The Lord’s Supper
The question before us is, “How often should we take the Lord’s Supper”? Well, one thing is for sure; what we really need to know is, what does GOD say about how often to take the Lord’s Supper. And so to find out what God says, we will need to go to God’s word, the bible.
Different religious groups, have different opinions as to how often they should eat the Lord’s Supper. Some partake of it every first day of the week, in other words, every Sunday. Some partake of in annually, some quarterly, and some will partake of it every time a “special occasion” comes about, such as “Good Friday”, or “Easter’, or “Christmas”, or something like that.
Actually the bible is silent about any “special occasions” like those. As Christians, we don’t even have the authority or example from God, to celebrate those things in the first place. The only day that God treats as “special” in the new testament, is the “First Day of the Week”. Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week, Mat 28:1, Mk 16:2, Lk 24:1, and Jn 20:1.
The risen Christ first appeared to His disciples on that same first day of the week, and then again on the next first day of the week, Mat 28:9-10, Mk 16:9-13, Lk 24:13 ff, Jn 20:14-23, and Jn 20:26-29.
His church was established on the day of Pentecost, which was the first day of the week, Acts chapter 2.
During a missionary journey, Paul and Luke, met up with other Christians in the city of Troas, and they stayed there for seven days. And it says in Acts 20:7, “And on the “first day of the week”, when we came together to break bread, Paul began preaching to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until mid night.” (Not midnight, as in 12:00 AM, but “mid night”, as in somewhere in the middle of the night)
A couple of things in this verse are very revealing..
First, I’d like to point out that the word “intending”, as in “intending to depart”, (some versions say “about to depart”) ..but anyhow, that word actually comes from a Greek word that means “to delay, or to linger”. So what this verse is saying, is that Paul “lingered there” in the city of Troas, an entire week, intending to depart (or lingering) until the second day of the week. Why the second day of the week? Well, it would seem obvious, that he lingered all week in Troas, until the SECOND day of the week, so that he could meet with his fellow Christians on the FIRST day of the week, as was their habit of doing. It sounds like maybe Paul had missed the assembly of the saints, on the first day of the previous week, when he arrived by boat from Philippi.
Let me read to you about the days and dates, of the feast of unleavened bread, which is also called “the days of unleavened bread”.
First let me read from Acts 20, verses 4 thru 6; “Paul was accompanied by Sopater, son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus, from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy and Tychicus and Trophimus, from the province of Asia. But these had gone on ahead, and were waiting for us at Troas. And we sailed away from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas, in five days, where we abode seven days.” And it’s the next verse, verse 7, that uses the word “lingered” there in Troas, seven days, in other words, he delayed his departure, intending to depart on the second day of the week.
And now that we’ve got that clear in our minds, let me read about the feast of unleavened bread, from Leviticus chapter 23. I’ll begin with verse 1, where the bible says; “And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying; Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day, is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; It is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.”
“These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.” (You see that first one was a weekly observance, a weekly “holy convocation”. But now comes some seasonal “holy convocations”. A “convocation” in the Hebrew language, is an assembly, and a summoning, and a calling. Sometimes it can mean a “reading”, like a assembly called for the purpose of reading the scriptures. It’s very much like the Greek word “ekklesia” which means a “called out assembly” or a “called out congregation”. And that’s the word that has been translated in our English bibles, as “church”. And so a “convocation” in Hebrew, is pretty much the same as the “ekklesia” in Greek, which is the same as our Christian assembly and our congregation, in English.
So then.. back to Leviticus 23; “These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons; In the fourteenth day of the first month, at even, (that means at evening) is the LORD’S passover.” (the day that the Angel of death passed over the homes of the Israelites in Egypt; The homes that had the blood of the sacrificial lamb, spread across the lintel and the doorposts of the entry into the house) (Passover is one day) And on the fifteenth day of the same month, (the next day) is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: Seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.”
“In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: Ye shall do no servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: In the seventh day is an holy convocation: Ye shall do no servile work therein.”
And I’ll stop there, because that is basically a description of the feast, and the days, of unleavened bread. So, you’ve got the day of Passover, on the fourteenth day, of the first month of the Jewish new year. Then on the fifteenth day, the days of unleavened bread begins, and it goes for seven days. Now, the fourteenth and the fifteenth days of the month, don’t always fall on the same day each year. Just like our fourteenth and fifteenth days would fall on different days of the week each year.
We can use this past year as an example; This year, 2020, the Jewish Passover fell on a Wednesday. And so the days of unleavened bread began on a Thursday. And those days ran from Thursday thru the next Wednesday. Now if by chance, the Days of Unleavened bread had fallen on a Thursday, that year when Paul sailed from Philippi to Troas, here’s how the days would have worked out; Paul would have set sail on Thursday, the day after the Days of Unleavened Bread. And he would have arrived in Troas, five days later, on Monday. But then if he had lingered there for seven days, that would have put their assembly together, on the next Tuesday. But that’s not what happened. The scriptures say that Paul “lingered” in Troas seven days, and then came together with the brethren on the FIRST day of the week, which is Sunday, not Monday. So then what day would Paul have had to left Philippi?
Well, it’s quite possible, that Paul left Philippi on a Wednesday. That way he would have come to Troas on the following Sunday, the first day of the week. Then he could have tarried there for seven days, and have been there on the nest first day of the week. So did Paul arrive too late, for the previous first day of the week assembly?
Not sure. But what we are sure of, is that he “lingered” there in Troas, for the specific purpose of assembling with the saints, on the first day of the week.
The second thing that we need to take note of is this; These Christians assembled there in Troas, on the first day of the week, and came together to “break bread”.
To “break bread” in this verse means to partake of the Lord’s Supper. Some people would argue that this simply refers to a common meal. That phrase, “breaking bread” is sometimes used in the bible to refer to a common meal, such as in Acts 2;46. But the same phrase is also used to refer to the Lord’s Supper, such as in 1 Cor 10:16. We can understand which it refers to (Lord’s supper, or a common meal) in any given verse, by the immediate context.
Here’s the context of Acts 20:7. Paul and Luke are on a missionary journey and were meeting seven other disciples in Troas, along with the Christians who lived there in that city. They stayed there in Troas for seven days, and when the first day of the week arrived, they came together to break bread.
The verse even says that Paul, “delayed his departure, and lingered until the next day”, so that he could be there on the first day of the week, which was when all the disciples “came together to break bread”.
Doesn’t the picture that’s being painted here become obvious? These men did not wait until the first day of the week, just to engage in a common meal. I’m quite sure that they had several meals during that week. But what those Christians did wait until the first day of the week for, was to partake of the Lord’s Supper!
They did not come together on last day of the week, so that Paul could get on with his journey sooner. They could have come together on that day if all they wanted was to have a common meal. And they didn’t do it sometime in the middle of the previous week either. But instead, they waited until the first day of the week, because that was the day, in which the apostles of Christ, and all other first century Christians, came together to “break bread”. In other words, that was the day that they came together to eat the Lord’s Supper.
What do you think, made that particular first day of the week so important, that Paul would linger in Troas an extra day, just so that he could be there for the assembly of the Christians. Why couldn’t he have just taken the Lord’s Supper on the next first day of the week, or the next one after that? Well, the answer should be obvious; Paul lingered in Troas because Christians came together EVERY first day of the week, to worship God, which includes partaking of the Lord’s Supper as Christ has instructed.
“And Upon the First Day of the Week”
Please do this for me; Walk over to your calendar, and see how many weeks have a first day. Now put a big X on the first day of every one of those weeks. This is how often the God has told us in the bible, to come together to “break bread”.
In the old testament, God told His children, the sons of Israel, to “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy”. Exodus 20:8.
Which Sabbath day were they to remember? One per year? One per quarter? One per month? Well, the answer to this is obvious also. They were to remember EVERY Sabbath day! Need I say more?
It is quite interesting that when people read 1 Cor 16:2, where it says; “On the first day of the week, let each one of you lay by in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come”, no one seems to have any problem understanding that it’s every first day of the week that we should “lay by in store”.
Why is it that when it comes to money, almost all churches want to have a collection EVERY first day of the week, but when it comes to “proclaiming His death” (1 Cor 11:26), the majority of “churches”, are satisfied with once a quarter, or a couple special times a year?
Jesus asked this question..
