Communion

Bishop Riggen begins by establishing that the Lord's Supper originated from the Old Testament Passover, as Jesus and His disciples were observing this ancient commandment when He instituted the new symbols. The Passover commemorated Israel's liberation from Egyptian bondage and escape from death through the blood of a spotless lamb. For Christians, this is fulfilled in Christ, our Passover sacrificed for us, who sets us free from sin's bondage and eternal death. The bishop emphasizes that God cares deeply about symbols and typology, citing Moses striking the rock twice instead of speaking to it, which violated the symbol of Christ being smitten only once. This underscores why the elements of communion must be unleavened—leaven representing sin—so the bread symbolizes Christ's sinless body and the pure juice His sinless blood, not fermented wine which involves decay. The bishop clarifies that Paul warns against partaking 'unworthily,' meaning irreverently or carelessly, not that the participant is unworthy in merit. Proper participation requires repentance and a right heart, not perfection. The timing of communion is not fixed; it is to be done until Christ returns. The sermon's central spiritual purpose is to show that communion is a celebration of liberation, healing, and forgiveness. Through the broken body, believers can receive physical and emotional healing. Through the shed blood, they receive full remission of sins and deliverance from guilt and bondage. Communion is an opportunity to ingest God's love, His healing, and His forgiveness into one's innermost being, leaving the service transformed and set free.