Do We Believe God: Regarding Communion? Part 2.

Hello To All:

"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" (1 Corinthians 10:16)

Towards the end of our last essay ("Do We Believe God: Regarding Communion?): The question was asked  if communion should be rightly understood as: "a shared intimate relationship?"

Towards the end of the essay, previous to the last one ("Do We Believe God: Conclusion!): Our attention was drawn to the relationship between the personal accounts and the revelational account of the Lord's Supper - most commonly referred to as "communion."

In this essay, with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ; we shall begin to answer the question and recognize the relationship: all relating to the personal and revelational and relational qualities of: "Koinonia." Join with me in examining the text, that will help us to find our answers.

1.  "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the COMMUNION of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." (2 Corinthians 13:14 King James Version).
2.  "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the COMMUNION of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen." (New King James Version. This text contains a footnote directing us to an alternate translation for COMMUNION. The alternate translation being: FELLOWSHIP).
3.  "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the FELLOWSHIP of the Holy Spirit, be with you all."  (New American Standard Bible)."

In 1994, compelled by the Holy Ghost, I wrote a letter to the True Church of God, scattered throughout the world.  The letter was titled: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY GHOST  - The Unity Of The Church Of God - The Visible Manifestation Of Discipleship To Jesus Christ."  It was a lengthy letter, consisting of 93 typewritten pages on legal size paper.  The following two paragraphs are quoted from the first page of that letter:

"In these last days, I am compelled to write to you, by the Holy Ghost given unto us, by the Lord Jesus Christ. My heart is heavy and burdened by so many of our brethren, who seem to be turning aside from the faith once delivered unto the saints of God."

"Of special concern, are the increasing numbers, who are embracing false teachings about the Holy Ghost, and our relationship to Him. Our brother, the apostle Paul, concluded his second letter to the Corinthian church, with these words: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."

It is not possible to condense the full contents of 93 pages, into this essay; but, just as this essay seeks to find our answers in the text from Second Corinthians - so did that letter from 1994: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the COMMUNION of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."

Please note, that the text addresses the reality of: "the grace of" - "the love of" - "the communion of." The operative word, in the text, is: "of."  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is to: "be with you all." The love of God is to: "be with you all." The communion of the Holy Ghost is to: "be with you all." The phrase, "be with you all," would be rightly understood as meaning the church, the body of Christ.  The meaning of the text should be clear to all. Grace and Love and Communion, are gifts proceeding from the Godhead and given to the church, as gifts, for the benefit of the church.

Our focus, in this essay is the communion/fellowship given by the Holy Ghost, to the church. This communion/fellowship is rightly understood, in the Greek, as koinonia. Thus, to say that the Holy Ghost, gives KOINONIA, to the church, is a right revelational understanding of the Word of God.  The phrase revelational understanding is used, because our natural intellect cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God.

Please consider these texts, regarding our ability to understand the Word of God:

1.  "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14).
2.  "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he (that is Jesus) expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." The comment, in parenthesis, is added for clarification, regarding who was expounding. (The text is from Luke 24:27).
3.  "Then opened he (that is Jesus) their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." The comment, in parenthesis, is added for clarification, regarding who was opening their understanding. (The text is from Luke 24:45).

Once again, we are reminded of how important our right relationship with Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Christ, the Son of The Living God, is, in all circumstances, including the revelational comprehension of the truth of His Word.

We conclude this essay, with this truth, that can only be rightly understood, in and through Jesus Christ: Koinonia is of the Holy Ghost; and is given by the Holy Ghost to the body of Christ.

When we next gather together, we shall continue with this series titled: "Do We Believe God: Regarding Communion?"

Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus