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Tag: fellowship

  • The Apostles Creed 10 the Remission (forgiveness) of Sins

    The Apostles Creed 10 the Remission (forgiveness) of Sins

    We believe in ..the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins…

    The Apostles’ Creed — foundational to our Apostolic Christian faith

    Today we have reached the second to last points of our brief look at the Apostles’ creed, the forgiveness or remission of sins.

    (We’ll also take a brief glance at ‘the communion of saints,’ mentioned in part in our previous look at the Church.)

    For an overview and more instructive view of the outline of our SERIES, take a look at the Roman Creed below:

    Followers of Christ must always expect an attack against Scripture. Church doctrine is a line in the sand. - How will a leader or council of leaders choose what the Church will teach?
    I BELIEVE or WE BELIEVE IN:

    Structure of Christian CREEDS

    Here’s a brief outline found originally in The Roman Creed:

    1. I BELIEVE IN God almighty (or the Father almighty)
    2. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord
    3. Who was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
    4. Who was crucified under Pontius Pilate and was buried
    5. And on the third day rose from the dead
    6. Who ascended into heaven
    7. Siteth at the right hand of the Father
    8. Whence He cometh to judge the living and the dead
    9. (I or WE believe in:) The Holy Ghost
    10. The Holy Church
    11. The remission of Sins
    12. The resurrection of the flesh
    • (and life everlasting).

    source: apostles-creed.org

    The early church taught what is basically in the Apostles creed…

    It was not till heresies and divisions in the church that any creeds were established.

    source:

    The Apostles’ Creed

    The Apostles Creed

    I believe in

    the communion of the Saints,

    If you haven't read our previous post about the Church you may find helpful definitions not repeated here.
    The Apostles Creed 9 We Believe in The Holy Church

    Last time we addressed one of the two definitions included in this section of the Apostles Creed:

    • hagios
      • most holy thing, a saint

    Today let’s also take a brief look at what the Creed means by communion.

    (In a sense, it’s not what you think of first.)

    Then they that gladly received his word were baptized..

    Acts of the Apostles 2:41a KJV 

    (Now they are the saints or Holy ones of Christ, because of the remission of their sins.)

    And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine

    and fellowship, G2842

    and in breaking of bread,

    and in prayers.

    Acts of the Apostles 2:42 KJV

    Note that communion here is the fellowship of the saints whick follows learning the teaching or doctrine of the Apostles.

    AND that Communion (as we call it) is a corporate breaking of the bread [klasis artos], a symbolic remembrance of Christ’s broken body.

    They devoted themselves to

    (from the CSB) (and in addition to;)

    • the apostles’ teaching,
    • to the fellowship (communion of the saints),
    • to the breaking of bread,
    • and to prayer.

    ALL these together, as Christ’s local church, to keep them holy and separate from the sin and surrounding sinners of whom they once embraced.

    κοινωνία koinōnía, koy-nohn-ee’-ah; from G2844; partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction (giving to the benefit of the church):—(to) communicate(-ation), communion, (contri-)distribution, fellowship.

    Source: BlueLetterBible.org

    I believe in

    the forgiveness of sins

    Nehemiah 9:

    After the Hebrews had abandoned the Law of Moses and their priest Ezra reads it to the people.

    .. the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.

    repentant prayer

    .. And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, 

    sanctification or holiness apart from the sin of their former life

    and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

    Confession to God precedes asking for forgiveness.

    But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

    And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage:

    but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

    Nehamiah 9:16-17 KJV

    the remission of sins,

    Admittedly 'remission from the Creed is a little 'King James' in its sound. But recognize the New Testament application with which you may be able to relate from a familiar prayer and Scripture.

    Forgive us our debts 

    (Which comes from this OT application of the Law)

    “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts.

