Why do we Partake in Communion?

QUESTION:

ANSWER:

We partake in Communion because the Lord Jesus Himself commanded it—to remember His sacrifice, examine ourselves, proclaim our shared hope in His return, and unite as one body under the new covenant of His blood.

When the Lord Jesus walked the earth, He left His followers two ordinances to observe: Baptism (See also: “Why do I Need to be Baptized?”) and Communion (also called the Lord’s Supper). These were not man-made traditions, but sacred acts given directly by the Lord Himself — and each carries with it its respective importance in the life of the believers.
As followers of Christ, we partake in Communion to obey His command, to remember His sacrifice, to proclaim our hope, and to unite as one body in faith and love.

1. What Is Communion?

Communion is an ordinance given by the Lord Jesus. It is a sacred act where believers gather to partake of bread and the cup, in obedience to Jesus’ command, to remember His sacrifice on the cross.

It is a time of reverent reflection, thanksgiving, fellowship, and proclamation of the Lord’s death and resurrection.

During Communion:

We take the bread, symbolizing His body given for us.
We drink the cup, symbolizing His blood poured out for the forgiveness of our sins.

Jesus Himself instituted Communion during the Last Supper:

“And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'” (Luke 22:19)

“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.'” (1 Corinthians 11:25)

Thus, Communion is not merely a tradition, but an act of worship commanded by Christ.

2. The Purpose of Communion

In Remembrance of Him, Together with the Church

The primary purpose of Communion is to remember the sacrifice of Christ — but not in isolation.
Jesus desires that we remember Him together as His body, united in one faith and hope.

“For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.” (1 Corinthians 10:17)

While personal fellowship with the Lord is essential, Communion highlights that we are one Church, redeemed and brought together through Christ’s death and resurrection.

3. Why Do We Partake in Communion?

a. To Remember the Sacrifice of Christ

When we partake, we deliberately recall the price Jesus paid — His body broken, His blood shed — for our salvation.

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:26)

b. To Proclaim Our Hope

Because Jesus offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins — as prophesied:

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

— we now have forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
Thus, our hope is alive:

The forgiveness of sins is ours through Jesus’ sacrifice.
Eternal life is promised to all who believe.

Through Communion, we boldly proclaim this living hope rooted in Christ.

4. Elements of the Communion

The Bread

The bread represents the body of Jesus, given for us.

In the Old Testament, unleavened bread was commanded during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, symbolizing purity and the absence of sin.

“Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses.” (Exodus 12:15)

Leaven (yeast) often symbolized corruption or sin. Jesus, being sinless, is represented by unleavened bread — pure, without blemish.

“I am the bread of life.” (John 6:48)

Moreover, as believers, we are part of this one body — the body of Christ:

“For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.” (1 Corinthians 10:17)

The Wine

The cup symbolizes the precious blood of Jesus poured out for the forgiveness of sins:

“This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)
“Without shedding of blood there is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22)

The blood of Christ is central to the New Covenant — it secured eternal redemption for all who believe.

On the Doctrine of Transubstantiation

Some teach that the bread and wine literally transform into the body and blood of Christ during Communion. However, Scripture reveals that Jesus spoke symbolically, not literally.

In John 6, when Jesus spoke of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, many misunderstood and turned away:

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” (John 6:66)

Jesus was not advocating literal cannibalism. He was teaching that faith in His sacrifice — His body broken, His blood poured out — is essential for eternal life. The bread and wine symbolize His body and blood, respectively, helping us remember His saving work.

5. The Meaning of Taking Communion in an Unworthy Manner

Taking Communion “in an unworthy manner” means approaching the Lord’s Table with a heart that dishonors Christ and His body — the Church. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul rebuked the believers because some were selfishly rushing to eat and drink without considering others, leading to division, inequality, and disrespect during the Lord’s Supper.

“For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing?”
(1 Corinthians 11:21-22)

Thus, partaking without regard for others — with selfishness, division, or irreverence — is what it means to partake unworthily.

But could it even be deeper than that? Can it also include:

Harboring hatred or unforgiveness toward fellow believers.
Mistreating others through gossip, slander, harshness, or neglect.
Offending or hurting others and refusing to make it right.
Causing division through pride, favoritism, quarrels, or grudges.
Treating other members of the church with indifference, contempt, or partiality.

Communion reminds us that we are one body — redeemed by the same sacrifice. If we wound or despise the body through our attitudes or actions, we fail to “discern the Lord’s body” (1 Corinthians 11:29).

This is why the Lord intended for us to celebrate the Lord’s Supper together as a church — not just to remember His sacrifice, but to realign our hearts with His greatest command:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
(John 13:34)

Before partaking in Communion, we are commanded to examine ourselves:

“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”
(1 Corinthians 11:28)

This self-examination is not merely personal — it must also be relational. We must consider whether we are living out Christ’s command to love one another genuinely.

The Lord Jesus Himself taught:

“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way.
First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
(Matthew 5:23-24)

Thus, before approaching the Communion table:

If we remember that we have offended, wronged, or hurt a brother or sister,
We should seek reconciliation — making things right as much as possible — before partaking.

Communion is not only about remembering Christ’s love for us; it is about living out that same love toward others.

Thus, partaking in an unworthy manner includes not only irreverence toward Christ, but also relational sins such as mistreating, offending, or failing to reconcile with others — a direct violation of Christ’s command to love one another.

6. Who Can Institute Communion?

In the Bible, no special group was appointed to exclusively lead the breaking of bread. Instead, every disciple— being part of the royal priesthood — is entrusted with this sacred practice.

The early Christians broke bread together from house to house (Acts 2:46), and instructions about Communion were addressed to the entire church (1 Corinthians 11), not to a select few.
The Lord Jesus commanded all His followers to “do this” in remembrance of Him (Luke 22:19).

Thus, any disciple who understands the meaning of Communion and approaches it with reverence, humility, and faith can initiate the breaking of bread — whether in small gatherings, house churches, or larger assemblies.

7. Why Do We Not Use Actual Unleavened Bread Divided in Person and Instead Use Wafers?

In the original observance, Jesus used an unleavened loaf and broke it with His disciples.
However, in modern practice — especially in large congregations — wafers are used for practical, sanitary reasons.

Regardless of the form — whether an actual loaf or prepared wafers — the meaning remains the same:

The bread symbolizes the sinless body of Christ.
Our unity as believers is affirmed as we all partake together.

Final Thought

Communion is a divine gift — a sacred ordinance that Jesus Himself established for His Church.

It reminds us of His sacrifice, calls us to examine our hearts, unites us as one body, and boldly proclaims the hope we have through the forgiveness of sins.

May we partake with reverence, love for one another, and joyful expectation of the day when we shall eat and drink anew with our Lord in His Kingdom! (Matthew 26:29)

Institution of the Lord’s Supper : 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 NKJV Text

²³For 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; ²⁴and 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.”

²⁵In 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.”

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

Examine Yourself

²⁷Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

QUESTION: