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*****It may be remarked that in the language which he used, the transition from bread to his
flesh would appear easier than it does in our language. The same word which in Hebrew means
"bread," in the Syriac and Arabic means also "flesh."**** (from Barnes' Notes, Electronic
Database Copyright © 1997, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
2. John 6:53-58
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and
drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that
eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
D. The logic.
1. We know we would not be commanded literally to consume Jesus’ body.
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2. We know that “Of all connections and unions, none is so intimate and complete as that which is
effected by the digestion of aliments, because they are changed into the very substance of him who
eats them …” [i. e. “You are what you eat or consume.” (CAY)] (from Adam Clarke's
Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Also, it is said of someone totally dedicated to a cause, or a particular activity, that he “… lives,
breathes, and eats …” the tenets of that cause.
E. Where does this command – to eat his flesh and drink his blood – lead?
1. “Flesh and blood” is used to describe the human body.
a. Gal 1:16b … immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
b. Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself
likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death,
that is, the devil;
2. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
a. Jesus Christ is the Word.
3. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as
of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
a. Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh.
4. Matt 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
a. To live we need “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
5. Matt 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power
of God.
a. The only way not to err is to know first the scriptures.
6. 2 Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.
a. This admonishment applies also to us Christians today.
F. Through learning (consuming and allowing it to become us) the Word, we truly partake of Christ.
1. 2 Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus
our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and
godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given
unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2. Matt 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven
and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
a. Emphasis is placed on observing “all things” Christ taught.
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3. Eph 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for
it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might
present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it
should be holy and without blemish.
a. The importance of the power of the Word is emphasized over and over again.
4. 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of
God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
II. COMMUNION.
A. Is there any connection between John 6 and the practice of communion?
1. Matt 26:26-28 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to
the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to
them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many
for the remission of sins.
2. 1 Cor 10:16-17 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? For we being
many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
3. Communion involves the same direction of attention to the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ.
2. Acts 20:7 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.
THE TWO – CONSUMING CHRIST’S FLESH AND BLOOD, AND COMMUNION – CANNOT BE
SEPARATED FROM SALVATION. HENCE, THEY CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER
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John 6:53-58 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of
the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my
blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood
is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the
living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is
that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that
eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
TRIPLY SO, FOR (1) IF WE DO NOT PARTAKE OF THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST’S FLESH AND
BLOOD BY OBEDIENCE TO THE GOSPEL, THEN WE CANNOT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE; AND (2) IF
WE DO NOT ASSIMILATE THE WORD INTO OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO ALLOW US TO BE
REPLACED BY CHRIST, THEN WE CANNOT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE; AND (3) IF WE DO NOT
REMEMBER THE SACRIFICE THAT HE MADE OF HIS FLESH AND BLOOD IN THE COMMANDED
PRACTICE OF COMMUNION, THEN WE CANNOT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
Invitation: Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess Christ as the Son of God, Be Immersed for the remission of
sins, and then grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, remaining faithful until death.
If you are a Christian and have sinned publicly, then you are invited to remove your separation from
God by public repentance so that prayers can be offered with you and for you.