What is Communion ?

[Rowan]

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. (John 6:53–54)

The night Jesus was betrayed, he celebrated the Passover with his disciples. Every year the Israelites celebrate Passover to remember when God miraculously rescued them from Egypt by protecting them with lamb’s blood on their doorposts and nourishing them with lamb meat. Jesus revealed that there is more to the Passover they had always celebrated. Passover pointed to what he did on the cross. His blood covers and protects us, saving us from death! His body was given for us; he will sustain and nourish us during our life’s journey.

Jesus offered himself so that we have life and forgiveness. We remember and celebrate this reality when we take Communion—what some churches call the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist. Believers drink wine or juice and eat bread together. In this meal we refocus on our relationship with Jesus and one another.

In Communion we remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for us. “The Lord Jesus … took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me’ ” (1 Corinthians 11:23–25).

In Communion we slow down to examine ourselves. “Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28). We confess our sins, we ask God to forgive us, and we reconcile with one another.
In Communion we declare that Jesus is coming back. “Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

In Communion we bring our sin, fear, and weakness to Jesus. And he blots out our sin, comforts us, and strengthens us. “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8).


Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ / Shilo Taylor

 

[Complete]

What Christians commonly call “communion” is an ordinance started by Jesus during the Last Supper with His disciples. Communion is a way for believers to outwardly show their love for and fellowship with Christ, to remember the atoning sacrifice that Jesus made for them, and to look forward to the time when He will partake with us in the kingdom. Communion is also known as the Lord’s supper or the Lord’s table.​

​

The Last Supper​

​

Just prior to Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus gathered His disciples in an upper room of a house to celebrate the Passover. It didn’t take long for the disciples to learn that there was another reason for their gathering. Matthew 26:26–29says, “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. 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 from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’” What the disciples thought was going to be a celebration turned into a somber prediction of the death of their master and leader.​

Earlier Clues​

​

If the disciples were listening closely, these words should have seemed familiar to them. Earlier in Jesus’ ministry, Jesus had told a crowd, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me” (John 6:53–57). This prediction of the death of Jesus and the need to accept His sacrifice for redemption proved to be too difficult for some: “On hearing it, many of his disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?’” (John 6:60). In fact, after hearing this, “many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him” (John 6:66). The symbolism that Jesus used shouldn’t have been a surprise to His hearers; after all, He had been speaking in parables almost since the beginning of His ministry. However, the thought of consuming Jesus’ body was too much for many of them.​

Hello @civic,

Eating and drinking denoted the operation of the mind in receiving and inwardly digesting truth or the words of God. It was a common idiom. See Deut. 8:3 and Jeremiah 15:16:-

'And He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger,
and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not,
neither did thy fathers know;
that He might make thee know
that man doth not live by bread only,
but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD
doth man live.'
(Deu 8:3)

'Thy words were found, and I did eat them;
and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:
for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.'
(Jer 15:16)

* Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ is exactly the same thing as eating and drinking of Him. (Compare John 6:47 & 48 with verses 53 & 54)
* 'Flesh and blood' is put figuratively for the whole person.

Early Church Communion​

​

After the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, the early church obeyed the words of Jesus and practiced the ordinance of communion, the eating of bread (symbolizing His body) and the drinking of wine (symbolizing His blood). Paul the apostle brought out the idea of fellowship during communion: “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf” (1 Corinthians 10:16–17). Communion in the church not only meets Jesus’ commandment, but it also contributes to the unity of believers.​

​

Paul also gave a warning to those who might approach communion flippantly or dishonorably: “Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves” (1 Corinthians 11:26–29).​

