Communion and Maturity.

My experience suggests that christian maturity is related not to knowledge or crafty words/thoughts of wisdom. It is rather related to a soul's time spent dwelling on the Gospel in communion with God. At times this maturity may be called "fanaticism" for in it, one never moves beyond a single belief, the Gospel. One is also fanatical in that they focus on salvation by faith and focus on God himself in everything. Some think there are bigger and better things in faith other than the gospel. I would call it Christian maturity to see otherwise.

Some may equate the gospel with spiritual milk that only babes in Christ need drink. Yet, they neglect that Christ himself is the true food and true drink. He is also the meat and substance of belief. In a way, God himself is the gospel. We must partake of his very nature to benefit. This is not literal consumption but rather we must experience and commune with his nature through the Holy Spirit to benefit our souls. This is christian maturity; it is to have increasing peace and communion with God.

Communion to some has become the outward acceptance of bread and wine. The bread and wine at times are no longer accepted as symbols of Christ and the gospel within our sanctification but the graces and the nature itself. This produces some serious problems. The bread and wine sacrimentally can avail to nothing without one receiving them as they would Christ and the gospel, especially in sanctification. The provisions for sanctification (and even justification) are related to Christ's atonement by the effects of his high priestly intercession. Roman Catholic Liturgy could support this link in communion. Such an understanding would also show how they have errored so far so fast. Primarily by changing what His interecession and what God's application of atonement looks like.

John Piper:
"The first meaning was that the Lord's Supper is a proclamation of the gospel ("As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." 1 Corinthians 11:26). The second meaning was that the Lord's Supper is a remembering of Christ ("Do this in remembrance of me." 1 Corinthians 11:24). The third meaning was that the Lord's Supper is a spiritual feasting by faith on all that God is for us in Christ ("I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." John 6:35). And the fourth meaning was that the Lord's Supper is a savoring of the promises of the New Covenant ("This cup is the new covenant in my blood." 1 Corinthians 11:25). Now today we look at two final meanings—not that there are no others, but these are the two we will focus on in conclusion. One is that the Lord's Supper is a call to love the people of Christ, and beyond. And the other is that the Lord's Supper is a call to self-examination. Both of these meanings are found in 1 Corinthians 11."

I would also add that the meaning of this sacrament is also to invoke communion between saints within its relation to sanctification and the unity of the holy spirit. Hence, it is done congregationally. I have not touched on the significance of this sacrament to covenant. Within the context of the covenant it is a memorial to that which has been done. It is a memorial to the sacrifice, once and for all time, done by christ. It is not the re-offering, the re-application, or the re-sacrifice of christ. Nor can it be making that old sacrifice present again. For it is already present in the works and acts of grace that flow from Christ's intercession.