Partaking of Christ and Scriptural Salvation

By Vernon Rigsby

There is nothing as foreign today to the human mind and spirit as "a moral absolute," and nothing as tragic as when a gullible public believes and practices a fraudulent way of salvation. God has always safeguarded His Word from error and misapplication, by always giving specific instructions, especially with regard to one's salvation. It is never left up to speculation and individual interpretation as to what God requires concerning doctrinal truth and the fundamentals of redemption and regeneration. Distortion and disinformation are the devil's chief weapons against The Church.

It is absolutely imperative that The Body of Christ exercise its senses and reach full age in order to be able to discern. Jesus stated in Mark 7:13, that "The Word of God is made non-effective through man made tradition." We are not to be tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, but we are to develop into A PERFECT MAN, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. (Eph. 4:13,14) Most error rides into The Church on the back of truth, because it is not the devils intention to destroy The Word, but to interpret it, and thereby destroy the occasional reader through improper application.

It is amazing to watch as people try to defend and promote a doctrine that has absolutely no relevance to one's salvation, and is void of scriptural precedence.Many sincere, Godly people have approached the subject of "Spiritual Communion" with skepticism, simply because of erroneous and unfounded distortions concerning its application. One of the misconceptions that surround this doctrine is the notion of "spiritualizing" an ordinance that is supposed to be "Literalized." This subject, as with all religious subjects and doctrines, must be dealt with so that The Holy Scriptures will always have the preeminence over personal opinions in order to "Rightly Divide The Word of Truth."

To believe in Spiritual Communion, one does not endorse and embrace the spurious doctrines of free-love, spiritual companionship, social purity, or kindred doctrines which are contrary to scripture. To believe in Spiritual Communion is to believe in The Bread of Life message, as taught by our Lord and Saviour in St. John chapter 6. A synagogue in the city of Capernaum was to be the setting for such a provocative sermon; labeled by some of His own disciples as "a hard saying." Jesus told them, that except they eat His flesh and drink His blood, they could not have eternal life, and that if they would eat THE LIVING BREAD, they would live forever.

The Jews strove among themselves saying, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" For over 19 centuries, many religious leaders and Bible scholars have debated this same question. To be sure, the controversy was immediate among those present the day Jesus uttered those words. Whenever Jesus failed their rigid character test as Messiah, "many of them went back and walked no more with Him." (vs.66) Faith and obedience are the ingredients to our salvation and sanctification, therefore; the eating of Christ simply means that man must consume Christ with a repentant heart and a clean spirit. Our physical life is sustained by eating natural food; accordingly, our spiritual life can only be sustained by eating spiritual food ...... THE BREAD OF LIFE .... THE WORD MADE FLESH......

As we PARTAKE of Christ through The Spirit, we put on His Divine Nature, we put on His Mind, we put on His Holiness, and we put on His Glory. (II Peter 1:4, Phil. 2:5, Heb. 12:10, II Cor. 3:18) "Wherefore, holy brethren, PARTAKERS of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. He as a son over His own house, whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end FOR WE ARE MADE PARTAKERS OF CHRIST, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end." (Heb. 3: 1,6,14)

According to the proponents of literal communion, Jesus instituted a New Covenant Sacrament on the night before He was crucified, while He and His disciples were partaking of the Hebrew Passover in the upper room. This Sacrament is commonly referred to as The Lord's Supper, The Eucharist, and Holy Communion. They believe this New Covenant Sacrament is an "Ordinance," and is therefore a sacred requirement because it is a lasting MEMORIAL of the Lord's death, until He comes. They believe this Sacrament is a commemorative and representative sacrifice of Golgotha, just as the Hebrew Passover commemorated the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. This Passover was instituted by God on the night before the Israelites were to leave Egypt, in 1491 B.C.

They were to faithfully observe this "Feast" every year to commemorate their deliverance from bondage. (EX. 12 and 13) This Passover was a type or shadow of Jesus' death on the cross, and was one of the many ordinances imposed upon them UNTIL THE TIME OF REFORMATION. (Galatians 4:4-5, Matt. 5: 17-18, Heb. 8:7-13, Heb. 9: 10 - 14) JESUS CHRIST IS NOW OUR PASSOVER because of His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. (I Cor. 5:7) Upon close examination of the synoptic account of the so-called "Last Supper", one would have to conclude that they were observing the Annual Hebrew Passover, which they had done on numerous occasions previous to this. (Matt. 26, Mark 14, Luke 22) As Jesus was in fact "fulfilling" the old covenant, He established the new covenant BUT HE DID NOT INSTITUTE A NEW SUPPER.

This New Covenant could only become legal when the testator (Jesus Christ) died and shed His blood. (Heb. 9:16-22) The scriptures attest to the fact that Jesus was enthusiastic about eating THIS particular Passover with His disciples; for He said, "With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer." (Luke 22: 15) Why was Jesus so enthusiastic about eating THIS Passover with His disciples? Simply because this was to be the fulfilment of the old, and the establishment of the new. Friend, whenever something has been FULFILLED, it has accomplished it's purpose. Nothing can ever be added to the already finished work of Calvary. (Eph.2:13-22, Col. 2:13-17)

During the course of the Passover meal, Jesus never used the terms "Lord's Supper, Eucharist, or Holy Communion" to describe the elements they were partaking of. Jesus was living under the shadow of the cross, and in order to establish a line of communication with His disciples concerning the events that were soon to unfold, Jesus used unleavened bread to "identify" His soon-to-be broken body, and He used the cup to "identify" His soon-to-be shed blood. Jesus was simply using the bread and cup as a metaphor. He was using expressive language relative to Himself, which He had done on several occasions previous to this. (John 2: 19-22,4:14, 10:7,15:5)

Jesus never intended for these descriptive identities, used methaphorically, to later become objects of commemoration. While Jesus was eating the Passover with His disciples, He informed them that He was going to eat with them "A NEW WAY", and that way would be through The Kingdom of God. The word "new" in Matthew 26:29, translated from the Greek word Kainos, means: new as to form or quality, that which is unaccustomed, different nature from what is contrasted as old. If Jesus were already eating with them in the old way (literal), wouldn't it be logical to assume that the new way would have to be spiritual?

"BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK, IF ANY MAN WILL HEAR MY VOICE AND OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM, AND WILL SUP WITH HIM AND HE WITH ME." (Rev. 3:20) "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, and we have all been made to drink into one Spirit." (I Cor. 12: 12,13,27) Since Jesus said He was going to "eat and drink with us in The Kingdom of God," the next valid question would be.......WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD? First of all, we know what it is not! "It is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in The Holy Ghost." (Rom 14:17) Jesus said in Luke 17: 20-21; "The Kingdom of God does not come with observation....The Kingdom of God is WITHIN you."

Since the day of Pentecost, God's Kingdom has taken up residence in us by The Spirit, because we are the Temple of God (I Cor. 6:19-20, II Cor. 6:16) Jesus became The Supreme Sacrifice for all of humanity, and it is mere folly to insinuate that our Lord's death upon the cross be relegated to unscriptural sacraments and ordinances associated with salvation. An original masterpiece is very valuable and priceless; especially to it's owner. It would highly insult the owner's integrity, should someone offer the owner a substitute as a replacement for his original masterpiece. The concise teaching of The Bible expressly forbids any continuing sacrifice of the cross, for Jesus plainly stated on Calvary's hill .... IT IS FINISHED. We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL.... Christ offered ONE sacrifice for sins FOREVER...... for by ONE offering He perfected FOREVER those who are sanctified. (Heb. 10: 10-14)

Generally speaking; most Protestants view their Communion as no more than a "memorial", technically referred to as the doctrine of Consubstantiation. However the Catholic Communion involves much elaborate ritualism, because it is the most critical element and central doctrine of the church. According to Catholic doctrine, The Mass is their expiatory (sin-removing) sacrifice, correctly known as the doctrine of Transubstantiation. The Mass (Eucharist, Holy Communion) is not confined essentially to a memorial meal, because it contains a propitiatory sacrifice efficacious for the living and the dead. Since Christ can die no more, these doctrines promote a perpetual state of the victimhood of Christ as the link between the cross and Literal Communion.

Roman Catholicism teaches that "In the same manner the Mass effects the remission of temporal punishment due to sin and serves as satisfaction for sin, by way of intercession, the Mass effects the remission of the punishment due to sin for the souls in purgatory." (New Catholic Encyclopedia/ 1967 Edition/ McGraw-Hill/page 614) The Book of Acts Church knew nothing at all about certain emblems that were to be used to represent Jesus at "a memorial meal." It was not until the third century A.D. that such a Sacrifice/ Sacrament Meal was introduced. When Constantine became Emperor of Rome in 306 A.D., he subsequently established what is now known as The Roman Catholic Church. Constantine's so-called "Christianity" involved an unholy mixture of paganism & Christianity together as a united force.

In 325 A.D., he presided over the first "Ecumenical Council" called the Nicean Council, where more than 300 bishops from all parts of the Empire attended. IT WAS FROM THIS VERY COUNCIL THAT THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY TRINITY WAS ADOPTED. Babylon was the primeval source from which all systems of idolatry originated, however, when Rome became the world empire, she assimilated into her system of government the gods and religions from the various pagan countries over which she ruled. The Church of St. Peter was constructed in 324 A.D. out of the ruins of the temples of Apollo and Mars, and stood for more than 1200 years. By 378 A.D., the Babylonian system of religion became an official part of the Christian Church, as it was then constituted.

Pagan practices were "Christianized" in order to gain public compliance with the official religion. It became apparent to the Roman government that the simplest solution would be to ABSORB into their Christian format all the pagan elements demanded by the general population. The Roman Catholic Church adopted many of the heathen gods into their worship by simply renaming them, using Christian sounding names. During the time of the Apostles and the formation of the New Testament, there was both an apostasy and a genuine move of God. To be sure; the Apostle Paul stated that "the mystery of iniquity" was already at work, causing some to depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. (II Thess. 2;3,7 I Tim 4:1)

By the time Jude wrote his epistle, it had already become necessary for him to exhort the people to "earnestly contend for the faith that was ONCE delivered unto the saints, "for certain men had crept in unawares who were attempting to substitute counterfeit for original. If the proponents fo Literal Communion were to apply the same principles of "Apostolic" interpretation to the ordinance of water baptism as they do to their so-called Lord's Supper ordinance, they would be left in a quandary. We are not left in the dark concerning water baptism. We know "HOW" and "WHY" we are to be baptized. If, in fact, we are dealing with "An Ordinance" that was supposedly instituted by our Lord and Saviour the night before His crucifixion, then it MUST have specific guidelines to follow, just as anything would deemed "ESSENTIAL" by our Lord.

Biblical ordinances WILL ALWAYS include clearly defined instructions. The Hebrew Passover required thorough preparation in order to assure that every minute detail was precisely as God directed. In fact, the events that lead to this Passover were so dramatic, that The Lord re-arranged their entire calendar in order for this Feast to begin in the first month of their year. If "Literal" Communion is in fact a New Testament Ordinance, then why do we not have a record of the Early Church observing it? Where are the participants of "A Foot Washing Service'? Were they required to drink grape juice or wine .... fermented or unfermented ... use only one cup or were they permitted to use a communion set of individual cups .... leavened or unleavened bread, etc ......?

Would one be guilty of transgression if they were not using the proper emblems of an ordinance instituted by our Lord? Is it permissible for Spirit-filled Christians to drink an intoxicating beverage during a religious observance inside the Church, while drinking the same beverage in the privacy of their own home would not be? If in fact, the term "Breaking of Bread", was evidence of a Literal Communion Service being observed by the Book of Acts Church, then why is there no mention of THE CUP or FOOT WASHING? If they were partaking of an "Ordinance", then part of their emblems were noticeably absent. When Jesus washed His disciples feet after the Passover meal, he was giving them an illustrated lesson on humility and servitude. This "example" was never intended to be part of a commemorative memorial. Jesus was teaching them that they should "do unto others, as they would want others to do unto them." (Jn. 13: 1-16, 34,35; Luke 6:31-33; Luke 22:24-26; I John 4:20,21)

Other than a common custom, foot washing is not mentioned in the Bible. Jesus did not wash the disciples feet in public, or in the Temple or Synagogue, but at a private setting. After all; isn't that what the word "Communion" expresses ..... FELLOWSHIP!!! Listen to the words of the Apostle as he instructs us as to "HOW" this is to be carried out. "For we being many are one bread and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread." (I Cor 10:17) And isn't it rather amazing that THE CUP is also mentioned in this Spiritual Communion, while it is noticeably absent in the Literal Communion interpretation. "The cup of blessing (not wine) which we bless, is it not the communion (fellowship) of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion (fellowship) of the body of Christ (The Church)?" (vs. 16)

This Cup of Blessing was previously The Cup of Suffering which became The Cup of Death for our Lord, which is now The Cup of The New Testament, referenced by Jesus on numerous occasions..... In the garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26: 39, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42) .... While talking with Simon Peter (John 18:11) ..... While talking with James and John (Matt. 20:22). If Literal Communion and natural elements is what is actually meant here, then Anyone who partakes of these same "elements" would also have to become ONE with Christ and His Church. No my friend, our "Communion" is with Christ (The Bread of Life) and His body (The Church), and not with natural bread and wine that is supposed to represent Him. The words Communion, Fellowship, Distribution, Partnership, Contribution, and Participation are interchangeable.

The ONLY true way we can become ONE with Christ is through The Spirit. (Eph 2:22) We are built up a spiritual house to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. We are lively stones, a chosen generation, a royal prieshood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, who have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light, that we should show forth His praises. (I Peter 2:5-10) If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship (communion) one with another. (I John 1:7) Subsequent to the out-pouring of The Holy Ghost, the believers of the early Church were TOGETHER, and had all things common (Acts 2:44) God has called us unto the fellowship (communion) of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. We are to be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. We are to speak the same thing that there be no divisions among us. (I Cor. 1:9,10)

We are to LIVE and WALK in the Spirit. (Gal. 5:25) How is it that Oneness/Apostolic Pentecostals can properly interpret scriptural symbolism and yet completely misinterpret what the scriptures say regarding Spiritual Communion? We understand completely what it means to be "BORN AGAIN" of Water and Spirit" .... what Jesus meant when He instructed His disciples (and us) to "Go forth and baptize all believers IN THE NAME of the Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost." .... and what Paul meant when he said "We are COMPLETE IN HIM" ...."We are BURIED with Him in baptism and RISEN with Him through faith: ... and so on! If we are indeed Apostolic then we should think....live......worship.....and believe Apostolically" We truly have a revelation of who Jesus is. We have a Biblical revelation on The Godhead......The Baptism of The Holy Ghost....... The Gifts of The Spirit ...... Holiness ......... Worship ........ because all Apostolic Doctrine comes by REVELATION. (Matt. 11:27, John 14: 26, John 16: 12-15, Eph. 1: 17-19, Gal. 1:11-12)

Yes; we are instructed to Keep The Feast, but not the old way. Not with the old leaven, not with the leaven of malice and wickedness ..... but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (I Cor. 5: 7-8) Truth is not a natural substance that can be eaten literally, but truth is Christ Himself, The Word Made Flesh, The Living Bread. (John 17:17, 14:6) "Having therefore, brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and LIVING WAY which He hath consecrated for us ..... through His flesh. (Heb. 10: 19-20) Bread and Flesh are synonymous expressions, just as Communion and Fellowship. During the course of the Passover meal at The Last Supper, Jesus used the bread and the cup for identification to reference a specific bread and a specific cup.

In Paul's letter to the Church at Corinth, he begins chapter 11 of I Corinthians with commendation of what was praiseworthy, and for keeping the ordinances that he had delivered (Past Tense) unto them. What were these ordinances that had already been given to them previous to this?" "Moreover brethren, I declare unto you The Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand. For I delivered (Past Tense) unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ Died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was Buried, and that He Rose Again the third day according to the scriptures." (I Cor. 15: 1-4) There you have it! The Gospel .......... The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Typifying our Repentance, Water Baptism in Jesus' Name, and the Infilling of The Holy Ghost.

Paul again states in I Corinthians 11:23, that he delivered (Past Tense) unto them that which he also received of The Lord. He was writing this letter some 30 years after Calvary, so we know he could not have partaken of the bread and cup during that Passover Meal with Jesus and His disciples, because he wasn't present during that time. There is no evidence that The Lord "served" it to him at a later date, nor is there any evidence that another Apostle "served" it to him, with instructions on how to partake of a Literal Communion Ordinance. The term "Lord's Supper" mentioned in verse 20, is not an inference of an instituted memorial, but rather a description of uncharitableness by the religious elite towards the poor during their social meals, called love feasts. The Corinthians were not abusing a sacrament in their selfish conduct and self-righteous worship; they were abusing one another.

The word "Lord's in this verse is an adjective and not a proper noun. The Apostle Paul was using the same analogy with regard to Christian ethics and principals, as did our Lord during the Last Supper Passover Meal. There was much dissension among the Corinthian populace regarding social and religious matters, and Paul was simply trying to set in order a disorderly Church. If Paul were speaking here about A Literal Communion Ordinance, isn't it rather strange that he never mentined it before or after verse 20? In verses 23-29, Paul was simply reiterating what Jesus had already said and done during the course of the Passover Meal. He was speaking metaphorically as Jesus did; using expressive language relative to Jesus by using This Bread and That Cup to identify His broken body and shed blood. Paul used demonstrative pronouns (This/That) when describing the relation that Christ has with His Church, identifying a SPECIFIC person or thing, not just any person or thing.

Paul was instructing them as to how to properly discern The Lord's Body and how to properly eat "This bread and drink "That" cup. "For as often as ye eat this bread (fellowship/commune with Christ and His Church) and drink this cup (of blessing), ye do show (prove or manifest) The Lord's death till He come." (vs. 26) The word unworthily in vss. 27 & 29 is an adverb, and not an adjective. It is not referring to the unrighteousness of the person, but rather the manner in which the person performs the act. In this case, they had failed to discern (recognize, acknowledge, or respect) The Lord's Body (His Church). If our attitude towards other members of The Body of Chirst is not one of true brotherly love, then we become guilty of bringing damnation upon ourselves. Our treatment of Christ, depends on how we treat one another. The Church is the figurative/ mystical Body of Christ on this earth, and as such, we represent The King! Strife, envy, bitterness, unforgiveness, and hatred has no place in the Church, because our Communion with Christ and His Church is one of spiritual concord and blessed fellowship. We partake of Christ (One Bread) through the Communion of The Holy Ghost. (II Cor. 13:14)

Why does the New Testament Church need a memorial meal to commemorate A RISEN, LIVING SAVIOUR? A memorial is for someone who is deceased. Jesus was indeed Calvary's Passover Lamb, but sacraments that are restricted to the saints who are WORTHY; will never be able to represent The Living Bread that is available to give eternal life to THE WHOLE WORLD. (John 6: 35, 51) Nothing can atone for sin except the blood of Jesus. On Calvary's hill the ceremonial law was abolished, the middle wall of partition was broken down, and all the carnal ordinances were taken out of the way and nailed to the cross. (Eph. 2; 13-22, Col. 2:13-17) The true Church of Jesus Christ has been Blood Bought (Acts 20:28) Blood Washed (Rev. 1:4,5), and Blood Covered (I John 1:7). The CUP of The New Testament is HIS BLOOD. "I will take The Cup of Salvation and call upon the name of The Lord." (Ps. 116:13)

Since Literal Communion is a commemorative and representative sacrifice of Golgotha, the purpose of which is for thanksgiving and remembrance, it is none the less left up to speculation as to it's occasional observance. There are many "Born-Again, Spirit-Filled" people who are without question in the Body of Chirst, who partake of Literal Communion. But, whenever sacraments are associated with salvation, similarities do exit with the doctrine of Transubstantiation. The Catholic Encyclopedia says: "In the celebration of the Holy Mass, the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ. The substance of bread and wine do not remain, but the entire substance of bread is changed into the body of Christ, and the entire substance of wine is changed into His blood; the species or outward semblance of bread and wine alone remaining." (vol.4, p. 277)

Again; notice this unscriptural and fraudulent doctrine of salvation. "If anyone says that the substance of bread and wine remain in the Holy Sacrament together with the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and denies that wonderful and extraordinary change of the whole substance of the bread into Christ's body and the whole substance of the wine into His blood while only the species of bread and wine remain ... LET HIM BE ANATHEMA." (New Catholic Encyclopedia/McGraw-Hill/1967 Edition/p.605) During the Catholic Mass, after the bread has been changed into Christ by the priest, it is placed on a monstrance, and routinely transported about the premises by the priest, in order for the people to see their Christ (Host) through the glass front. In almost every Catholic Church, there is some consecrated bread reserved in the tabernacle chalice to be used later for public display and adoration, typifying the physical presence of Jesus in the form of bread.

This is the reason Catholics genuflect as they enter and leave their churches. The Catholic Encyclopedia readily admits this is a false doctrine. "In the absence of scriptural proof, the church finds a warrant for and a propriety in, rendering divine worship to the Blessed Sacrament in the most ancient and constant tradition." (vol. 5, p. 581) Literal Communion was adopted by the Roman Catholic Church as a daily celebration in 349 A.D., just 24 years after the Nicean Council, where the doctrine of the Holy Trinity was adopted. And what do they say about this .... "The Roman Catholic Sacrament was simply an infusion into primitive Christianity of notions altogether foreign to it, and was derived from the mystery religions of the Roman Empire." (Dictionary of Christian Theology / 1969 /Edition/ p.118)

"What FELLOWSHIP hath righteousness with unrighteousness? What COMMUNION hath light with darkness? What CONCORD hath Christ with Belial? What AGREEMENT hath the temple of God with idols?" (II Cor. 6:14-16) The Church of Jesus Christ is the Church Triumphant. It encompasses a world of congregations in all nations and cultures. We are united into ONE BODY, organized and loving each other as brethren. We are all in fellowship with each other and all work together in harmony as the ONE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST .... THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH. Can we really afford to do less? This lost world needs our message, and that message is ..... "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev. 22: 17)

This message in the form of a tract may be ordered thru

Rev. Vernon Rigsby

P.O. Box 1112

Henderson, KY 42419-1112

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