“Why call Me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things that I say?” Luke 6:46 He also said, “Not everyone who says to Me Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven” Mat 7:21
How Often Should We Partake of the Lord’s Supper?
That depends on who you ask, the God of heaven, or man.
Your comments are always welcome and encouraged. If you have questions about this topic, or any other, please ask. If you want to discuss these things in more detail, please let us know. May God bless you in your study of His word.
I hope you, your family, and friends stay safe by taking the proper precuations as we enter in to confusing and troubling times as we watch a worldwide pandemic unfold with this Coronavirus.
Could there be something more deeper going on with all of this? Could we be seeing the signs of the times unfolding? Could this be a door of opportunity for people to open their hearts to what God has to say?
Jesus says to His disciples concerning the last days, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:7-8).
We have been seeing a record setting amount of Earthquakes world-wide in various places, incuding places that normally do not receive Earthquakes. Now with this Coronavirus, could this be one of the pestilences that will fall upon us in the last days as spoken by Jesus? Where will it leave our economy? Did you know the Bible teaches there will be a cashless society in the last days? Will this be a major stepping stone in bringing that about?
You may have seen on NBC news just months ago concerning the implantable RFID microchip that is gaining ground in Sweden where people are getting this microchip implanted in their hand.
Would you allow a microchip to be placed inside your body that has the ability to track where you go and what you do? How about if you knew it matched perfectly with Bible prophecy where God warns us not to take it during the future reign of the Antichrist, otherwise we will receive the fullness of His wrath (Revelation 14:9-11)?
This may be the most imporant message you will read in these times…please do not ignore this! This messsage reveals what the Mark of the Beast is, and the meaning behind counting a number people have been pondering for centuries, 666. This is truly a message from God!
In the Revelation of Jesus Christ given to the apostle John, we read:
“He (the false prophet who deceives many by his miracles) causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666” (Revelation 13:16-18).
Revelation 13:16-18 is speaking of the end times, and this could only be speaking of a cashless money society, which we have yet to see, but are heading towards. Why? Because we could still buy or sell without receiving the mark among one another if physical money was still currency. It logically deduces itself to this reason.
This mark could not be spiritual, because the word references two different physical locations stating one “OR” the other.
This is where it really starts to come together. It is shocking how accurate the Bible is concerning this RFID microchip. These are notes from a man named Carl Sanders who worked with a team of engineers to help develop this RFID microchip in the 1960’s.
“Carl Sanders sat in seventeen New World Order meetings with heads-of-state officials such as Henry Kissinger and Bob Gates of the C.I.A. to discuss plans on how to bring about this one-world system. The government commissioned Carl Sanders to design a microchip for identifying and controlling the peoples of the world—a microchip that could be inserted under the skin with a hypodermic needle (a quick, convenient method that would be gradually accepted by society).
Carl Sanders, with a team of engineers behind him, with U.S. grant monies supplied by tax dollars, took on this project and designed a microchip that is powered by a lithium battery, rechargeable through the temperature changes in our skin. Without the knowledge of the Bible (Brother Sanders was not a Christian at the time), these engineers spent one-and-a-half-million dollars doing research on the best and most convenient place to have the microchip inserted.
Guess what? These researchers found that the forehead and the back of the hand (the two places Revelation says the mark will go) are not just the most convenient places, but are also the only viable places for rapid, consistent temperature changes in the skin to recharge the lithium battery. The microchip is approximately seven millimeters in length, .75 millimeters in diameter, about the size of a grain of rice. It is capable of storing pages upon pages of information about you. All your general history, work history, crime record, health history, and financial data can be stored on this chip.
Brother Sanders believes that this microchip, which he regretfully helped design, is the “mark†spoken about in Revelation 13:16–18. The original Greek word for “mark†is “charagma,†which means a “scratch or etching.†It is also interesting to note that the number 666 is actually a word in the original Greek. The word is “chi xi stigma,†with the last part, “stigma,†also meaning “to stick or prick.†Carl believes this is referring to a hypodermic needle when they poke into the skin to inject the microchip.”
Mr. Sanders asked a Boston Medical Center doctor what would happen if the lithium contained within the RFID microchip leaked into the body. The doctor responded that if the microchip broke inside a human body, the lithium would cause a severe and painful wound filled with pus. This is what the book of Revelation says:
“And the first(Angel) went, and poured out his vial on the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore on the men which had the mark of the beast, and on them which worshipped his image” (Revelation 16:2).
The Bible tells us we cannot buy or sell without the mark of the beast, or the number of its name. This number is identified as 666. The Bible tells us to calculate the number 666. How do we calculate 666?
This is where it gets really interesting. Calculating the number 666 has been long debated throughout the centuries, but has now been revealed in these last days by God. What I will show you confirms itself with the Bible the true meaning to calculate 666.
Throughout the Bible, God uses the number 3 as confirmation of things. Here are a few examples:
“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one” (1 John 5:7 NKJV).
“and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4 NKJV).
“…Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8 NKJV).
Now what is interesting is the the mark of the beast is described in detail in three separate verses (Revelation 13:16,17,18), and each verse lists three different examples of the given topic. The last three being the number 6 being used three times in a row. This is a key point to unlocking how to calculate the number 666.
What does it mean to count? It means to add up. So how could we add up 666? Remember my previous point about God confirming in threes. So logically, what would be the best way to count the number 666? To count it equally in threes based off the number. We cannot count it equally as 600+60+6, this would also bring us back to the start. We cannot count it as 600+600+600, or 60+60+60, because there are no zeroes in between or at the end of 666. The only logical option is 6+6+6=18. What is interesting is that the verse that reveals for us to count the number itself is verse 18, being the third verse out of three verses that describe the mark of the beast. What is 18 divided by 3? 6. So 3×6=18, or 6+6+6=18.
Another interesting point is the only two other combinations (making a total of three possible combinations) for placing a “+” symbol in between the 6’s are 66+6=72, and 6+66=72. Add both 72’s together and you get 144. Why the number 144 is interesting is because the verse following Revelation 13:18 is the first time in the Bible where the 144,000 are being described in detail:
“Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads…” (Revelation 14:1).
Now if you add up all three numbers by counting 666 by moving the “+” symbol around in all three possible combinations, it would be 72+72+18=162. What is interesting about the number 162, is, if you divide 144,000 by 162, you get 888. The name of Jesus in Greek gematria adds up to 888. The New Testament was orignally written in Greek. Revelation 14:1 not only mentions the 144,000, but also the Lamb who is Jesus.
Now what is interesting about the number for Jesus, 888, is that if you apply this same formula, you get 8+8+8=24. Why the number 24? Revelation chapter 4 tells us there are 24 elders seated around the throne of God. This is the same throne where Jesus sits:
“Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads” (Revelation 4:2-4).
Now if you take 8+8+8=24, and 8+88=96, and 88+8=96, you get 24+96+96=216. Take 144,000 divided by 216 and you get 666. Remember that this was the same exact formula to get the number 162 out of counting 666 that brought about the number 888 when dividing 144,000 by 162. It is perpetual.
With using the same formula of counting by adding the “+” symbol in between the numbers, why do all these numbers relate in such a way?
The book of Revelation contains the use of the number 7 in various forms. For instance 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls. What is interesting about the number 37 (three sevens) is if if you divide any number that contains the same single digit three times in a row, such as 111 to 999, it comes out to the value of if you were to add all three numbers up. For example 888 divided by 37 equals 24. So 8+8+8=24. Or 666 divided by 37 equals 18. So 6+6+6=18. Could this be another way of God’s word confirming itself that the mystery behind calculating the number 666 indeed is 18?
Another interesting point to note is that if you add up all the numbers from 1 to 36, it totals 666. The number 36, as in three sixes? Could this be a hint that we should add up three sixes instead of perceiving the number as six-hundred sixty six?
So what could this mean? Well we know in this world we are identified by numbers in various forms. From our birth certificate to social security, as well as our drivers license, being identified based on a system of ruler ship. So it is possible that this RFID microchip will contain a new identification that has a total of 18 characters.
“here the wisdom is, the one having the mind let him calculate the number of the wild beast, number for “of human” it is, and the number of it 666″ (Revelation 13:1, Greek Translation).
