ADDITIONS
Hello Everyone,
I thought I would write a bit about this past Memorial.
The love among the members of the Body of Christ, is most keenly felt as we obey the scriptural directives, to gather.
(1Cor. 11:33; Matt.18:20; Luke 22:17).
There were scriptures read, about the promises of God. This gave us hope, as well as insight into how the fulfillment of them, is progressing.
Here are some of my personal notes, which were used for my own discussion of the emblems...
BREAD
Three meanings relevant for those chosen, come to mind.
1. Christ sacrificed his human life in the flesh.Through his body, he suffered, so that we could be pardoned.
He told us to imitate his sacrifice... to share in the purpose of a sacrificial life...
Rom.12:1
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship."
1Pet. 4:2
"As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God."
2Cor. 5:15
"He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them."
Rom.6:5
"For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his."
"When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been." (Rev.6:9,11)
So the first thing I see in the emblem of bread, is that
just as Jesus sacrificed his body of flesh for the sake of the gospel,
so that others my gain life by means of the truth he offered,
so we too must live, and die, for the truth.
2. In using bread as a symbol for his body, he points to his human life, spent in providing truth. He said he was the bread from heaven, and his body was true food. He said that his whole reason for being born as a man of flesh, was to testify to the truth (John 18:37).
John 6:35
"Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
This is the same bread for which Jesus taught us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matt.6:11)
He was not teaching an emphasis on physical bread, but on spiritual...
Matt.4:4
"Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
John 6:51...
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
So the second thing I see, is that to take in the emblem of bread, we display our acknowledgment that we rely on Christ for our spiritual sustenance and the life that results from it.
3. The third significant meaning I see symbolized in the bread,
is another meaning the Bible gives to Christ's body.
1Cor. 12:12-14...
"Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free —and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many."
1Cor. 12:27,18,28
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
"But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be."
"And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues."
This body, composed of chosen and appointed parts, is also referred to at
Eph.4:11,12
"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ".
This is the body of Chosen ones, that Paul refers to at 1Cor. 11:29,28,31
"For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
"Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.
"But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment."
So, there we are told that we need to discern the Body of Christ, under Christ as it's head.
We need to discern who we are in relation to that body of appointed saints...
Have we been chosen to be a part of the body, as an apostle, a prophet, a teacher?
If we have positively discerned this about ourselves (1Cor. 11:31), then we rightly partake of that body of Chosen ones belonging to Christ.
Our self-perception is accurate, if spirit has clearly imparted knowledge of such an appointment, to us
(Rom.8:16; 2Cor. 1:21,22; 5:5; Eph.1:14; Gal.3:29; Dan.7:18).
So when we partake of the bread, we also are discerning our place within Christ, and how we provide and accept manifestations of the spirit, from each other (1Cor. 12:7; Rom.15:14).
As 1Cor. 10:16,17 reads;
"Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf."
So the third thing I see in the emblem of Bread, is that we see our own assigned place in the body of Christ,
knowing that our assignment within it, is for the building up and feeding of the entire body, upon which we individually depend;
just as the other parts, also supply what we need, and depend upon us.
Just as Jesus gave up his life for us, so we are to serve our brothers in Christ (John 15:13; 13:34; 1John 3:16)
(Rom.12:10; 13:8; 1Pet. 1:22; 1John 3:14) through our individual gift of spirit's manifestation, within us (Rom.12:4,5,6,7,8; 1Cor. 12:25).
Luke 22:15,16,19
-----------------------
WINE
Wine is a product of the vine.
Just as wine comes from a grapevine,
the meaning of the wine, comes from the meaning of the grapevine.
John 15:1-5,8
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
8"This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
So the first meaning of the wine, is that we must take in the product of the true vine, without which, we can do nothing.
If we remain in him, we are holy, and produce much fruit, which glorifies our Father.
Rom.11:16-18, compares this union with the true vine, as an olive tree...
"If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you."
So the true and holy root, provides us the nourishing sap of Holy Spirit and Truth (John 4:23-24), and thereby, supports us to bear fruit.
As sap feeds the branches, Christ's blood feeds the parts of his body, providing life to it's members. We take in that life...the Holy Spirit, which he gives freely to those who remember their dependence on it, and keep asking for it.
If we remain in union with the holy root-stock, we as it's branches, will also be holy.
As we partake of the emblem of wine, we take in what the true vine has provided...
holy spirit, life, truth, and a cleansed state of holiness ourselves (Rev.3:4; 19:8).
These things are ours, as long as we remain in subjection to our Head and Lord.
Luke 22:17,20
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Afterward, we also discussed meeting together regularly.
This is perceived as a desire of Christ, according to the will of God.
"that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one" (John 17:21,22)
If we are to "be one", and there be no division among the members of Christ's Body (1Cor. 12:25; 1:10)
this requires a gathering together, just as the scriptures direct (Heb.10:24,25).
This gathering was prophesied, initiated by a "trumpet blast" (Matt.24:31), which is the voice of a herald among the priesthood
(Isa.58:1; Eze.3:17; 33:3) (Rev.10:7; 8:2,6; Josh.6:4,13).
Within the symbolism of Revelation, Christ directs his faithful slaves (Rev.1:1,3; 22:7).
I trust that all awakened members of Christ, were blessed by their gathering for this sacred occasion.
I anticipate with joy, the fulfillment of prophecy, by the collecting together of the faithful, in Christ.