    מִקֵּץ שֶׁבַע־שָׁנִים תַּעֲשֶׂה שְׁמִטָּה׃

    Deuteronomy 18:1 LSB

    ‘And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

    Gospel of Matthew 6:12 LSB

    “For if you forgive others for their transgressions,

    your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

    “But if you do not forgive others,

    then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

    Matthew 6:14-15 LSB – the teaching of Jesus, the Son of Man, to followers

    paraptōma – transgressions

    • to fall beside or near something
    • a lapse or deviation from truth and uprightness
      • a sin, misdeed

    Do you imagine that God, in His Holiness and perfect justice, can allow any of these sins or transgressions — without Someone paying your debt?

    And you were dead in your transgressions G3900 and sins..

    Apostle Paul to the Ephesians 2:1

    For the wages of sin is death,
    but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

    Romans 6:23 NIV

    The remission of Sins through Christ

    • the concept of “wages,” which implies a payment or consequence that is earned. In the biblical context,
    • sin refers to any action, thought, or attitude that falls short of God’s holiness and commands.
    • Death here is both physical and spiritual, indicating separation from God.
      • Theologically, this underscores the seriousness of sin and its inevitable outcome without divine intervention.

    Contrasting with the earned wages of sin, the “gift of God” emphasizes grace, which is unmerited favor. Eternal life is not something humans can earn; it is a gift freely given by God.

    It is only through Jesus Christ, His death, and resurrection, that believers receive this gift. Jesus is seen as the fulfillment of Old Testament types and prophecies, such as the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12) and the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53).

    Source: BibleHub.org – commentary on Romans 6:23

    In Him we have redemption through His blood,

    the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

    Ephesians 1:7 NKJV

    NEXT: Resurrection!

    Talk of JESUS . com

    Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel

  • Have you taken time for fellowship with God’s church?

    Have you taken time for fellowship with God’s church?

    Love God’s Church = Fellowship with each other

    As I observed the comings and goings of families to a gathering of the church we call worship it seemed all hurried in from some early morning herding of the young sheep into vehicles and in just an hour herded them out into the parking lot of the world.

    Where were all the sheep going?

    Inside, scheduled fellowship included just two places for worshipers to join – neither appropriate for me (by definition of these limited communities of saints seeking fellowship and teaching in scripture).

    Has the world won over the church or just provided better marketing of how ‘christians’ should invest our time on Sundays?

    Roger@talkofJesus.com

    All that said, it’s a continuing issue for many churches and I have addressed it previously, including most recently in a 2020 series, In Case You Missed It…

    Scripture

    John 15:12

    Original talkofJesus.com Post

    Got a minute? – 3
    Original post from October 16, 2013
    Summer Reruns! with picture of sun wearing sunglasses
    Summer 2021 AD {Scriptural} Reruns
    • CLICK “…Continue reading ” above,
    • THEN Ask a question or comment at the end of this post
    • OR email Roger@talkofJesus.com with your reaction, questions & comments.

    Stay tuned from more Summer of 2021 Reruns from talkofJESUS.com

    (ditto: Summer 2022 – more to come)

  • The Last Supper + Communion + a Family Meal

    The Last Supper + Communion + a Family Meal

    Maundy Thursday – The Last Supper

    The following is an UPDATED post from Maundy Thursday of Holy Week in the year of our Lord 2015 about the Last Supper of Jesus and the Twelve and communion of the saints of the Church. - RH

    Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
    who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. 

    Psalm 41:9
    The Last Supper scene staged by Rembrandt. Actually the Twelve Apostles in customary 1st century Jewish custom were 'reclined at table.'

    Institution of the Lord’s Supper

    As a Christian you may have your own name and picture of Maundy Thursday.

    It is a celebration of the Church commemorating the LAST SUPPER of the Lord Jesus Christ with the Twelve Apostles, His friends and followers for previous three years.

    Many Christians and Messianic Jews will also recognize that these Jewish men were also celebrating the Passover meal.

    Yet this meal both commemorates a covenant of old and establishes a new covenant by the BODY & BLOOD of the Savior who serves it.

