Is the Eucharist redemptive?

[Lel]

As I find myself eagerly participating in the sacrament of the Eucharist, I wonder more and more about what the purpose and role of the Eucharist may be.

Nobody seems to state it, but it seems that part of the role of the Eucharist is to redeem the sinner. If Jesus is somehow present in the Eucharist, then as Jesus has washed away our sins, so through the Eucharist, does He continue to wash away our sins through His body and blood?

Sorry if I'm missing a basic point here! Thanks!

[Fish and Bread]

My view is that the Eucharist is a means of grace and a special way of Christ sharing his presence with us. That said, I also feel it is important we understand communion as a special way of being one with God and not as something that is necessary for the forgiveness of sins or for our salvation. Christ's death on the cross is what accomplished both of those things and it is sufficent for all time. The Eucharist itself is only part of that in so far as it is Christ himself, but is not in itself as a necessary thing to accomplish those goals.

It should be noted, however, that this is only my personal opinion and that this is an issue on which Anglicans are at liberty to differ with each other in love. :)

John

[PaladinValer]

Receiving the Body and Blood is an act of immense Grace...arguably the most potent form aside from Baptism.

It imparts a great deal of Grace upon the consumer of the Flesh and Blood, so it does have a role in the maintaining of a state of holiness. However, it itself doesn't redeem. That was done already for all people. Christians are those who've accepted the fullest means of that redemption.

[Lel]

I'm not stating that the Eucharist is sufficient or even necessary to redeem, but that it plays a part in continuing redemption. There is redemption primarily through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, and perhaps continuing through baptism and confession (I know that's all under debate). However, if one believes in continuing redemption, could the Eucharist also be one method by which redemption is continued?

[Aymn27]

I'm not stating that the Eucharist is sufficient or even necessary to redeem, but that it plays a part in continuing redemption. There is redemption primarily through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, and perhaps continuing through baptism and confession (I know that's all under debate). However, if one believes in continuing redemption, could the Eucharist also be one method by which redemption is continued?
I think it is redemptive and it is necessary. Is it not sharing in the sacrafice of Christ? If so, then it is significantly redemptive. And I think it is necessary because the Lord said, "Unless you eat my body and drink my blood, you will not have life within you"...As we receive His body and blood, we are receiving his very life into ours...what a great gift!!

[PaladinValer]

Yes, it is a means of Grace that aids in the regeneration of the soul.

[Father Rick]

Lel...

You're definitely on the right track. Let me add a little here.

By definition, a sacrament is a visible sign of an invisible grace. In other words, the grace is already there through the work of Christ, but the sacrament is a means of communicating that truth (both as a means of putting the truth in a form that we can understand as well as being a 'touchstone' to actually receive the grace).

With that being said, when one comes to receive the Eucharist one receives a 'fresh' impartation of His grace--and all that that grace brings. What does that grace bring? Whatever one is in need of--forgiveness, healing, strengthening, encouragement, peace, joy, etc.

[AngCath]

Holy Eucharist is the uniting of ourselves with the Living God and all the company of heaven! It is because of this that in the Liturgy their is the General Confession before the Eucharist and the Lord's Prayer-two chances to confess and be cleansed prior to coming into the Real Presence of our Lord.

Also, I'd like to refer to the Catechism in the BCP (p. 859-860):
Q. What are the benefits which we receive in the Lord's Supper?
A. The benefits we receive are the forgiveness of our sins, the strengthening of our union with Christ and one another, and the foretaste of the heavenly banquet wich is our nourishment in eternal life.

[julian the apostate]

the roman catholic churches teaches that there is forgiveness of sins in the eucharist
(mortal sins to have been confessed prior)

[Rev. Smith]

As I find myself eagerly participating in the sacrament of the Eucharist, I wonder more and more about what the purpose and role of the Eucharist may be.

Nobody seems to state it, but it seems that part of the role of the Eucharist is to redeem the sinner. If Jesus is somehow present in the Eucharist, then as Jesus has washed away our sins, so through the Eucharist, does He continue to wash away our sins through His body and blood?

Sorry if I'm missing a basic point here! Thanks!

Our sins are washed away and we are truly reedemed in the most glorious way possable, if we open our hearts and still our minds as we take the Sacrament, we commune with with Jesus, he becomes woven into us, we can touch the very Grace of the Holy Spirit. Each time we are renewed and drawn back to God. God's nature is ever merciful, and so as we allow the cares, entertainments and busywork of our lives to dim the lamp of holiness that Communion plants in us, we can renew it merely by attending service, once again quieting our minds, opening our hearts and letting Jesus in.

[julian the apostate]

i sort of like old catholics

[higgs2]

Our sins are washed away and we are truly reedemed in the most glorious way possable, if we open our hearts and still our minds as we take the Sacrament, we commune with with Jesus, he becomes woven into us, we can touch the very Grace of the Holy Spirit. Each time we are renewed and drawn back to God. God's nature is ever merciful, and so as we allow the cares, entertainments and busywork of our lives to dim the lamp of holiness that Communion plants in us, we can renew it merely by attending service, once again quieting our minds, opening our hearts and letting Jesus in.

