In case you were wondering.
ML/NJ
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Nope, I wasn't wondering.
Exodus 12:14 calls the feast of Passover a "memorial", and to make this memorial an ordinance - a part of the Jewish Law. What exactly does that have to do with the Mass and it supposedly having literal sacrificial power?
The Jewish people who celebrated the Passover Feast did not hold the feast itself up to be sacrificial, but a remembrance of the Grace of God who "passed over" those homes marked with sacrificial blood, and also in remembrance of God's further deliverance from Egypt.
This is exactly the same context and picture that Christ painted at the Last Supper - when he instructed the Disciples to "take, eat", this is My Body.... Do this in REMEMBRANCE of me. Christ did not say to make it into a continual sacrifice, but to do it "whenever you come together" as a remembrance.
The Lord's Supper (Communion, Eucharist, etc.) is an ordinance (command/rule) that we do, just as the picture of the Passover Feast to the Jews, to remind us of what Christ has done as the PERFECT Passover lamb.
Hebrews 10:7-18 gives a clear picture of the REAL sacrifice - that was given one time for the remission of sin. Not a continual offering by priests:
7Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Read those verses slowly and carefully. Don't take ANY out of context or try to trim away the parts that are inconvenient.
The writer was clearly reaffirming that God was not pleased by the old sacrificial system. Instead, He made ONE sacrifice - through His Son - for all sin. And look at v. 14 - FOR BY ONE OFFERING He hath perfect for ever them that are sanctified.
This was all accomplished by the perfect Sacrifice of Jesus Christ - which we remember by celebrating the Lord's Supper.
Let me respectly disagree!
It seems to me, when our Lord Jesus Christ ended His conversation,in the third chapter of John,as to His flesh and His blood; He said: “It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)
Earlier Jesus taught; “Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship what ye know not
what: We know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”John 4:21-24)
I also claim “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of god.” and “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” (Romans 8:14 & 8:16)
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ: if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:17)
“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body; according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are manifest in your consciences.” (II Cor. 5:10-11)
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold all things become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trepasses unto unto us the word of reconciliation. Now we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He (God) hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (II Corinthians 5:17:21)
And last let us remember our Lord Jesus prayed: “....that they may be one, even as we are one.” (John 17:22b)
In summation; Let us build bridges, and not walls. That is reconciliation!