The Greek word “anthrÅpos” being used in verse 18 where it says “of human” is the Greek strongs concordance G444. The first two definitions of the word are “a human being, whether male or female”, and, “generically, to include all human individuals”. Could the number of the beast apply to all mankind?
In the Greek (the New Testament was originally written in the Greek language), and other translations, you will notice the beast is described as an “it”, instead of “him”. The reason I’m making this point is because when a translation says “His number is 666”, this would imply a singular person, the Antichrist. But by saying “the number of it 666”, implies that it is of the beast system as a whole.
We can know the number of the beast cannot be to identify products (like a new barcode) to buy or sell because scripture says we cannot buy or sell without the number of the beast. What am I getting at? There will be instances where you could buy something someone made themselves and it wouldn’t have a store branded identification on it. But for this number to be in our chips, that is where it must be to conclude ultimately that we cannot buy or sell without having the number of the beast. As previously mentioned in Revelation 13:18, the number of the beast (6+6+6=18) is a “human number”, definition “generically, to include all human individuals”.
Could this be the name of the beast, the number of its name? The one-world beast system that is identified by 18 characters? This would fit scripture that speaks of a mark that we must have to buy or sell in our right hand or forehead, and that it also contains the number of the beast, during a future cashless money society.
Go to: http://voice-truth.com to see all the proof!
The Bible warns us in the end times that a false prophet will rise up doing miracles to deceive many to receive this mark:
“Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image” (Revelation 19:20).
No matter the cost, DO NOT TAKE IT!
“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:9-11).
We are living in very prophetic times with major Biblical prophecies being fulfilled. When Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as capital of Israel in December of 2017, this was a big step to bring about the Third Temple prophesied in the Bible.
The Bible tells us that the Antichrist will seat himself in this temple:
“…and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
In the Islamic religion, they have man called the Mahdi, known as their messiah who they are waiting to appear. There are many testimonies from people online who believe this man will be Barack Obama who is to be the biblical Antichrist. I myself have had strange dreams about him. He came on stage claiming to be a Christian with no affiliation to the Muslim faith, but was later revealed by his own family members that he indeed is a devout Muslim.
So what’s in the name? The meaning of someones name can say a lot about a person. God throughout history has given names to people that have a specific meaning tied to their lives. How about the name Barack Obama? Let us take a look at what may be hiding beneath the surface…
Jesus says, “And He said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven'” (Luke 10:18).
In Hebrew, the word Barack means “lightning”, and the use of Bama (Strongs Hebrew word 1116) is used to refer to the “heights” of heaven.
The day following the election of Barack Obama (11/04/08), the winning pick 3 lotto numbers in Illinois (Obama’s home state) for 11/5/08 were 666.
Obama was a U.S. senator for Illinois, and his zip code was 60606.
Regardless, whoever seats himself in that Third Temple in Jerusalem declaring himself to be God IS THE ANTICHRIST. DO NOT BE DECEIVED.
Why do we need Jesus?
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Our good works cannot save us. If we step before a judge, being guilty of a crime, the judge will not judge us by the good that we have done, but rather the crimes we have committed. If we as fallen humanity, created in God’s image, pose this type of justice, how much more a perfect, righteous, and Holy God?
God has brought down His moral law’s through the 10 commandments given to Moses at Mt. Siani. These laws were not given so we may be justified, but so that we may see the need for a savior. They are the mirror of God’s character of what He has put in each and every one of us, with our conscious bearing witness that we know that it is wrong to steal, lie, dishonor our parents, and so forth.
We can try and follow the moral laws of the 10 commandments, but we will never catch up to them to be justified before a Holy God. That same word of the law given to Moses became flesh over 2000 years ago in the body of Jesus Christ. He came to be our justification by fulfilling the law, living a sinless perfect life that only God could fulfill.
The gap between us and the law can never be reconciled by our own merit, but the arm of Jesus is stretched out by the grace and mercy of God. And if we are to grab on, through faith in Him, He will pull us up being the one to justify us. As in the court of law, if someone steps in and pays your fine, even though you are guilty, the judge can do what is legal and just and let you go free. This is what Jesus did almost 2000 years ago on the cross. It was a legal transaction being fulfilled in the spiritual realm by the shedding of His blood, with His last words being, “…It is finished!…” (John 19:30).
Now why did Jesus have to die for us?
Because God is Holy and just, the wrath that we deserve could not go unnoticed. Through the perfect righteousness and justice of God’s character, it must be dealt with, it must be quenched and satisfied.
For God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23). This is why in Isaiah chapter 53, where it speaks of the coming Messiah and His soul being a sacrifice for our sins, why it says it pleased God to crush His only begotten Son.
This is because the wrath that we deserve was justified by being poured out upon His Son. If that wrath was poured out on us, we would all die and go to hell. God created a way of escape by pouring it out on His Son who’s soul could not be left in Hades, but was raised and seated at the right hand of God in power.
So now when we put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14), God no longer see’s the person who deserves His wrath, but rather the glorious image of His perfect Son dwelling in us, justifying us as if we received the wrath we deserve, making a way of escape from the curse of death.
Now what we must do is repent and trust in the savior, confessing and forsaking our sins. This is not just a head knowledge of believing in Jesus, but rather receiving His words, taking them to heart. Where we no longer live to practice sin, but rather turn from our sins and practice righteousness:
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
By doing so we may become transformed into the image of God through faith in His Son Christ Jesus Who is willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask of Him:
“Most assuredly, I (Jesus) say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (John 3:5-7).
“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” (Romans 8:9).
What are you waiting for? Our Father in heaven only wants the best for us, restoring everything this world has stolen from us. This is what it means to be “holy”. To be made whole.
He is waiting to hear from you. That God given tongue to speak language, through faith, pray to Him, ask Him to forgive you by confessing your sins and be willing to forsake them; that you accept the sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross, and that you want His Holy Spirit living inside you transforming you into a child of God.
Jesus says, “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him (the Holy Spirit) will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Did you know that Jesus spoke more about hell than anyone else, even more than He spoke about heaven?! For this very reason He came to die for us, to rescue us from this place that we deserve.
He describes hell as a real place where,
“Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44).
And where,
“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth…” (Luke 13:28).
Jesus tells us who to fear,
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’
Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’
And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.'” (Revelation 21:1-8).
Out of all the world religions, how can we be sure the Bible got it right? The scientific data has established and continues to support that the universe once had a beginning in which space, time and matter were created. Many know this as the big bang.
“The non-biblical religions tell us that god or god’s create within space and time that eternally exist. The Bible stands alone and says that time and space don’t exist until God creates the universe.” – Astronomer (Phd) Hugh Ross
The Bible not only got it right that space, time and matter all came into existence at the beginning of the universe, it also states in 7 different places that the universe is expanding thousands of years before scientists discovered these things.
Did you know that the real Noah’s Ark was discovered in the location where the Bible told us it would be, as well as having the correct dimensions? As well as proof for the destruction of Sodom Gomorrah and the Exodus account of the Red Sea crossing?
The Bible is the most translated and read book in the history of the world, full of predictive prophecies, matching what we find in the book of nature. Wouldn’t you expect God’s word to be so?
This information and more can all be found here: http://voice-truth.com
God loves you!
1/13/201
You write:
Now, I like to take things one step at a time, so that I can be sure of where I agree with someone, and exactly where we differ. Therefore, would you please answer this question; Considering the example in 1 Corinthians 11:18 thru 22, and especially Paul’s sarcastic comment in verse 20, when he said, (YOUR QUESTION NUMBER ONE) “Therefore, when you meet together, it is NOT to eat the Lord’s supper”; Do you believe that this indicates that God intends for us to partake of the Lord’s supper when the church comes together for worship? (whenever that may be)
(YOUR QUESTION NUMBER TWO) Or do you believe that individual families can, and should, at their own choosing, partake of it at a time that suits them? In other words, is partaking of the Lord’s supper, “an act of worship” that should only be practiced when the congregation assembles for worship (regardless of when that assembly takes place) or is it an act that can be observed at any time, and in any setting?
Yes, regarding your concerns for my travels in the desert communities of Joshua Tree and 29 Palms, as I visited with my 96 year old mother-in-law who lives comfortably in a Christian Care Facility in 29 Palms called Desert Rose, and family members all of whom are believers. So far, we have all returned safely to our homes…but some of our family have taken this opportunity to extend their vacations and are not yet home at this writing.
