“The early disciples did routinely celebrate the sacrament. It seems a common occurrence with the gathering of believers in the book of Acts. The fellowships mention the “breaking of bread” (communion)”.
Then how did the disciples on the road to Emmaus know Jesus by the “breaking of bread” if they were not present at the Last Supper? “Breaking of bread” was the name of the common brotherhood rite of the time. They must have participated in the rite with Jesus before the Last Supper in order to recognize His officiating. Just the actions of the disciples present and the practice of the Corinthian church some 25 years after the Last Supper would say that there was not a “sacrament” and conferred no grace on the participants.
The Last Supper was not the Passover meal but the meal the evening before Passover.
Maybe.
I’m not following you. The answer is given in Luke 24. it was not merely by the breaking of bread, since it says, “Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?’” (vv. 31,32) It was through the preached word that Christ revealed Himself to them.
The sacraments without the preached word are of no effect. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” The sacraments merely strengthen the faith that exists in the life of the believer.
They must have participated in the rite with Jesus before the Last Supper in order to recognize His officiating.
That is an argument from silence. First of all their eyes were supernaturally prevented from seeing who He really was (v. 16). And as I said it was not the breaking of bread which opened their eyes, it was the preaching of the Scripture to them. It was a supernatural act.
Just the actions of the disciples present and the practice of the Corinthian church some 25 years after the Last Supper would say that there was not a “sacrament” and conferred no grace on the participants.
I don’t see that clearly from any Scripture.
The Last Supper was not the Passover meal but the meal the evening before Passover.
Didn’t say it was. I merely said it replaced the Passover in the communal life God’s people.