    In Paul’s letter to the CHURCH at Corinth the ‘apostle to the gentiles’ describes our commemoration of the NEW COVENENT of Communion:

    1 Corinthians 11: NKJV

    23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you:

    that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said,

    “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

    25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying,

    “This cup is the new covenant in My blood.

    This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

    26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

    +

    Commemoration of the First Covenant

    Deuteronomy 12:

    7 And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you have put your hand, you and your households, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.

    8 “You shall not at all do as we are doing here today—every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes— 9 for as yet you have not come to the rest and the inheritance which the Lord your God is giving you.

    Joshua 5:11-12

    And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

    Communion: OUR Family Meal

    • How important is your ‘christian’ and biological family to you?
    • Is Jesus head of your family?
    • Do we not need the intimacy of the love and time together in relationship and meals?

    As WE COMMEMORATE the LAST SUPPER OF JESUS let the saints called into His CUURCH remember that Communion is NOT an Old Covenant, but a New Covenant renewed in the ever-lasting family of Christ Jesus.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com + Thursday April 6, in the year of our Lord 2023

    We have forgotten the communion of relationship and intimacy of sharing our joy, our sorrows and our meals. We have forgotten to leave a place for the Lord at the head of our table and a time for all to partake in His righteousness and love.

    LORD, we have not even invited you and each of our loved ones to enjoy your peace, your love, your compassion, your teaching… LORD we have lost the family in our home… LORD we have lost the family in your church. Lord help us.

    Prayer of the original A.D. 2015 post. – RH

    Communion

    Holy Communion and the Passover Seder which Jesus commemorated on the night in which He was betrayed are much more than just a ritual.

    Do you realize that Jesus, our Lord and Savior said:

    “Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

    In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” – 1 Corinthians 11:25

    It was after supper. It was a toast, as we would properly identify the proclamation over the wine this close family of Jesus was about to share.

    Yes, the Twelve were Jesus’ close family.

    They shared meals — almost all meals together. They broke bread together. They prayed together. They discussed Jesus’ teaching of the day and the day’s events.

    These were regular times of communion — intimate familial community — fellowship still familiar to members of the first century church and most familiar to families.

    Yet it is a communion, a fellowship of love, even an eventful love feast; which Christians in this century and  our Christian families have sacrificed to the leaven of this world.

    • Communion is fellowship with God
    • Communion is between Christ and the church by the Spirit
    • Communion is the fellowship of believers with one another

    Ephesians 4:

    Once again, encouragement from Paul to the CHURCH in Ephesis where the apostle had by example spent much time.

    Unity in the Body of Christ

    I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

    4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

    The communion and fellowship of believers in your family, of your church and in the body of all faithful believers is even more than this.

    We remember by Christ’s blood that He IS and we are joined to one another in Him.

    Unbelievers have no part in this. Those separate from Christ Jesus have no LIFE of His saving Blood.

    +

    The New Life

    17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.

    18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.20 But that is not the way you learned Christ! +

    Do you not find this true?

    Are beloved family members even callous to your love for them and our love for Christ Jesus?

    And if like Christ we are hated by the world and even those of our own household, how much more important is communion and fellowship of His body the church.

    • How important is daily communion and fellowship in your Christian home?
    • Where is the place of Christ at your table, with husband and wife as one with Him?
    • Do our children come to commune with the Lord in our ‘christian home?’
    and here I confess that 'I am the chief of sinners.'

    At the table of the last supper sat Judas, as ALSO sits the one (maybe, if you insist) who hates Jesus and will betray you.

    At the table of the last supper sat Peter, as ALSO sit ones you may have to forgive three times (or seventy times seven) when they deny your love and Christ’s way to take up the cross and follow Him.

    Lord help us. Help us to commune with you and to love one another as You have loved us. Bring our beloved ones to your table of communion and fellowship and eternal love.

    Amen.

    To READ MORE about COMMUNION click HERE.