I must thank you again, Brother Jim, for your patience with me as I seek Bible answers to your subject: HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE TAKE THE LORD’S SUPPER.
YOUR QUESTION NUMBER ONE, YOU ASK:
“Therefore, when you meet together, it is NOT to eat the Lord’s Supper”;
Do you believe that this indicates that God intends for us to partake of the Lord’s Supper when the church comes together for worship (whenever that may be)?
May I answer your question with a question to you? Do these verses of Scripture order the Corinthian church, or any other church, to take the Lord’s Supper every Sunday, as the thesis of your paper assumes?
Since this event at Corinth does NOT state succinctly that God commands/orders/prefers the church at Corinth to meet/observe the Lord’s Supper, or anything else, on any day, I cannot answer your question definitively, nor can anyone else. Remember, as you suggest: Paul is MOCKING the people at this meeting. Paul is NOT happy with what they do here at this family meal. But, I ask: is Paul happy about taking the Lord’s Supper EVERY SUNDAY, as your paper assumes? Scripture is silent on orders that require the Lord’s Supper to be served every Sunday, as your paper supposes, HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE TAKE THE LORD’S SUPPER?
However, this Text DOES state that the church at Corinth meets for some reason and upon some day and while doing so, partakes of a family meal, which, as Paul states, is despicable. You see, Pastor Jim, from what is sketchily reported in this event, I cannot INFER as a rule from God, nor as a Bible hermeneutic, what Scripture does not IMPLY. Respectfully, may I ask of you, as you have asked of me: in order for me to know how you decide what is God’s will: Do you rely upon what SCRIPTURE SPECIFICALLY STATES, or do you INTUIT rules from God that SCRIPTURE DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY STATE? You seem to infer from your selected verses of Scripture under review, that God implies this or that, and you are pleased to infer this or that from what God’s Word does not specifically state. Do YOU have authority from God to decide His intentions from a window of Scripture such as you offer here?
Further, from your choice of this Scripture, do you base your Bible hermeneutic that Scripture CLEARLY STATES BIBLE EVIDENCE THAT EVERY SUNDAY IS ORDERED BY GOD TO TAKE COMMUNION, as your thesis statement assumes? I would like you to answer these questions. Is it because a church in Corinth meets on a Sunday in DISHONOR, that you assume that God orders EVERY CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY FOREVER TO TAKE THE LORD’S SUPPER, as the thesis of your paper assumes? Please give your opinion regarding my questions, since Scripture is silent on them.
YOUR QUESTION NUMBER TWO, YOU ASK: Or do you believe that individual families can, and should, at their own choosing, partake of it at a time that suits them? In other words, is partaking of the Lord’s Supper, “an act of worship” that should only be practiced when the congregation assembles for worship (regardless of when that assembly takes place) or is it an act that can be observed at any time, and in any setting?
Since Scripture states no such answers for me to quote to you, I offer to you examples from Scripture, similar to examples from Scripture that you offer to me. In Acts 2:46-47, Dr. Luke records this: EVERY DAY they continued to meet together in the Temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. EVERY DAY does NOT mean one time each week and on Sunday ONLY. And please notice syntax: (1) they BROKE BREAD in their homes AND (2) ATE meals together. Two important acts are noted in this verse: BREAKING BREAD and EATING MEALS TOGETHER. These two acts are NOT the same.
Would you list PRAISING GOD in what you call, ACTS OF WORSHIP? If you do, then these new believers ASSEMBLE EVERY DAY and worship God both in homes and in Temple courts. Verse 42 uses the same language: …they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Would you list these four acts as WORSHIP? Is this DAILY procedure what the apostles taught? Do Apostles and Prophets speak for God 2 Chron. 29:25? Have you chosen a pick-and-choose format from which to argue this or that? Jesus asks, “How readest thou?…and not how feelest thou… and not how choosest thou… and not how intuitest thou?”
Scripture neither prescribes when nor how often the Early Christians Assemble or how often to Break Bread, or how often to eat a meal together or how often or on what day to Assemble to praise God in worship and in fellowship. However, in these verses: the word of choice is, DAILY. Scripture merely records what Early Christians do, and this is sufficient as guidelines for me.
As I replied earlier, Jesus institutes His Memorial Supper probably on Wednesday, at Passover, and Paul, at Troas, has Communion on Monday. Therefore, if Anointed Apostles teach new believers in Acts 2 to Assembly DAILY, does God or Paul disagree with the apostles about frequency? But, Brother Bill, you DO disagree with God and the Apostles, regarding frequency, right?
I don’t know what you mean by “an act of worship” that should only be practiced when the congregation assembles for worship. Your language has denominational ring to it that I don’t read in Scripture. All that anyone knows regarding sites for worship in the First Century were in private homes (because of persecution, I would guess). History claims that the first church building, probably and add-on to a private home was during the reign of Roman Emperor Alexander Severus, 222-235 AD, who was favorable to Christianity. The church building is in Syria. But, not much is known regarding worship in private homes in NT times. There are no records kept of family worship in private homes in very early Christian times, again, probably because of persecution: if the records were found, death might be the result for an entire family of believers.
Therefore, your question leaves me to answer both Biblically and historically, that God does NOT disapprove of having the Lord’s Supper on any day of the week if the day is duly chosen by a believing family. I would guess that the most favorable days in NT Bible times would be on Saturday or on Sunday. There are no rules in Scripture for which day God favors Christian Assembly. In fact, Scripture states that where there is no RULE, there is no breaking of RULE, Ro. 4:15. As I wrote in my last reply, Paul states that if a believer believes that one day is special to the Lord for him/her, then it is OK with Paul, Ro. 14:5. But, if another person objects to someone else’s special Lord’s day (a day of choice that is devoted to the Lord) then don’t fuss about it; mind your own business, seems to be Paul’s view.
Does it seem normal to you that when Paul INTENDS to mean EACH/EVERY week, Paul writes EACH/EVERY week. As Paul writes to this Corinthian church regarding a collection of money for benevolence, Paul orders to give on EACH/EVERY first of the Sabbaths, I Cor. 16:2. But when Paul writes to the same church, in the same letter, in the same language, Paul does NOT write EACH/EVERY on the first of the Sabbaths in his advice regarding the Lord’s Supper. It seems to me that Paul writes EACH/EVERY week when Paul INTENDS EACH/EVERY week. Paul knows how to spell the words when he INTENDS the words. Paul does not deal with FREQUENCY in observing the Lord’s Supper nor does Paul prescribe EVERY first day of each week to partake of the Lord’s Supper. FREQUENCY is NOT an issue with Paul regarding the Lord’s Supper, but FREQUENCY IS an issue with Paul regarding benevolence.
Also in Paul’s Letter to Corinth, Paul is neither specific nor prescriptive regarding WHEN or HOW OFTEN the church at Corinth ASSEMBLES. I Cor. 14:26, When you come together (Gk. assemble) each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. As Paul writes: When you come together…he merely notes that the church assembles…not how often, and not what day. In this, Paul’s hortatory regarding Assembly Instructions, Paul omits any particular day of a week for Assembly. It seems to me that a valid Bible hermeneutic ought to be founded in what Scripture STATES and NOT what Scripture OMITS. Respectfully, Elton
Thank you Elton, for your thought provoking response. I wanted to acknowledge your reply right away, but I ask that you give me a little time to prepare my answers to you. But I do want to acknowledge the fact that you present very strong reasoning for your views concerning the Lord’s supper. Please allow me a day or two in my response, as I am presently working on some bible lessons for tomorrow. May God bless. Jim.
REPLY #2, From Elton
As I noted in my first reply, in the three accounts of the Gospels in which the event of the Lord’s Supper is told, there are no ORDERS/COMMANDS stated by Jesus to participate in the Supper EVERY Sunday, or on any other day. In what is recorded in the Gospels, it seems that Jesus allows unstated the FREQUENCY, that is, how OFTEN to eat/drink the Supper. To the group at table, Jesus states, AS OFTEN AS YOU DO THIS, REMEMBER ME. AS OFTEN does NOT mean EVERY Sunday. Further, as Jesus speaks to the 12 (or, perhaps, the 11) Jesus ORDERS/COMMANDS no others than those present to REMEMBER HIM in this way. This is what Scripture states in three of the Gospels.
