Article 5-10: Sin to Holiness

Articles 11-14: The Church and Its Life 11. The Church 12. Baptism 13. Lord's Supper 14. Divine Healing

Life of the Church of Jesus Christ

Like baptism, the Lord's Supper is a sacrament. It requires faith in Christ and love for the saints. The picture shows bread and a cup, the two parts of the Lord's Supper. His body was broken for us on the cross (the bread) and His blood was poured out for the forgiveness of our sins (the cup).

XIII. The Lord’s Supper 17. We believe that the Memorial and Communion Supper instituted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is essentially a New Testament sacrament, declarative of His sacrificial death, through the merits of which believers have life and salvation and promise of all spiritual blessings in Christ. It is distinctively for those who are prepared for reverent appreciation of its significance, and by it they show forth the Lord’s death till He come again. It being the Communion feast, only those who have faith in Christ and love for the saints should be called to participate therein.

Communion What is it for? Why do I need to do it? How often do I need to do it? What does it do for me? What is the difference in how different Christian groups understand it?

Bread of life! 30 So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ 32 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” John 6:3-33

What is it? the life of the fresh is in the blood. Leviticus 17:11 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

Forgiveness & Healing “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [a] ’a 14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Receiving Communion by Faith 1. It's a reminder and spiritual check up on our souls condition, our mental well being and our physical health. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you —unless, of course, you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5

Receiving Communion by Faith 2. It provides opportunity to find forgiveness and healing 3. It's a means of fresh grace to our body, soul and Spirit.

Power in Communion I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil 4:13 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Salvation by faith (Eph. 2:8) Justification by faith (Rom. 5:1) The promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:39) The promise of healing (1 Pet. 2:24) The promise of Christ's return (Acts 1:11) The promise of heaven (John 14:2-3) The promise of eternal life (John 3:14-17) The promise of ruling with Christ (Rev. 20:6) Examples of faith.

The Prayer of Faith Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:13-16

Faith in Action Matthew 9:29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you” Mark 5:34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Luke 7:50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 17:19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Dealing with forgiveness 1.Face it 2.Trace it 3.Erase it 4.Replace it.

Regular communion can strengthen your faith Taking communion is also reminding God of the covenant he as made and that we have entered by faith.