Conclusion​

​

The practice of communion is one of two ordinances in the church. The Bible does not specify how often communion should be observed. Communion is a time for reflection, not only on an individual’s sin and need of forgiveness but on the grace and love that Christ exhibited on the cross (John 3:16). As Christians take communion together, they demonstrate their union with each other and with Christ. Christians are reminded of Christ’s sacrifice and remind each other that He is coming again as they partake of communion together. Communion is a “common sharing in the Spirit” (Philippians 2:1) and an answer to Jesus’ prayer “that they may be one as We are one—I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united” (John 17:22–23).Got?​

​

* In 1 Cor. 10:16, the words, 'the cup of blessing', refers to one of four 'cups' used at the Paschal supper, a feast of the Jews. In the Last Supper the Lord was not instituting anything, but substituting the bread and wine for the Paschal Lamb (the type being exhausted in the Antitype), because of the new meaning which the Passover should from then on convey. It was to be the memorial, not of the Exodus from Egypt, but of the Exodus which the Lord afterward accomplished in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31), according to the New Covenant made by His death. (Companion Bible Notes).

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Keiw1]

What Christians commonly call “communion” is an ordinance started by Jesus during the Last Supper with His disciples. Communion is a way for believers to outwardly show their love for and fellowship with Christ, to remember the atoning sacrifice that Jesus made for them, and to look forward to the time when He will partake with us in the kingdom. Communion is also known as the Lord’s supper or the Lord’s table.

The Last Supper

Just prior to Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus gathered His disciples in an upper room of a house to celebrate the Passover. It didn’t take long for the disciples to learn that there was another reason for their gathering. Matthew 26:26–29says, “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. 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 from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’” What the disciples thought was going to be a celebration turned into a somber prediction of the death of their master and leader.

Earlier Clues

If the disciples were listening closely, these words should have seemed familiar to them. Earlier in Jesus’ ministry, Jesus had told a crowd, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me” (John 6:53–57). This prediction of the death of Jesus and the need to accept His sacrifice for redemption proved to be too difficult for some: “On hearing it, many of his disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?’” (John 6:60). In fact, after hearing this, “many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him” (John 6:66). The symbolism that Jesus used shouldn’t have been a surprise to His hearers; after all, He had been speaking in parables almost since the beginning of His ministry. However, the thought of consuming Jesus’ body was too much for many of them.

Early Church Communion

After the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, the early church obeyed the words of Jesus and practiced the ordinance of communion, the eating of bread (symbolizing His body) and the drinking of wine (symbolizing His blood). Paul the apostle brought out the idea of fellowship during communion: “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf” (1 Corinthians 10:16–17). Communion in the church not only meets Jesus’ commandment, but it also contributes to the unity of believers.

Paul also gave a warning to those who might approach communion flippantly or dishonorably: “Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves” (1 Corinthians 11:26–29).

Conclusion

The practice of communion is one of two ordinances in the church. The Bible does not specify how often communion should be observed. Communion is a time for reflection, not only on an individual’s sin and need of forgiveness but on the grace and love that Christ exhibited on the cross (John 3:16). As Christians take communion together, they demonstrate their union with each other and with Christ. Christians are reminded of Christ’s sacrifice and remind each other that He is coming again as they partake of communion together. Communion is a “common sharing in the Spirit” (Philippians 2:1) and an answer to Jesus’ prayer “that they may be one as We are one—I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united” (John 17:22–23).Got?

hope this helps !!!

Jesus made that covenant only to those who will sit on thrones( Luke 22:29-30) as kings and priests.( Rev 6:1, Rev 20:6)= the little flock( Luke 12:32) not the great crowd( Rev 7:9, of other sheep( John 10:16) who are not of that fold. The great crowd no man can number-The little flock are numbered=144,000( Rev 14:3= bought from the earth) = the anointed bride of Christ.
Paul warned all are not worthy to partake of those emblems( 1 Cor 11:27-29) verse 28=prove one is a member of the little flock to partake) its a great sin to partake if not of the little flock.
Blind guides tell all to partake.