Therefore, in my first reply, I write: YES, AND REGARDING THIS QUESTION, UPON WHICH SCRIPTURE IS SILENT… . 1. Does Scripture SPECIFICALLY ORDER anyone or any church to observe the Lord’s Supper each week on Sunday? Since EVERY SUNDAY COMMUNION is the POINT of your paper, in this reply, I respond to your view: EACH SUNDAY, and NOT that any church group in Scripture chooses to observe the Supper on a Sunday of choice. Therefore, your objection to what I wrote is a non-objection. I did NOT write that a church in Acts 20, or a church in any other of Paul’s letters does NOT observe the Supper on the First Day of the Week. There is a difference in what Scripture states and what Scripture does NOT state. Please be careful to observe that I agree with Scripture: there are no commands/orders by God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit (speaking through the pen of an NT letter-writer) ordering/commanding any church to observe the Supper EVERY Sunday, as you suppose. (In this sentence, please notice COMMANDS/ ORDERS.)
Be advised that when Paul writes to the church at Corinth, I Cor. 11:20, Paul uses almost the same language as Jesus: WHEN YOU COME TOGETHER. Again in I Cor. 14:26, WHEN YOU COME TOGETHER: συνέρχομαι, in Greek means ASSEMBLE. And, please be advised that the word WHEN does NOT mean EVERY first day of a week. And, please note that ASSEMBLE does NOT mean EVERY first day of a week, either.
Your favorite proof-text is Acts 20:7, read it carefully in several English translations: Acts 20:7-12 (KJV) 7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. 8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. 9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. 10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. 11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. 12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
Please notice that in verse 7 Paul preaches until MIDNIGHT. And, in verse 11 Paul has communion. When Paul Breaks Bread, communion, the day is Monday to both Jews and to Gentiles. After 6:00 PM, to a Jew, it is the next day. After midnight to a Roman, it is the next day. Therefore, as Scripture documents, the Lord’s Supper at Troas is on MONDAY.
Do you notice that in KJV, the word DAY is in italics, this means that the word DAY is NOT in the Greek manuscript.
The following is a copy of a Gk. manuscript of Acts 20:7 in modern printing:
(Sorry, the image will not print here.)
In case that your type does not print Greek lettering, here are the words of the Greek in English as it is transliterated:
IN AND THE FIRST OF THE SABBATHS, HAVING BEEN ASSEMBLED OF US TO BREAK BREAD, THE PAUL DISCOURSED TO THEM, BEING ABOUT TO DEPART ON THE MORROW; CONTINUED AND THE DISCOURSE TILL MIDNIGHT.
Does this Greek Text state that the Troas Church eats/drinks Lord’s Supper EVERY Sunday?
Here is another Greek Text on the same verse, Acts 20:7, (Please note that the numbers above each Greek word point to Strong’s Unabridged Concordance in Hebrew and Greek. Strong is a recognized authority in both Bible languages):
(Sorry, the image will not print here.)
The English literal translation is:
on and the one of the Sabbaths, having been assembled, the disciples to break bread, Paul reasoned to them about to depart on the morrow; he continued and the discourse until midnight.
Further, it is grammatically correct in both English and in Greek to read verse 20 indicating that this special meeting is arranged in Troas to coincide with WHEN the Lord’s Supper is served, that is, on the First of the Sabbaths WHEN the Lord’s SUPPER is served. And NOT meeting on some other first of the Sabbaths when the Lord’s Supper is NOT served. During this particular meeting at Troas, the visitors make it clear that they want to meet on the exact day WHEN the Lord’s Supper is served in Assembly. Scripture states no more than this. In verse 20, there is no such statement regarding four calendar days as you assume. In verse 20, Scripture makes no such statement as you believe: EVERY FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, THE SAINTS AT TROAS OBSERVED THE LORD’S SUPPER. Nor is an EVERY WEEK EVENT implied in the Text.
SCRIPTURE RELATES TO THIS SUBJECT IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
DAYS.
1. Romans 14:5-6 (NIV), 5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.
While context primarily deals with flouting one’s liberty in the face of another, Paul includes his view regarding DAYS. Apparently, Paul would not rule against having the Lord’s Supper, a sacred day, on Tuesday or on Wednesday, as Jesus does when He begins this remembrance of Himself; and Paul, at Troas, partakes on Monday.
LIBERTY.
2. Colossians 2:16-22, Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ… 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.
Again, context is not the Lord’s Supper, but Paul writes against making up human rules and regulations that substitute for what Scripture does not state. For example, ordering Lord’s Supper EVERY SUNDAY is a human rule interpreted from Scripture. Paul says, “DON’T DO IT.
RULE MAKING.
3. Romans 4:15, … And where there is no law there is no transgression.
Paul writes: Do NOT make rules/regulations/laws where God has made none. Scripture orders/commands no such rule that mandates the Lord’s Supper EVERY SUNDAY.
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS AND FURTHER COMMENTS.
YOU STATE/ASK: However, it’s obvious that Jesus does expect His disciples to partake of this memorial at some point, because of the fact that He said; “..I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine, until I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.” Do you read that differently than I do, or do you agree that Jesus was saying that He will be with them in Spirit as they once again partake of this memorial, after His kingdom is established?
SCRIPTURE ANSWERS: Lk, 22:13,…so they prepared for the PASSOVER. Vs. 17, “…I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine, until I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”
I do not agree with you. Respectfully, if you are quoting from Lk. 22:17, you are quoting a verse from a cup of the Passover Feast. This cup, which you quote, is not the cup of the Lord’s Supper; this cup, which you quote, is not a memorial of anything. Compare verse 20 for the cup of the Lord’s Supper. I have no idea what is this spiritual business that you suggest. (Again, I only know what Scripture states.) However, Jesus does eat/drink with two men who are on their way to Emmaus, Lk. 24:13-32. At this time, it seems that Jesus’ kingdom, at least part of it, has come (but the kingdom with a lion eating straw and a lamb settling down with a wolf, Is. 65:25, has, of course not yet come at the time of the Emmaus dinner.) But maybe this Emmaus dinner this is what Jesus means in drinking anew in the kingdom, Lk. 22:17.
YOU STATE: “the Bible teaches us by example when to partake of the Lord’s Supper.”
SCRIPTURE ANSWERS: Acts 20:7, 11, On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight…11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left.
The Bible states WHEN the TROAS GROUP has the Lord’s Supper: it was on MONDAY. Nowhere does Scripture ORDER that the Lord’s Supper be observed EVERY SUNDAY.
YOU STATE/ASK: Obviously, the disciples would have eaten a meal on every day, although they might not have all gathered together for a common meal, every day. Can you think of a good reason why God would be telling us about how the disciples gathered together on the first day of the week for a common meal?
SCRIPTURE ANSWERS: Acts 2:46, 47, And they, (DISCIPLES) continuing DAILY with one accord in the temple, and BREAKING BREAD FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people.
YOU STATE/ASK: …it is established by 1 Cor. 11:18 thru 22, that one of the very purposes for coming together in assembly, is to partake of the Lord’s supper. Please let me know if you believe that Christians are directed to assemble on the first day of the week.
I RESPOND: In I Cor. Paul deals with a number of questions that were asked of him by the Corinthian church of God, 7:1, Now, for the matters you wrote about….
Therefore, for me to read what Paul writes regarding the Lord’s Supper to the Corinthian church and to conclude that EVERY SUNDAY as THE day for the Lord’s Supper, is pure speculation. The Lord’s Supper, is only ONE problem that Paul deals with in his Letter to Corinth. In another part of this Letter, Paul responds to Assembly in quite another way. In I Cor. 14, Paul focuses upon EDIFICATION when they assemble (whatever day this might be). I Cor. 14:26, …When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church,
Again, Verse 31…so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
It seems that there are many reasons to Assemble, the Lord’s Supper is only one of the reasons to assemble.
YOU ASK: Please let me know if you believe that Christians are directed to assembly on the first day of the week.
I ANSWER: One word in your question is troublesome. If by DIRECTED, you mean believers are ORDERED/COMMANDED/REQUIRED/INSTRUCTED to meet every Sunday, my answer is: I find no such orders in Scripture. But if you mean: In the NT, do disciples of Christ meet on Sunday, then I say, YES.
