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Passover is a yearly festival during which the Israelites
celebrate God's deliverance of His people from a land of bondage. It is a day for the Jewish community to remember how the
blood of the slaughtered lamb saved them from the smitting hand of God that killed all the first-born of Egypt. Today,
Christ the Passover lamb has been slain and His Blood has spared us of eternal death. We, the spiritual chosen people of
God, must also commemorate Christ's saving grace by partaking in the new Passover - the Holy Communion.
The Meaning of the Holy Communion
| Oneness |
The "one bread" used in the Holy Communion signifies that Jesus
has only one body and all the believers are members of that one body. Therefore, the bread we partake of during
the Holy Communion is a participation in the body of Christ. Eating this bread demonstrates the unity and
fellowship with the Lord Jesus and with other believers.
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| Purity |
The "unleavened bread" represents the holiness of Jesus;
it is a reminder that the Church, as the body of Christ, must strive to be holy and blameless. We must keep our
thoughts, speech, and daily conduct pure. The Church as a whole must also uphold her integrity and pledge her
allegiance to the Truth of God.
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| Covenant |
The cup we receive is the cup of the new covenant established
by the blood of Christ. This new covenant is a sign that we have become God's chosen people through Jesus Christ and
that we are to abide by His commandments. Having been cleansed by Christ's precious blood in baptism, we may communicate
directly with the Heavenly Father through prayer without the mediation of priests. We also have the wonderful privilege
of entering His eternal Kingdom in the future.
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Real Flesh and Blood?
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Jesus said that those who eat His flesh and drink His blood will
have eternal life. Are we to take His Words literally? Do we actually eat and drink the flesh and blood of Christ
during the Holy Communion?
Flesh and blood represent a person's life. To partake of Jesus' flesh and blood means to partake of His spiritual life,
rather than His physical body.
With the presence of the Holy Spirit, the bread and juice used during the Communion become the spiritual flesh and
blood of Jesus. The Lord Jesus called Himself, in figurative terms, the bread from heaven and the living water. By eating
this "spiritual food" and drinking this "spiritual drink" (see 1 Corinthians 10:3-4), we share the life of Jesus Christ.
Our communion with Christ through the sacrament keeps us from becoming weary or thirsty on the heavenly journey. And on the
last day, Jesus Christ will resurrect us and give us His everlasting life.
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