 

[dwight92070]

Jesus made that covenant only to those who will sit on thrones( Luke 22:29-30) as kings and priests.( Rev 6:1, Rev 20:6)= the little flock( Luke 12:32) not the great crowd( Rev 7:9, of other sheep( John 10:16) who are not of that fold. The great crowd no man can number-The little flock are numbered=144,000( Rev 14:3= bought from the earth) = the anointed bride of Christ.
Paul warned all are not worthy to partake of those emblems( 1 Cor 11:27-29) verse 28=prove one is a member of the little flock to partake) its a great sin to partake if not of the little flock.
Blind guides tell all to partake.

There's no Biblical truth to that whatsoever. What are you, Jehovah's Witness or some other cult? Just like water baptism, communion is only for those who are already part of the body of Christ. And just like water baptism, it reminds us of the cost of our salvation - His body and His blood. Nothing supernatural takes place - they are simply a sign or an emblem of what really happened when we entered into His body.

 

[Keiw1]

There's no Biblical truth to that whatsoever. What are you, Jehovah's Witness or some other cult? Just like water baptism, communion is only for those who are already part of the body of Christ. And just like water baptism, it reminds us of the cost of our salvation - His body and His blood. Nothing supernatural takes place - they are simply a sign or an emblem of what really happened when we entered into His body.

Luke 22:29-30--A covenant made to those who will sit on thrones--My post is fact.

 

[dwight92070]

Do not be deceived. The passage in Luke 22 is Jesus talking specifically to His 12 apostles. They will have a special place in God's Kingdom because they stood by Jesus in His trials. Jesus makes no reference to a covenant here. All believers are under the New Covenant. Revelation is filled with symbolism because it is apocalyptic genre. The 144,000 is not a literal number. It is preposterous to think that only that number will be saved. There are currently millions of true Christians. You think only 144,000 will be saved? What if more wanted to be saved? Would God say, "Sorry, we're all full up. No more allowed."?
First Corinthians 11:27-29 - you actually believe that "examine yourselves" here is referring to whether you think you're worthy enough to be part of the 144,000? Totally false. Of course, you made it - you're in that group - lucky you. That's not what Paul is talking about here. He's talking about taking communion reverently and making sure that we aren't covering up any sin - communion is for all believers who will take it with that humility and sincerity. It has nothing to do with the 144,000.
The other sheep that are "not of this fold" are the believing Gentiles. Jesus said that they also will join His Jewish flock and they will become one flock with one shepherd and they all will know His voice.
Human beings are so cliquish. They want their own little group that nobody else can join - their own little doctrine that all must believe to be saved. Some want their own little version of the Bible, their own group of "leaders" to follow. Basically all that boils down to, is their own little cult.
What church do you belong to?

 

[Truther]

There's no Biblical truth to that whatsoever. What are you, Jehovah's Witness or some other cult? Just like water baptism, communion is only for those who are already part of the body of Christ. And just like water baptism, it reminds us of the cost of our salvation - His body and His blood. Nothing supernatural takes place - they are simply a sign or an emblem of what really happened when we entered into His body.

A person cannot obtain remission of sins outside of bptism in the name of Jesus.

You cannot "think" "confess" or "imagine' yourself into application of Jesus' death burial and resurrection.

You must do it the good ol fashioned way...


38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 

[dwight92070]

A person cannot obtain remission of sins outside of bptism in the name of Jesus.

You cannot "think" "confess" or "imagine' yourself into application of Jesus' death burial and resurrection.

You must do it the good ol fashioned way...


38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

I'm curious, since I don't agree with your interpretation, would I be allowed to attend your church?

 

[Truther]

I'm curious, since I don't agree with your interpretation, would I be allowed to attend your church?

Absolutely. There are many people that are not baptized in the name of Jesus that like to come and worship with us. Some people just don’t wanna take the plunge.

 

[Doug Brents]

I'm curious, since I don't agree with your interpretation, would I be allowed to attend your church?