Thank you for this, how beautifully said.

[thejesusfish90]

Can I just throw this question in, if I were to not participate in communion (validy), which given my churches position is probably my reality, would that constitute a depravation of my redemption?

[Father Rick]

Can I just throw this question in, if I were to not participate in communion (validy), which given my churches position is probably my reality, would that constitute a depravation of my redemption?Let me give this analogy...

Prayer, Study of Scripture, Fellowship with other believers, Communion, etc. are like 'spiritual tools' used to build and enhance our walk of faith. God has given us many different things to help us build the strongest relationship with Him possible. If we are operating without one of the 'tools' He has given us, then it is that much harder to build our Christian walk.

[Rev. Smith]

Can I just throw this question in, if I were to not participate in communion (validy), which given my churches position is probably my reality, would that constitute a depravation of my redemption?

I agree with everything Father Rick said. But I wouldn't stress to much over "valid" communion. Apostolic churches, such as the Roman, Old and National Catholics and the Anglican Communion place great emphasis on the Bishop's and Priests haveing correct sucession - but this isn't about some kind of "magic", where holiness is transmitted to the Priest by the laying on of hands - it is a tool for ensuring orthodoxy, (and sort of works that way). If you are partaking of communion offered by a consecrated priest who is performing a valid liturgy then you are partaking of communion, so open your heart, still your mind and let His holiness grow in you.

[Aymn27]

Can I just throw this question in, if I were to not participate in communion (validy), which given my churches position is probably my reality, would that constitute a depravation of my redemption?
I would think it is better to not partake of an invalid Eucharist than to be deprived of it...God's grace is sufficient and I'm sure there are countless saints who have not been able to receive validly for whatever reason. I would not receive before I would receive invalidly.

Aaron

[thejesusfish90]

I agree with everything Father Rick said. But I wouldn't stress to much over "valid" communion. Apostolic churches, such as the Roman, Old and National Catholics and the Anglican Communion place great emphasis on the Bishop's and Priests haveing correct sucession - but this isn't about some kind of "magic", where holiness is transmitted to the Priest by the laying on of hands - it is a tool for ensuring orthodoxy, (and sort of works that way). If you are partaking of communion offered by a consecrated priest who is performing a valid liturgy then you are partaking of communion, so open your heart, still your mind and let His holiness grow in you.

That is where my (percieved) problem lies.... My church would not offer what would be identified as a *valid* communion (We are somewhere in between baptist and presbetyrian understanding of the nature of communion, either way the elements are not consecrated)... I understand and relate to what father rick said, however I am not of the oppinion that ones salvation is inhibited by a lack of *valid* communion, I will conceed that it could be one of the tools for a continuing strong walk in the lord... But even if the elements were consecrated, I believe that it would be as much the attitude of the person who recieved it that would allow to strengthen them in christ, (It wouldn't be like some holy superfood that helps people who just recieve it apathetically).... But even for me, when I recieve holy communion at my church, (I'd probably horrify some people with the way that it is done at my church, but in many ways I agree with how they do it), I feel a real intimate connection with the cross, and Jesus' redemptive sacrifice becomes more real to me, would that constitue the strengthening of faith that would be felt at a *valid* holy commmunion?

YBIC

Chris

[Simon_Templar]

I believe the Eucharist does a number of things, all of them important.

First I believe the eucharist unites us with Christ... when we consume the body and blood it is taken the presence of Christ inside of us, his life inside of us. Now of course we are already united with him, and his life is already in us, but in the eucharist both aspects are refreshed and renewed.

Secondly, I believe the Eucharist unites us together as the body of Christ. Eucharist is certainly the greatest sign of our fellowship together as christians (other than our love of one another) but it also truly serves to create and renew that unity by the grace of Christ transmitted to us corperately through Eucharist.

Thirdly, I believe that the Eucharist has cleansing value. I use the story of Jesus washing the disciple's feet to relay what I mean here. Peter did not want Jesus to wash his feet because he thought it a dishonor.. yet Jesus said "if I do not do this you have no part in me" and peter said "ok then wash all of me" but Jesus said no, you are already clean but only your feet are dusty from having traveled in the world.
We are washed clean in baptism and redeemed, but as we travel through this world we pick up dust and dirt that must be washed off.. it is again the refreshing, or renewing.

Fourth, I believe that when the Eucharist is taken with faith it works to not only our spiritual benefit by transmission of God's grace but also our physical benefit as well. The early fathers believed that just as taking communion unworthily could make you sick, taking it in faith could heal you.


On a personal note, I come from a church background that viewed communion as totaly symbolic and only took it rarely.. generaly a few times a year. Although I do believe the things I have stated above, I'm convinced of them.. I find it a challenge to keep them in my mind and meditate upon them in faith because of the old habits of thinking