arthur

When repeated often, doesn't the Lord's Supper run the risk of becoming mundane and lose its meaning? Why did Jesus command its repetition? For the same reason remembering God's laws becomes mundane and loses its meaning ... (sarcasm) That is why God directed in Deuteronomy 6:4-9: 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. F15 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. We are in the process of training a new puppy right now, all the books say that the dog that is under four months of age has a memory/attention span of about 3 seconds. An act and reward or an act and a punishment separated by more than 5 seconds will not necessarilly be associated in the puppy brain. Humans, especially as a community whole are a little better. Even though my local congregation only celebrates the Lord's supper on a weekly basis as was the custom in Acts - this is one point where I can not even complain when congregations offer this partaking even on a daily basis - like in the Roman Catholic churches. My complaints come when they shed it of its core meaning. As the study stated near the end: I think it is ironic, that some churches relegate the Lord's Supper to an only occasional observance, when the sacrament contains the church's central message. Amen brother - keep up the great teaching!

Cheers for Midge and Jeff! Obviously every word in the account of the Lord's Supper is important - but I really appreciate that they both picked up on the ongoing partaking. They both recognized the DO THIS and TAKE THIS, the perpetual continuation of what Jesus initiated as highly important. My understanding of "The Kingdom" and our part in this messianic banquet compels active participation by those for whom Jesus' precious blood was shed.

After seeing the replies to the first couple of questions and the excellent topic lessons - I just wanted to say that I am very blessed to be a part of this study. I am a West Texas Tumbleweed, and have been an active member in multiple congregations over the years. I have seen many different approaches (often within the same congregation!) to how communion should be celebrated. I hope to learen even more through this study.

Q4. (2:20-26) How does James' point about the necessity of works jive with Paul's emphasis on salvation by grace without works (Ephesians 2:8-10)? Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works ... James 2:22 - You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did ... Agree with Joyce - two sides of the same coin. James referenced Abraham - different dispensation - same doctrine. Paul wrote to the Ephesians who are entirely too much like some "Christians" today. They were used to working on behalf of their gods - it only made sense to them that salvation could be "earned" and what they saw of the Jews and their adherence to legalistic requirements only confirmed their opinion. Paul firmly understood that God called people and gave them unmerited salvation - Paul lived the life that he was called to. James made it clear that we are called to "pure religion" - not ceremonial acts of worship from an impure heart, not pure and wholesome acts that bring recognition to self; but to a servant attitude life that constantly glorifies and calls others to God. Pick all the individual verses you want to quote - but when you compare the entirety of the message delivered by Paul and James - and especially when you look at the relationship between Paul and James in the few mentions recorded in the book of Acts - their messages are in total agreement and the Calvinist/Armeanean disputes in modern Christendom are disrespectful to our loving Savior.

The "belief" of the demons is far from being of "no consequence." They believe - but to their detriment. They know the truth and know that they have made an irrevocable decision. They believe, they know the truth - to their detriment. The belief of a paracticing Christian is what gives us hope. We believe, we know the truth - to our salvation - and as James says - it shows in the way we live our lives. The "belief" of a non practicing Christian ??? Per the text - he is dead - so he does not exist. A non-practicing Christian is a total oxymoron. There is no such thing. He is called "lost." Fortunately, through the grace of God - His decision is not yet irrevocable.