The Church is not a paradise garden for the righteous to gather. Rather, it is a hospital where the dead, sick, and dying are gathered seeking the Healer's cleansing and resurrection. All are welcome.

 

[dwight92070]

Absolutely. There are many people that are not baptized in the name of Jesus that like to come and worship with us. Some people just don’t wanna take the plunge.

Now why did you assume that I have not been baptized? I was baptized about 2 weeks after I was born again, because I was following Jesus' example. Just because I don't believe I was saved at my baptism, but rather 2 weeks earlier, you assume that I have not been baptized. Or are you implying that my baptism somehow "didn't count"?

 

[dwight92070]

The Church is not a paradise garden for the righteous to gather. Rather, it is a hospital where the dead, sick, and dying are gathered seeking the Healer's cleansing and resurrection. All are welcome.

Who said anything about a paradise garden? The church is primarily a refuge and place of comfort and nurturing for believers, not primarily an emergency room for nonbelievers. Jesus told His disciples: "Come away by yourselves and rest awhile". We need that at least weekly.

 

[Truther]

Now why did you assume that I have not been baptized? I was baptized about 2 weeks after I was born again, because I was following Jesus' example. Just because I don't believe I was saved at my baptism, but rather 2 weeks earlier, you assume that I have not been baptized. Or are you implying that my baptism somehow "didn't count"?

If you were baptized after you were born again, you were buried alive.

 

[Doug Brents]

Who said anything about a paradise garden? The church is primarily a refuge and place of comfort and nurturing for believers, not primarily an emergency room for nonbelievers. Jesus told His disciples: "Come away by yourselves and rest awhile". We need that at least weekly.

Just because one has been saved does not mean that he is sin free. Certainly he is forgiven of his sins, but he still continues to sin, and if he falls back into unrepentant sin then he will fall back into condemnation. Absolutely we need to get away from the world into a "safe space"(lol) and connect with others who are living for Christ, but the Worship service is also the place where we are to bring "seekers" to feel the community we have in Christ.

 

[dwight92070]

If you were baptized after you were born again, you were buried alive.

If you weren't born again before you got baptized, then you had no reason to be baptized, because you weren't even saved yet. Please show me one place in scripture where an unsaved, non born again, person gets baptized. In fact, every place that speaks of this, lists believing first, which is being born again, then after that, baptism. See the following examples:
1.Repent and be baptized. Acts 2:38 (repentance means forgiveness of sins, which only comes to believers- Acts 10:43) Verse 41 shows they believed
2. He who has believed (born again) and has been baptized. Mark 16:16
3. Go and make disciples (believers, born again) of all nations, baptizing them ... Matt. 28:19(The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch- Acts 11:26)
4.If you believe with all your heart (born again), you may (be baptized) Acts 8:37
5. Acts 10:45 The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius' family, which means they were born again believers at that very moment. After they Peter had them baptized. Verse 47
6. Acts 19:4-5 In verse 4 they believed in Jesus. Then after that in verse 5, they were baptized in His name.
7. Acts 8:12 First they believed Philip's preaching of the gospel. Then, after that, they were baptized.
8. Acts 9:4-5 Saul or Paul is struck down by Jesus, obviously becomes a believer. Then three days later, he gets baptized.
9. Acts 16:14-15 Lydia receives and believes Paul's message, along with her household. Later, they get baptized.
10. Acts 16:30-33 The Philippian jailer believes Paul's message. Later, they get baptized.
11. Acts 18:8 When Crispus, all his household, and many other Corinthians, when they heard Paul, they were believing (first) and being baptized (after).
Notice in all eleven passages, believe comes first, then later comes baptism.

Okay, your turn to show me all the places where nonChristian, nonbeliever, non born again people get baptized. Okay, how about just one place?
Let me help you. There are none.

