood that was shed at the cross, and how at Calvary their sins were forgiven once and for all, when atonement was made for those who are to be saved. Unfortunately, these people do not realize that not one bone of Jesus body was broken on the cross, nor before He was buried. Either they do not read their Bible or, if they do, they do not possess the Holy Spirit, or, if they do possess the Holy Spirit, they have not had this truth revealed to them, because the Apostle John wrote:

He who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe. For these things happened, that the scripture might be fulfilled, “A bone of him will not be broken.”  Again another scripture says, “They will look on him whom they pierced.” (John 19:35-37)

Jesus was pierced by a Roman centurion, when on the Cross of Calvary, to ensure that He was dead before He was taken down to be buried in a tomb. However, the body of Jesus was definitely not broken on the cross or before His burial.

The blood of Jesus was, and is, different to human blood. This is because Jesus had no human father. Human blood does not come from the mother, only from male DNA. Since Jesus had no human father, His blood was the blood of God—therefore, His blood was eternal blood. Every drop of Jesus’ blood still exists, and has been sprinkled over the Heavenly altar. This truth is brought home to us in the book of Hebrews:

But Christ having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh: how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a last will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it. For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives. Therefore even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood. For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.”

Moreover he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry in the same way with the blood. According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission. It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ hasn’t entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his own, or else he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the ages, he has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation. (Heb. 9:11-28)

When Jesus said that unless we ate His flesh and drink His blood we could not have anything to do with him, many disciples at the time were horrified and ceased from following Him (John 6:66). Jesus was speaking, from a human point of view, metaphorically about His body and blood after His resurrection, but at the same time, He was speaking about the reality of Who He was, the pre-existent Word of Life made flesh. The Apostle John records Jesus teaching:

Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The Jews therefore contended with one another, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have life in yourselves.  He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.  He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he who feeds on me, he will also live because of me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven—not as our fathers ate the manna, and died. He who eats this bread will live forever.” ( John 6:47-58)

Two Old Testament types merge into this truth, when Jesus says that the bread he gives for the life of the world is His flesh. This is the manna that came from Heaven which sustained the Israelites in the wilderness (representing Jesus’ Divinity) and the flesh of the Passover Lamb (representing Jesus’ humanity). Then Jesus goes further and states that whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood lives in Him, which is now representative of being baptized into the body of Christ and laying down one’s own life in the baptism of death to one’s self, so to be raised with Jesus. The implications of this teaching from a natural perspective were such that for many it was offensive and they departed from following Jesus. Drinking blood was an offense to Jews. However, when the others left, Jesus asked the twelve whether they were going to leave Him too. Peter spoke up and said, “Only You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:66-68)

The Old Testament teaches that the life is in the blood, and although the Israelites were banned from drinking blood, wine was used to represent the blood. This is the cup of blessing that overflows and represents the abundance of blessings that eternal life brings. When Jesus spoke of drinking His blood and eating His flesh, referring to the body of Christ, the Apostle Paul expressed what Jesus was really meaning when he wrote:

The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16)

Jesus said that his food was to do the Father’s will (John 4:34). Therefore, when we break the bread and partake of it, coming together as individual members of the body of Christ, we are saying we desire to do the will of the Heavenly Father, which is to secure our salvation and grow in the knowledge of the truth as we are transformed from one degree of glory to another.

When we participate in the cup of blessing, we are testifying that the life we live is not to bring glory to ourselves. Instead we are bearing witness to our Heavenly Father as we participate in the abundance of His creation and acknowledge we no longer have to strive to survive, but are sustained by the infinite power of the One and Only God in Whom Alone dwells immortality. Jesus bequeathed this to us as our inheritance upon His death. Our righteousness is not of ourselves, but in accordance to the righteousness that the Lord God has demonstrated, to prove that He Alone is just and righteous and emanates true love. Blessed, indeed, are we who hunger and thirst after righteousness sake, for we shall be satisfied (Matthew 5:6).

We discover this today as we become involved in body ministry and attending to the needs of each other. What are known as the ascension gifts are given to us ideally to help us grow into maturity as children of God in the body of Christ. Unfortunately, in many instances, this is not what happens. These ascension gifts are found in the person of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, but the people of God are dispersed because of corrupt activities that take place within the so-called Church. Instead of those who have the genuine gift, often hirelings claim they are called to these offices. People, who have been designated to fill these offices by our Lord Jesus, are not forced to do so, but suffer in themselves if they do not. If a person is an apostle, then that person will have the ability to express himself as a prophet or evangelist or pastor or teacher might, but not as complete as any one of those would. A prophet tends to have a teaching ability, but speaks with more authority than a teacher would, and warns and exhorts as he speaks. An evangelist imparts enthusiasm and stirs the members of the congregation to share their testimonies. A pastor is competently able to listen to people’s issues and help them work through their conflicts. The teacher is someone who does not leave a stone upturned but thoroughly explores every issue about a subject. When we subject ourselves to those who are operating in the capacity of ascension gift ministry, we do so because we benefit from their leadership. This is impossible if we do not fellowship around the table of the Lord.

The book of Hebrews exhorts us to take note of leaders who share the word of the Lord, and consider the outcome of their faith; if they demonstrate good conduct and prove themselves, we should imitate their faith (Heb. 13:7). Such leaders who prove worthy, it is in our best interests to obey, for as the inspired writer says:

They watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17)

By participating in the communion of the saints, we enrich ourselves and enable the full development of the potentiality of the gifts that are placed within us when we receive the Word of God into our own hearts. This is essential if we are to  overcome the ruler of the world, the devil, and reign in life.

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[i] The World English Bible has “a righteousness of God” rather than “the righteousness of God” as the majority of translations. This is like saying “In the beginning was a Word and the Word was a God” instead of “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God”. 

[ii] The Original Aramaic New Testament in Plain English- with Psalms & Proverbs. Copyright © 2007; 8th edition Copyright © 2013 All rights reserved. Used by Permission.

[iii] Many claim that there were only twelve apostles, but in Galatians 1:19, Paul seems to include James as an apostle when he states: “But of the other apostles I saw no one, except James, the Lord’s brother.”

[iv] Many people dismiss this as being the bread and the wine of the Melchizedek priesthood that Jesus introduced.