Love,
Pearl
LINK TO DIRECTORY OF ARTICLES
Hello Everyone,
I thought I would write a bit about this past Memorial.
The love among the members of the Body of Christ, is most keenly felt as we obey the scriptural directives, to gather.
(1Cor. 11:33; Matt.18:20; Luke 22:17).
There were scriptures read, about the promises of God. This gave us hope, as well as insight into how the fulfillment of them, is progressing.
Here are some of my personal notes, which were used for my own discussion of the emblems...
BREAD
Three meanings relevant for those chosen, come to mind.
1. Christ sacrificed his human life in the flesh.Through his body, he suffered, so that we could be pardoned.
He told us to imitate his sacrifice... to share in the purpose of a sacrificial life...
Rom.12:1
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship."
1Pet. 4:2
"As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God."
2Cor. 5:15
"He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them."
Rom.6:5
"For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his."
"When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been." (Rev.6:9,11)
So the first thing I see in the emblem of bread, is that
just as Jesus sacrificed his body of flesh for the sake of the gospel,
so that others my gain life by means of the truth he offered,
so we too must live, and die, for the truth.
2. In using bread as a symbol for his body, he points to his human life, spent in providing truth. He said he was the bread from heaven, and his body was true food. He said that his whole reason for being born as a man of flesh, was to testify to the truth (John 18:37).
John 6:35
"Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
This is the same bread for which Jesus taught us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matt.6:11)
He was not teaching an emphasis on physical bread, but on spiritual...
Matt.4:4
"Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
John 6:51...
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
So the second thing I see, is that to take in the emblem of bread, we display our acknowledgment that we rely on Christ for our spiritual sustenance and the life that results from it.
3. The third significant meaning I see symbolized in the bread,
is another meaning the Bible gives to Christ's body.
1Cor. 12:12-14...
"Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free —and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many."
1Cor. 12:27,18,28
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
"But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be."
"And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues."
This body, composed of chosen and appointed parts, is also referred to at
Eph.4:11,12
"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ".
This is the body of Chosen ones, that Paul refers to at 1Cor. 11:29,28,31
"For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
"Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.
"But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment."
So, there we are told that we need to discern the Body of Christ, under Christ as it's head.
We need to discern who we are in relation to that body of appointed saints...
Have we been chosen to be a part of the body, as an apostle, a prophet, a teacher?
If we have positively discerned this about ourselves (1Cor. 11:31), then we rightly partake of that body of Chosen ones belonging to Christ.
Our self-perception is accurate, if spirit has clearly imparted knowledge of such an appointment, to us
(Rom.8:16; 2Cor. 1:21,22; 5:5; Eph.1:14; Gal.3:29; Dan.7:18).
So when we partake of the bread, we also are discerning our place within Christ, and how we provide and accept manifestations of the spirit, from each other (1Cor. 12:7; Rom.15:14).
As 1Cor. 10:16,17 reads;
"Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf."
So the third thing I see in the emblem of Bread, is that we see our own assigned place in the body of Christ,
knowing that our assignment within it, is for the building up and feeding of the entire body, upon which we individually depend;
just as the other parts, also supply what we need, and depend upon us.
Just as Jesus gave up his life for us, so we are to serve our brothers in Christ (John 15:13; 13:34; 1John 3:16)
(Rom.12:10; 13:8; 1Pet. 1:22; 1John 3:14) through our individual gift of spirit's manifestation, within us (Rom.12:4,5,6,7,8; 1Cor. 12:25).
Luke 22:15,16,19
-----------------------
WINE
Wine is a product of the vine.
Just as wine comes from a grapevine,
the meaning of the wine, comes from the meaning of the grapevine.
John 15:1-5,8
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
8"This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
So the first meaning of the wine, is that we must take in the product of the true vine, without which, we can do nothing.
If we remain in him, we are holy, and produce much fruit, which glorifies our Father.
Rom.11:16-18, compares this union with the true vine, as an olive tree...
"If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you."
So the true and holy root, provides us the nourishing sap of Holy Spirit and Truth (John 4:23-24), and thereby, supports us to bear fruit.
As sap feeds the branches, Christ's blood feeds the parts of his body, providing life to it's members. We take in that life...the Holy Spirit, which he gives freely to those who remember their dependence on it, and keep asking for it.
If we remain in union with the holy root-stock, we as it's branches, will also be holy.
As we partake of the emblem of wine, we take in what the true vine has provided...
holy spirit, life, truth, and a cleansed state of holiness ourselves (Rev.3:4; 19:8).
These things are ours, as long as we remain in subjection to our Head and Lord.
Luke 22:17,20
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
Afterward, we also discussed meeting together regularly.
This is perceived as a desire of Christ, according to the will of God.
"that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one" (John 17:21,22)
If we are to "be one", and there be no division among the members of Christ's Body (1Cor. 12:25; 1:10)
this requires a gathering together, just as the scriptures direct (Heb.10:24,25).
This gathering was prophesied, initiated by a "trumpet blast" (Matt.24:31), which is the voice of a herald among the priesthood
(Isa.58:1; Eze.3:17; 33:3) (Rev.10:7; 8:2,6; Josh.6:4,13).
Within the symbolism of Revelation, Christ directs his faithful slaves (Rev.1:1,3; 22:7).
I trust that all awakened members of Christ, were blessed by their gathering for this sacred occasion.
I anticipate with joy, the fulfillment of prophecy, by the collecting together of the faithful, in Christ.
Love,
Pearl
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