YOU STATE: Whether Jesus gave the instructions on a Wednesday or a Thursday, or whatever day, there certainly isn’t any conflict if the Scriptures later on tell us to observe that memorial on a Sunday.
I RESPOND: My point in NOT regarding INSTRUCTIONS. My point is: on what DAY/EVENING does Jesus institute what is called Lord’s Supper. Your rationale is logical except for one matter: Scriptures do not later on tell us/instruct us to observe that memorial on a Sunday, especially, as you believe, on EVERY SUNDAY (which is the reason for my first reply). In Scripture, if you find orders from God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit for all believers to observe the Lord’s Supper EVERY SUNDAY, forever, please give book, chapter, and verse where such orders/commands are stated in Scripture.
YOU ASK: Out of curiosity, do you believe that the scriptures instruct us today, to lay by in store, on the first day of the week, as the Corinthians were instructed to do in the first century?
SCRIPTURE ANSWERS: 1 Corinthians 16:1-3, Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Scripture states that Paul asks the churches in Corinth and in Galatia for money. Why?
1. For a famine in Jerusalem, or so it seems.
2. So that there will be no need to spend time gathering offerings when Paul visits the church at Corinth.
But, since neither of these two reasons for collecting money issue today, I do not give money on any day for these two reasons. However, since the Elders at my church need money each month to pay for costs of operation, I willingly give as I have received. I receive So. Sec. and a few bucks from my savings account on the first of each month. I give money to the church of which I am a member, on the First Sunday of each month: I don’t receive weekly; therefore, I don’t give weekly. (I’m a retired barber who is too old to continue to work at my profession.)
A FLAWED HERMENEUTIC IS ONE THAT UPHOLDS IN SCRIPTURE ONE’S OWN DOCTRINAL POSITION WHEN IT IS CONVENIENT TO DO SO.
Personally, I favor a method to interpret what Scripture intends, commonly called a hermeneutic, that is consistent throughout the Bible. However, such guideline(s) for interpreting Scripture is (are) few.
Sometimes COMMANDS are helpful; sometimes they are NOT. For example, God commands/orders/instructs three FOODS for Passover Feast, Exodus 12:8. But centuries before Jesus is born, DRINK is added to the feast without authority from God. The change (disobedience?) in what God originally orders does not bother Jesus, Luke 22:17. Jesus “toasts” the group with drink, anyway. (This cup is a Passover Feast cup and NOT the cup of the Lord’s Supper, cf. vs. 20.)
Further, God commands/orders/instructs worship to Him in Tabernacle and in Temple. But, later on Jesus worships God in Synagogues, Mt. 4:23. Jesus is sinless.
Nevertheless, in your view (as I perceive it to be) EVERY SUNDAY LORD’S SUPPER IS REQUIRED IN SCRIPTURE, and, in your doctrinal position, you seem to favor hand-picked EXAMPLES of this or that. That is, if an isolated verse of Scripture pleases your doctrinal position: it is foundational! But this kind of hermeneutic is almost always “pick-and-choose.” Surely you know that some examples of NT Writings relate to First Century culture ONLY with, perhaps, a principle of which, lingers, in some way, to benefit future generations.
Your hermeneutic seems to hold dear certain EXAMPLES in NT Scripture that you favor doctrinally. But do you also hold dear similar EXAMPLES in NT Scripture in disfavor of your doctrinal position? To illustrate: You might hold dear that Jesus is EXAMPLE in death on a cross. But if anyone in modern society is simarlly crucified, how is this death meaningful? My point is this: in NT Scripture, some examples are written for succeeding generations to ponder, but other examples in NT Scripture wed only to First Century culture. Respectfully, Elton
Hello Elton. I trust that you had a safe trip and that you are now home safe. I’m thankful for that. And I thank you for responding as you had said you would. Also you put much thought into your replies, and again, thank you for that. I appreciate the depth that you go into with your reasoning. Please allow me to address the subject of hermeneutics. I too understand that anyone’s method of interpreting scripture (hermeneutic) must be consistent. And I also agree with you that there are few guidelines given in the bible. One guideline that is given, is in Isaiah 1:18; “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord.” Since it is the Lord telling us to reason together with HIM, we obviously must use HIS word to reason with. In other words, our interpretation of one passage of scripture, cannot conflict with our interpretation of another passage, they all must mesh perfectly. It all must be reasonable and harmonious, when put together.
That really seems to be where our “common ground ” is. We both view the word as our only guide, and we look for consistency, and we try to use reason and rationality in our interpretation of the bible. I can see however, that we do see examples in a different light. It seems obvious to me, that we can’t look at all examples equally. For instance, just because we have the example of the disciples meeting in an upper room, we surely wouldn’t conclude that all Christians everywhere must meet in upper rooms. When Jesus spoke to the woman at Jacob’s well, He clearly indicated that it doesn’t really matter where you gather for worship, simply that our worship be done in spirit and in truth. So then you might say that the teaching of Jesus in John 4:19 thru 24, “overrides” any examples that we read of, concerning where the disciples may have met, and would nullify anyone’s claim that we must meet on a certain place.
However, before talking about any more examples, and what they do, or do not imply, let me say something else. Concerning the Lord’s supper, we are in perfect agreement that Jesus did not specify when we should partake of it. And we also agree that the words “as often as you eat..” do not specify when to do it. Now, I like to take things one step at a time, so that I can be sure of where I agree with someone, and exactly where we differ. Therefore, would you please answer this question; Considering the example in 1 Corinthians 11:18 thru 22, and especially Paul’s sarcastic comment in verse 20, when he said, “Therefore, when you meet together, it is NOT to eat the Lord’s supper”; Do you believe that this indicates that God intends for us to partake of the Lord’s supper when the church comes together for worship? (whenever that may be) Or do you believe that individual families can, and should, at their own choosing, partake of it at a time that suits them? In other words, is partaking of the Lord’s supper, “an act of worship” that should only be practiced when the congregation assembles for worship (regardless of when that assembly takes place) or is it an act that can be observed at any time, and in any setting?
12/26/17
Thank you for your thoughtful and kind reply to my Response #1 regarding your views of day and frequency of the Lord’s Supper, and how you decide each from Scripture. You ask interesting questions for me to ponder. Thank you for each of them. I have never had a minister publish any of my responses to an opinion On Line, NEVER: Yours is the first: and you published it all and without editing any of it! Interesting.
For a week, I will be visiting in Southern CA., returning probably on the 4th of January. Your questions cause me to plan a bit more study of Scripture. Thank you for this. I will submit more questions and considerations on this subject when I return from this family visit. Respectfully, Elton
Thank you for your response, and I hope you have a wonderful trip to southern Ca. I will be looking forward to hearing from you again. Your views are always welcome here. I believe that all people should be able to see, and consider all sides of an issue. Thanks again Mr. Pamplin.
https://cocbuffalowy.com/2016/06/how-often-should-we-take-the-lords-supper/
The Lord’s Supper
The question before us is, “How often should we take the Lord’s Supper”? Well, one thing is for sure; what we really need to know is, what does GOD say about how often to take the Lord’s Supper. And so to find out what God says, we will need to go to God’s word, the bible.
(Elton responds):
Yes, and regarding this question, upon which Scripture is silent, a reader may perceive how clever is a human mind-set to divine an answer, anyway. It is always a good idea to read what God’s Word SPECIFICALLY STATES regarding any question that is asked of Scripture. 1. Does Scripture SPECIFICALLY ORDER anyone or any church to observe the Lord’s Supper each week on Sunday? (If not, human reasoning can surely decide an answer anyway.)
In the three Gospel scenarios that tell of (what is called) The Lord’s Supper, Jesus, makes no such rules for anyone to observe it on any day in the future, neither every week nor at any other time. In fact, in the three Gospel accounts of what Jesus says, Jesus orders no such re-enactments of this ceremony EVER!
Remember, in the Gospel accounts of the Supper, only Mathew, one of the 12, who writes of this Passover Event is present at this event! Mark and Luke are NOT present. While John IS present at Passover, John omits the Lord’s Supper in his Gospel. And, later on, Apostle Paul quotes what Jesus says at Supper, but Apostle Paul is not present at this event either. Nevertheless, while the three are not present at Supper, later on the Holy Spirit directs the three, in absentia, to write what Jesus does say and to omit what Jesus does NOT say. The Holy Spirit gives each of the three, Mark, Luke, and Paul, the words to write and the words to omit. Therefore, what the three later-on persons write is accepted as “Gospel Truth”. Below is what Jesus tells the Twelve (or the Eleven) in the three Gospels.
Matthew 26:26-30, While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Note that Jesus orders the Twelve (or Eleven) to EAT and to DRINK. But Jesus orders no such weekly re-enactment of this ceremony in the future, nor does Jesus order anyone or any church to re-enact this event on any day of a week, ever! (Is it significant that the Passover, which the Twelve are eating, occurs only ONE time each YEAR? If this quote of Scripture is all that Jesus said to His Disciples, what time frame might the Disciples be thinking … once per year?)
Mark 14:12-26: On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.
Be advised that, WHEN EVENING CAME, as Scripture states, in Jewish time, if it is AFTER 6:00 PM, it is no longer the First Day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Also, be advised, The FIRST DAY of the Festival of Unleavened is not Passover of Leviticus. Please understand this. Also, it was probably Wednesday evening at Passover when Jesus initiates what is called The Lord’s Supper. (Count back from Resurrection Sunday.)
Mark 14:22-26, While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Because Mark is NOT present at this event, later on, the Holy Spirit directs Mark to write what is important! Therefore, does Mark write that Jesus states: Each Sunday every congregation must observe the Lord’s Supper on Sunday of every week FOREVER? Further, at this event, does Jesus order anyone or any church to re-enact this ceremony at any time FOREVER? Notice that in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is quoted as ordering those present to eat and to drink. l. If Jesus intends for later-on disciples (who are not present) to eat, drink, the Gospels are silent. 2. At some future date, if Jesus intends that other churches, must eat/drink, the Gospels are silent. 3. If Jesus intends for this event to repeat each Sunday, FOREVER, the Gospels are silent.
While, neither Mark nor Dr. Luke (a Gentile) are present at this Passover Feast, later on the Holy Spirit directs Dr. Luke to write in his Gospel what is important. And, to omit what is NOT important, it would seem. However, and conversely, Apostle John who is present with the other Disciples at the Last Supper, is not ordered by the Holy Spirit to include the Lord’s Supper event in his Gospel. Interesting.
Luke 22:13-39, … So they prepared the Passover. When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. … 39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.
When Jesus tells His Disciples: … do this in remembrance of me, does Jesus intend: 1. You Disciples: do this NOW remembering who I am? 2. And, does Jesus intend that every believer is ordered to eat and drink of these representations every week and in memory of me? 3. And, does Jesus intend that all future believers in every congregation must eat and drink this Supper every week and always on Sunday? If Jesus intends these three matters, Luke’s Gospel does not state what Jesus intends.
As anyone can read from the three Gospel records of the Lord’s Supper, Jesus orders no such thing as Brother Jim supposes to be orders from God: ALL BELIEVERS MUST RE-ENACT THE LORD’S SUPPER EVENT EVERY SUNDAY BECAUSE IT IS, SOMEHOW, A COMMAND OF GOD!
Nevertheless, Brother Jim bases what he perceives to be orders from God on a selective verse from Acts that disregards the three Gospels accounts of the narrative of the Lord’s Supper. Respectfully, Brother Jim’s choice of Scripture in Acts is many years after the Last Passover and Supper of Christ. Therefore, please observe that what brother Jim believes to be church doctrine is neither ordered, stated, nor implied by Christ of the Gospels. However, Brother Jim truly believes that such as he divines from Scripture are specific orders from God anyway
Such selective reasoning is called “linier vision” and/or case law reasoning. That is, if a reader accepts a certain mental posturing, then a reasoned conclusion seems correct. As in: Anyone who believes in Santa Claus, expects a gift under a (pagan) Christmas Tree. And, in centuries past, if sailors believe that the earth is FLAT, then, to the sailors: sailing in one direction for “too long” could be fatal. Scripture backs up this truth in both correct thinking and in incorrect thinking: As one thinks in his heart, so is he, Prov. 23:7. As one believes, so shall it be done unto him, Mt. 8:13.
This paper ignores Brother Jim’s notions about what he considers to be Sunday in Scripture because such case law mind-set is irrelevant both to his own personal beliefs and to what the writes On Line. Nevertheless, brother Jim quotes what Luke writes in Acts 20:7, And on the first day of the week, when we came together to break bread, Paul began speaking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until mid night.” Does Brother Jim mean here that to be Scripturally Correct the Lord’s Supper must be re-enacted each Sunday and by all congregations forever? If so, in this verse of Scripture, he is mistaken. Please notice that this verse of Scripture states that Paul prolonged his discussion until MIDNIGHT? And what follows after midnight?
What follows after midnight is this: At MIDNIGHT, a young man falls out of a window, and is injured. Next, Paul ministers to the boy. Paul goes back upstairs, and THEN, after midnight, Apostle Paul breaks bread (the Lord’s Supper) as Scripture states. By Jewish time, after 6:00 PM, it is already Monday. But, in this English Version, Roman time is also stated: Midnight. Now it is Monday according to Jewish “clocks” and Roman “clocks”. In these verses that you, Brother Jim, select in your own sort of Proof-Texting, The Lord’s Supper takes place on MONDAY! (Does Paul ignore un-commanded timing that you, personally, hold dear, Brother Jim?)
Further, Brother Jim, with all of your unquoted and imagined views of why Paul stays at Phillipi, Scripture simply states it this way: … 20: 5-6, These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. BUT we sailed from Philippe AFTER THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD… Why does Paul remain in Philippi while sending his traveling companions on to Troas? Read verses 5 and 6 s-l-o-w-l-y. (Further, maybe persecution is another reason for sending others on ahead to plan for a large group of travelers to gather at Troas who need an adequate and safe meeting place for unexpected gatherings of travelers.)
If there is only one command in Scripture to the church at large to partake of the Lord’s Supper, Brother Jim, ignores it. In I Cor: 11:17-33. Vs. 23, …as often as you drink it… As already noted: is NOT an order anyone to observe the Lord’s Supper every Sunday. However, Vs. 24: Do THIS in memory of me, is an order from Paul to the church at Corinth. Paul quotes Jesus as saying: You (Corinthian church) DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME (Jesus). This is the only verse in Scripture that ORDERS all believers to take the Lord’s Supper. But, even this verse of Scripture, does not order anyone to eat it and to drink it every Sunday. Rather, this verse tells WHY to take the Supper, as often as you do it: in remembrance of me!
In summary: 1. Jesus begins Supper at Passover, probably on Wednesday. 2. In the Gospels Jesus does not command a time, a day, or a week to Remember Him in this way. 3. The Gospels do not order later-on believers to Do This in the future. 4. Communion at Troas is on Monday. 4. Both Paul and Luke (neither of whom are present at Supper) quote Jesus to say, As OFTEN as you do this…. Note: No time frame is stated, commanded or implied by either writer. 5. Nevertheless, if a congregation at Troas chooses a favorite day to take the Lord’s Supper, their favorite day of preference neither implies, orders, nor compels all congregations to select the same day that they prefer FOREVER!
Is Brother Jim being PRESCRIPTIVE in his article? That is, does Brother Jim prescribe what he, personally, thinks that Scripture surely must order/command of all believers/ congregations forever? If so, Brother Jim DOES NOT, and CANNOT quote from Scripture what he fantasies in his paper. Sadly, upon such vague notions as his are all denominations founded.