For the record, the following terms are synonymous:
Believer, born again, regenerated, saved, Christian, disciple, the Israel of God, a Jew inwardly, the Israel of God, the olive tree (Rom. 11:17), the redeemed, "in Christ", the remnant, a new creation, the new man, and I'm sure there's more.

Biblically, only believers, or born again Christians, are commanded to be baptized, as all those verses show. We don't see non Christians getting baptized anywhere in the Bible.

 

[Truther]

If you weren't born again before you got baptized, then you had no reason to be baptized, because you weren't even saved yet. Please show me one place in scripture where an unsaved, non born again, person gets baptized. In fact, every place that speaks of this, lists believing first, which is being born again, then after that, baptism. See the following examples:
1.Repent and be baptized. Acts 2:38 (repentance means forgiveness of sins, which only comes to believers- Acts 10:43) Verse 41 shows they believed
2. He who has believed (born again) and has been baptized. Mark 16:16
3. Go and make disciples (believers, born again) of all nations, baptizing them ... Matt. 28:19(The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch- Acts 11:26)
4.If you believe with all your heart (born again), you may (be baptized) Acts 8:37
5. Acts 10:45 The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius' family, which means they were born again believers at that very moment. After they Peter had them baptized. Verse 47
6. Acts 19:4-5 In verse 4 they believed in Jesus. Then after that in verse 5, they were baptized in His name.
7. Acts 8:12 First they believed Philip's preaching of the gospel. Then, after that, they were baptized.
8. Acts 9:4-5 Saul or Paul is struck down by Jesus, obviously becomes a believer. Then three days later, he gets baptized.
9. Acts 16:14-15 Lydia receives and believes Paul's message, along with her household. Later, they get baptized.
10. Acts 16:30-33 The Philippian jailer believes Paul's message. Later, they get baptized.
11. Acts 18:8 When Crispus, all his household, and many other Corinthians, when they heard Paul, they were believing (first) and being baptized (after).
Notice in all eleven passages, believe comes first, then later comes baptism.

Okay, your turn to show me all the places where nonChristian, nonbeliever, non born again people get baptized. Okay, how about just one place?
Let me help you. There are none.

For the record, the following terms are synonymous:
Believer, born again, regenerated, saved, Christian, disciple, the Israel of God, a Jew inwardly, the Israel of God, the olive tree (Rom. 11:17), the redeemed, "in Christ", the remnant, a new creation, the new man, and I'm sure there's more.

Biblically, only believers, or born again Christians, are commanded to be baptized, as all those verses show. We don't see non Christians getting baptized anywhere in the Bible.

Romans chapter 6, says that we are buried with Jesus by baptism. If you were saved in your mind before you were buried with Christ in baptism in the name of Jesus, then you were buried alive. It is simple as that. You were alive and then baptism buried you. Bad doctrine.

 

[dwight92070]

Romans chapter 6, says that we are buried with Jesus by baptism. If you were saved in your mind before you were buried with Christ in baptism in the name of Jesus, then you were buried alive. It is simple as that. You were alive and then baptism buried you. Bad doctrine.

Yes, Romans 6:4 does say that, but it is symbolic of what actually happened in verse 3, where we were FIRST born again, or as 1 Corinthians 12:13 puts it - "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body." Verse 3 says "Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?" This is describing salvation or being born again here in verse 3. Then verse 4 is referring to water baptism, a symbol of burial for a corpse, and also a symbol of being raised from the dead.

Salvation, being born again, is called being baptized into Christ Jesus here in Romans 6:3. This is the "one baptism" in Ephesians 4:5, synonymous with the new birth.
Galatians 3:27 says the same thing, "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ". This is NOT water baptism, it is the Holy Spirit baptizing us into the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13 This is what Paul meant in Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
Paul and all believers were baptized into Christ Jesus when we were saved or born again. We all were crucified with Christ - the body of the flesh was killed, put to death, by the circumcision of Christ. Colossians 2:11 At that same moment, the new man was created in us - "it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me."
Then after this salvation, this new birth in Romans 6:3, comes water baptism in verse 4, symbolizing a burial of the old man and the resurrection of the new man.

