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Communion?
Why the Name? |
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Many churches have named themselves after a landmark, a street location, a city, a number, or a theological concept. We did the latter! Communion means: to share, to participate, to contribute, and to fellowship. Although today, "communion" is immediately associated with the observance of the Lord's Supper, the original use for the word extends well beyond this setting. There is an important Greek word in the New Testament (koinonia) which is most often translated into the English word, "fellowship." This word is used to describe our relationship with God and others -- our primary relationships must reveal our love for God, and love for others. This kind of relationship requires sharing, participating, contributing, and fellowship. A Little Background In the Garden of Eden, before their fall, Adam and Eve had complete fellowship with God and with each other. They lost this fellowship with God and each other when they rebelled and sinned. God decreed to re-establish this fellowship throughout the history of the entire Bible, and to His glory alone, sovereignly restores this fellowship with humanity through the person of Jesus Christ. Now, please re-read the previous paragraph. And for each mention of "fellowship" insert the word, "communion." In fact, when reading the Bible, this same task can be performed. This is why the name "communion" is important to those who want to restore proper relationships to life. Here is another Bible example: 1 John 1:3 "... so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." Church History The English Reformers of
the 17th century (who are a part of our "spiritual ancestry")
chose the word "communion" as THE
WORD that
best expressed our
relationship with The Triune God and fellow believers.
A word search of the Westminster Standards of 1647
demonstrates this reality as the word "communion" appears
25 times.
Here is one example: God extends to every member of His church the promise and assurance of salvation in Christ. The Bible says, "in Christ" because Jesus earned for himself, in his sinless life, the unbridled love that a Father has for a completely obedient son. God loves Christ, not simply because he was His son; but because Jesus was always pleasing to Him 100% of the time with 100% of who he was (and is). By grace, through faith, we are get to "share, participate, contribute, and fellowship" in that love = Communion! What we share with Christ, we share with
others... We believe in the "Communion of the Saints" -- come and share! |
©2006 Communion Presbyterian Church. All Rights Reserved. Proud Sponsor of the Return of Christ! |