Does communion have a role in salvation?

[Tangible]

I'm not sure about all of this.

When people speak of it giving "extra grace", they generally don't mean grace for justification (salvation) but sanctification (growth in holiness).

Obviously, Catholics and EO have a different language and might go that far. But Protestants wouldn't

I'm interested in seeing how it provides growth in holiness, where that is in scripture, and why. John 6 is in the context of abiding in Christ, and is clearly a picture of the Lord's Supper. I doubt it is unrelated.

In Matthew 26 we find this text:

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

In Lutheran Sacramental theology, we see this as God imparting the forgiveness of sins through the sacrament, and as Luther states in his Small Catechism,

"What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?
These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation."

So it's not that there is no grace imparted through other means, but that through the means of the Supper we certainly do receive God's gracious forgiveness of sins.

John 1:16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

The Small Catechism is a wonderful, concise statement of Lutheran sacramental theology, as intended for children to learn from their fathers. I would highly recommend reading through it.

Luther’s Small Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther

In his Large Catechism, Dr Luther goes into more depth in discussing the Sacrament of the Altar. Also highly recommended reading.

The Large Catechism - Book of Concord

 

[Tayla]

I just read this passage and I realized I'd never thought of communion as a way to salvation. Does this passage support that view, and what are your thoughts on communion as a part of our salvation?

Communion provides a focal point for interacting with Jesus.

 

[concretecamper]

So if partaking of the Eucharist gives us everlasting life and being raised in the last day, logically we're within our rights to wonder if not partaking means we don't have everlasting life and won't be raised in the last day.

The answer is in the scripture you posted.

54 Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you.

If you do not eat His flesh and drink His blood = no life

 

[Virgil the Roman]

Where did Jesus say, ‘This is literally my body’?

"My Flesh is True Meat indeed; My blood is True Drink indeed."
-- St John Chapter VI.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Communion provides a focal point for interacting with Jesus.

More than that; our risen Lord comes to us physically in His body and blood; transcending both time and space with "all the company of heaven" ; the whole Church on Earth, and those in Heaven.

 

[JoeP222w]

Does communion save a person? No, not at all.

Is it an ordinance that the Lord Jesus established in order that we would remember our Savior? Yes, absolutely.

And it is something we should practice often, but it is not a sacrament as it does not grant extra grace. The Christian is granted the full measure of God's grace the moment He justifies them.

 

[Virgil the Roman]

Christ spoke in Syriac/Aramaic. In John VI, whenever He says to 'each his Body and blood' the word 'eat' in Aramaic literally means to 'gnaw'. It has to be literal; as to metaphorically eat someone's flesh in Syriac/Aramaic means to despise and hate them. Protestantism, for whatever reason, doesn't want to believe Holy Communion as God says in Scripture, "The Bread which we break is a participation in the Body of Christ"; "The Chalice of Benediction is a participation in the Blood of Christ"; and: "My Flesh is true Meat indeed; My Blood is True Drink indeed". (I guess, it'd refute one of their qualms with Roman Catholicism or the Orthodox Church. )

 

[Ron Gurley]

RCC doctrine of transubstantiation is false.

Why "sacrifice" Jesus at communion?

Hebrews 7:27 (NASB)
who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices,
first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people,
because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust,
so that He might bring us to God,
having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

 

[prodromos]

RCC doctrine of transubstantiation is false.

Neither Albion, MarkRohfrietsch nor myself are RCC

 

[Albion]

RCC doctrine of transubstantiation is false.

Why "sacrifice" Jesus at communion?

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Those are two different doctrines, Ron.

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