Apparently you totally ignore the 11 passages that I gave that show Biblically, that salvation precedes water baptism. Nor did you give me even just one example in the Bible to show me the opposite, where water baptism precedes salvation.

So if I attended your church and voiced my understanding of water baptism, would I still be welcome there?

 

[Truther]

Yes, Romans 6:4 does say that, but it is symbolic of what actually happened in verse 3, where we were FIRST born again, or as 1 Corinthians 12:13 puts it - "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body." Verse 3 says "Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?" This is describing salvation or being born again here in verse 3. Then verse 4 is referring to water baptism, a symbol of burial for a corpse, and also a symbol of being raised from the dead.

Salvation, being born again, is called being baptized into Christ Jesus here in Romans 6:3. This is the "one baptism" in Ephesians 4:5, synonymous with the new birth.
Galatians 3:27 says the same thing, "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ". This is NOT water baptism, it is the Holy Spirit baptizing us into the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13 This is what Paul meant in Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
Paul and all believers were baptized into Christ Jesus when we were saved or born again. We all were crucified with Christ - the body of the flesh was killed, put to death, by the circumcision of Christ. Colossians 2:11 At that same moment, the new man was created in us - "it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me."
Then after this salvation, this new birth in Romans 6:3, comes water baptism in verse 4, symbolizing a burial of the old man and the resurrection of the new man.

Apparently you totally ignore the 11 passages that I gave that show Biblically, that salvation precedes water baptism. Nor did you give me even just one example in the Bible to show me the opposite, where water baptism precedes salvation.

So if I attended your church and voiced my understanding of water baptism, would I still be welcome there?

How can you be born again without being buried?

 

[dwight92070]

How can you be born again without being buried?

The death and burial of our body of flesh and the resurrection of our new man all occurs spiritually, not physically, when we are born again or born of the Spirit - John 3:6
Immediately after that, preferably, we obey the Lord in submitting to water baptism. Here the "burial" and "resurrection" that we experienced spiritually at our new birth are "acted out" or portrayed, without anything necessarily taking place spiritually or supernaturally- other than the satisfaction we derive from obeying the Lord.
The same is true in communion. We are remembering His death, specifically His body and His blood that He willingly gave for our forgiveness of sins. But there is not anything supernatural taking place, as some have taught. Again, we should experience satisfaction because we are obeying Him.

 

[Keiw1]

Do not be deceived. The passage in Luke 22 is Jesus talking specifically to His 12 apostles. They will have a special place in God's Kingdom because they stood by Jesus in His trials. Jesus makes no reference to a covenant here. All believers are under the New Covenant. Revelation is filled with symbolism because it is apocalyptic genre. The 144,000 is not a literal number. It is preposterous to think that only that number will be saved. There are currently millions of true Christians. You think only 144,000 will be saved? What if more wanted to be saved? Would God say, "Sorry, we're all full up. No more allowed."?
First Corinthians 11:27-29 - you actually believe that "examine yourselves" here is referring to whether you think you're worthy enough to be part of the 144,000? Totally false. Of course, you made it - you're in that group - lucky you. That's not what Paul is talking about here. He's talking about taking communion reverently and making sure that we aren't covering up any sin - communion is for all believers who will take it with that humility and sincerity. It has nothing to do with the 144,000.
The other sheep that are "not of this fold" are the believing Gentiles. Jesus said that they also will join His Jewish flock and they will become one flock with one shepherd and they all will know His voice.
Human beings are so cliquish. They want their own little group that nobody else can join - their own little doctrine that all must believe to be saved. Some want their own little version of the Bible, their own group of "leaders" to follow. Basically all that boils down to, is their own little cult.
What church do you belong to?

Luke 22:29-30--a covenant made to those who will sit on thrones.