The rest of this article is argumentation. While it is interesting to read, it does not justify comment. Elton L. Pamplin
Thank you Mr. Pamplin for your comments. I am always eager to hear how various people view the scriptures. Expressing our opinions and our interpretations of God’s word is a good way for us to learn. In the very first paragraph of your comments, you say that you believe that the bible is silent, on the question of how often we should partake of the Lords’ supper. I must disagree with you on that. The bible in fact teaches us by example, when to partake of the Lord’s supper. The example from Acts 20:7 is speaking about the disciples coming together on the first day of the week to partake of the Lord’s supper. The reading is as follows; “And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread..” As I said in the article that you responded to; “To break bread”, can either mean to partake of a common meal, or it can mean to partake of the Lord’s supper. The scriptures use the phrase in both ways. I believe we simply need to sue our common sense here. If “break bread” in this verse refers to a common meal, it makes no sense to specify that this took place on the first day of the week. Obviously, the disciples would have eaten a meal on every day, although they might not have all gathered together for a common meal, every day. That fact alone would indicate that this was not an every day event. This is something that the disciples did specifically on the first day of the week. Can you think of a good reason why God would be telling us about how the disciples gathered together on the first day of the week for a common meal? On the other hand, there is a very good reason for God to tell us about the day that the disciples came together to partake of the Lord’s supper. We already know from 1 Corinthians 11:18 thru 22, and specifically verse 20, that one of the very purposes for the church to assemble was to partake of the Lord’s supper. It is clear from the context of these verses, that the Corinthian congregation was abusing the Lord’s supper, by virtually turning it into common meal. The words of verses 21 & 22 prove that to be true.. “For in your eating, one is hungry, and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Since the Corinthians were guilty of abusing the purpose of their assembling together, Paul says in verse 20; “Therefore when you meet together, it is not to partake of the Lord’s supper.” He was being sarcastic towards them. Obviously, the very purpose of their assembling together, was to partake of the Lord’s supper, but they had abused that purpose, hence the sarcastic remark that Paul made. Now these verse do not say anything about what day that Christians gathered together to worship God and to partake of the Lord’s supper, but it clearly shows that the Lord’s supper was a main purpose of that gathering together. I am not making things up here, these are the very words of God concerning the assembling of ourselves together. Now when you couple these verses, with Acts 20:7, which says; “and upon the first day of the week, when we came together to break bread..”, and when you also consider 1 Corinthians 16:2, which says; “On the first day of the week, let each one of you put by himself, as he may prosper..”, it becomes very easy to see that the day of the Christian worship assembly was the first day of the week. and since one of the main purposes of that gathering was to partake of the Lord’s supper, then it would simply be turning a blind eye to the scriptures, not to see the clear example that God has given, concerning when to partake of His memorial supper. I will respond to your other comments in my next reply. Again, thank you very much for your interest, and for expressing your concerns. may God bless you in your study of His word.
Hi again Mr. Pamplin. This is my second reply to your comments, and again I’d like to thank you for your thoughts and your time. You have spent a lot of time going over what is said in the three gospel accounts regarding the Lord’s supper. I agree with you 100% that Jesus never says anything pertaining to when Christians should partake of this memorial. However, it’s obvious that Jesus does expect His disciples to partake of this memorial at some point, because of the fact that He said; “..I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine, until I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.” Do you read that differently than I do, or do you agree that Jesus was saying that He will be with them in Spirit as they once again partake of this memorial, after His kingdom is established?
At any rate, the fact that no time is specified in the gospel accounts, is of no significance IF there is a time specified somewhere else in the new testament. And I realize that you do not believe that a time is specified elsewhere, however I DO believe, as I stated in my first reply to you, that a time IS specified through the example of Acts 20:7. If you have not read that reply, I would ask that you do so. As I said there, it is established by 1 Corinthians 11:18 thru 22, that one of the very purposes for coming together in an assembly, is to partake of the Lord’s supper. Thus the only thing that would remain to be established, is whether or not there is a particular day that has been specified for Christians to assemble together. Please let me know if you believe that Christians are directed to assemble on the first day of the week.
Pertaining to the gospel accounts once again, the particular day in which Jesus gave the instructions about observing the memorial supper, has no bearing on which day the scriptures tell us to comply with those instructions. Whether Jesus gave the instructions on a Wednesday or a Thursday, or whatever day, there certainly isn’t any conflict if the scriptures later on tell us to observe that memorial on a Sunday.
Out of curiosity, do you believe that the scriptures instruct us today, to lay by in store, on the first day of the week, as the Corinthians were instructed to do in the first century? Please reply to my response to you, I am truly curious about how you feel.
Hi Jim,
As a Christian all my life I have never actually given this question much thought, although I probably should have.
Reading the passage, it does stand to reason that the breaking of bread should be done at the beginning of each week. Then again some argue that the beginning of the week is actually on a Saturday and not on a Sunday. Personally I try not to overthink these matters but to allow the Holy Spirit to lead my conscience.
That said, after reading your article I do feel spirit led to observe the Lord’s supper more regularly, I think it can only lead to a closer relationship with God, which is my ultimate goal.
I suspect most churches practice monthly communion simply as a matter of practicality. From my perspective I see nothing wrong should those who wish to practise it once a week come together with family or friends and do so at home.
Hi Claire. Thank you very much for your comments. I’m glad you found this post interesting, and I’m glad you gave some thought to your practices regarding the worship of God. The bible has never spoken of Saturday as the first day of the week. According to God, Saturday is the seventh day of the week, and in the old testament, it was the Sabbath. But Sunday has always been the first day of the week in the bible. That’s why the bible speaks of Jesus being raised from the grave on the first day of the week. I think you’re right that most churches do what they find to be most convenient, but the problem is that when we worship God, our own convenience is of no value at all. The only thing that matters is doing God’s will. A bible truth that gets neglected all too often is given in Eccl. 12:13. “The conclusion when all has been heard is, fear God and KEEP His commandments, for this is the whole of man” Man has the tendency of wanting to do those things which seem right to him, but Psalm 14:12 tells us, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but it’s end is destruction”
There is only one way that the Holy spirit of God leads us. And that way is through God’s word the bible. Heb 11:6 says, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” And Rom 10:17 tells us that, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” There’s no way around it, our faith in God’s word is what must lead us, and that faith comes only through God’s written word, the bible. God does not lead us by miraculous guidance or by removing our free will to choose for ourselves what we will do. If we follow God’s word and His will, it will be because we choose to do so.
It says in Joshua 24;15, “And is it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day who you will serve….but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Thanks so much for your comments, and please keep reading God’s word. May God bless you, Jim
I understand what you are saying, that everyone should take communion on Sunday. Are you saying that a person should not on a holiday or any other day? Is it a sin to take communion on any day other than Sunday?
Could we actually take communion every day so that each day we are physically remembering Jesus’ death? If you pray every day and ask for guidance every day, why can you not take note of his death and resurrection every day as well?
It does seem that we might do better looking toward Jesus than asking him to look towards us,
Thanks Richard for taking the time to read this post and for your questions. One thing that people don’t seem to question enough is; Do we have the authority from God for the things that we do? Especially the things that we do pertaining to the worship of God. Jesus plainly quoted a fact from the old testament in Mat 15:9. He said, “In vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrine, the commandments of men.” So Jesus makes it quite clear that people DO worship God in VAIN when they hold to the teachings of men, and not to the teachings of God. Jesus said in Mat 28:18, “All authority has been given to Me, in heaven and on earth.” Therefore it would seem obvious that we had better do things as He has authorized, and ONLY those things He has authorized. Col 3:17 says, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him, to God the Father.” To do something in the name of Jesus, is to do it by His authority. The word of God does not give us the authority, either in command or by any example, of partaking of the Lord’s Supper, on any other day, except the first day of the week. If a holiday happens to fall on the first day of the week, then we not only have the authority to eat the Lord’s Supper on that day, but we are commanded by the apostles example to do so. Jesus told His apostles, in Mat 18:18, “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.” Since the apostles were actually guided by the Holy Spirit of God, the things that they were led to DO in teaching God’s word, and in worshiping God, are God’s will, and they are authoritative!
Thank you very much for your questions, and I hope that the bible has answered those questions. Please keep reading more Bible Answers to Spiritual Questions, to learn more of God’s word and God’s will. Thanks and may God bless you, Jim.
What an excellent blog. As a christian how often we should take the lords supper is something I have taken for granted and never really thought about. In fact my whole christian life I don’t think anybody has ever raised the subject. Our church doesn’t offer it every Sunday and no-one ever questions as to why not? Your blog is excellent and makes perfect sense. Thank you so much.
Thank you JD for your comment. And thank you for taking the time to really think about what God is telling us in His word. There is no where else to go, to learn God’s will on any subject, than the very word of God. I doesn’t even make sense to look anywhere else does it? One of the reasons for this website is so that we DO question whether or not we are following God’s will. After all, a requirement of salvation is that we DO God’s will, Mat 7:21. I pray that you will continue to read these bible answers regularly. Thanks, and God bless, Jim.