Does the use of multiple loaves and cups at the Breaking of Bread indicate departure?

Does the use of multiple loaves and cups at the Breaking of Bread indicate departure?

Departure begins with a cooling of our devotion to Christ. One evidence of departure is a lack of love for and obedience to His Word. To change our practices from what His Word teaches or to be unwilling to change our ways in order to conform to His Word is departure. We are best to judge our own hearts before we look for indications of departure in others.

When we apparently take delight in finding the failings of others, we too have departed from the teachings of the Lord. If we fairly evaluate the teaching of the Bible on this subject, we can hardly conclude that pouring the wine from a common vessel and distributing it to 500 people by means of 4 cups violates the Word of God. The same can be said of taking one large entity of bread and distributing it on 4 separate plates. If this is what is meant by "multiple loaves and cups," then the answer to the question is "No." This is not departure.

To officiate at the "Communion Service" by distributing "the host" or a wafer violates the Word of God. This is multiple "loaves" and, in addition, bespeaks officialism. To have communion using individual cups fails to clearly express the significance of partaking from the "cup of blessing." If this is the meaning of "multiple loaves and cups," then the answer to the question is "Yes." This is departure.

D. Oliver
Other pages in this section

About this site

What are the conditions for reception to an assembly?

What are the New Testament conditions for reception to an assembly?

The New Testament provides an example and doctrine that answer this question.

In Acts 9:26" TARGET="_blank">Acts 9:26 & 27, Saul came to the assembly at Jerusalem. Three facts confirmed by Barnabas enabled the assembly to receive Saul: his salvation ("how he had seen the Lord"); his beliefs or doctrine ("He had spoken to him"); his life ("he had preached boldly"). Some may object that this was necessary because Saul was a persecutor. Universally in the New Testament, wrong doctrine and behavior, and unbelievers "creeping in" posed more danger to assemblies than persecution. Overseers in an assembly have a responsibility to preserve believers in that assembly from behavior or teaching that will endanger their progress in Christian living.

New Testament doctrine implies that, since an assembly is a fellowship, anyone whose behavior or teaching denies the scriptural truths held by the assembly could not be part of the assembly or participate in its privileges.

Since an assembly is a testimony, to include anyone whose life and testimony are contrary to the testimony of the assembly weakens or destroys what the Lord expects the assembly to uphold. An assembly, for instance, testifies that Jesus is Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 12:3). Baptism is an initial public testimony of submission to the Lord’s command. Without being baptized, a believer could not participate in a collective testimony to the Lordship of Christ.

Carrying a letter of commendation when visiting another assembly is a scriptural practice. The letter does not certify "membership" and therefore guarantee "admission." It enables the receiving assembly to determine whether the visitor can be safely received. The letter is only valuable to the degree that the receiving assembly knows and has confidence in those who have sent the letter.

D. Oliver
Other pages in this section

About this site

Do bad dreams/nightmares warn us about hell?

Do bad dreams/nightmares warn us about hell?

Dreams allow us to experience things that are not real as though they were. That can include our “daydreams”, where our spirits create scenarios to exercise our mind and emotions, as well as dreams as we sleep, over which we have little control. In both cases we can gauge our feelings and reactions to things that have not happened.

The Bible is clear that dreams can be misleading and unhelpful. Solomon said, “For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.” (Ecclesiast. 5:3) He is telling us that dreams of things that do not exist can distract us from the vital need to deal with the things that do. Some people waste countless hours examining their dreams, trying to find meaning in them. People who smoke opium have wonderful dreams, from which they must always awake to a reality that is depressing and deteriorating. The devil can use dreams to unnecessarily terrify us, as Job experienced (Job 7:14)." TARGET="_blank">Job 7:14). Some people experience strange nightmares if they eat a big bowl of ice cream just before going to bed, perhaps from a hypoglycemic blood sugar drop a couple of hours later. Just because we had a bad dream or a good dream does not mean anything about it is real. We must exercise control over our dreams by learning from the ones that help move us in the direction we should go, and ignoring the rest.

Yet God can and does use dreams to “wake us up” to realities that we have never considered seriously. A dream about hell can make us think hard about what it would mean to be there, because we know from the Bible it does exist and real people will be there. Dreams of great tragedies can make us taste the inevitability of our own death. In the Bible a wise man explains it this way: “For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.” (Job 33:14-17)" TARGET="_blank">Job 33:14-17)

We all tend to get comfortable with life and begin to ignore the realities of death and the eternity that lies beyond. God would like to humble us all to take Him very seriously while we still have time to do so. Time is running out, and He very much wants us all to be saved. If a dream will help make us serious, He may purposefully allow it.

Alfred Corduan

Other pages in this section

About this site

If the cup is not a type, must we use wine and not simply "the fruit of the vine"?

If the cup is not a type, must we use wine and not simply "the fruit of the vine"?

"Fruit of the vine" (Luke 22:18)" TARGET="_blank">Luke 22:18) is the only description we have of the contents of the cup. The grape harvest was in the Fall. The Passover came in the Spring. Without refrigeration or canning, "the fruit of the vine" began to ferment by Passover. This makes it impossible to insist that that contents of the cup cannot be fermented.

The contents are not typical, so we cannot prescribe the degree of fermentation for the contents of the cup. In fact, because it isnt typical, we cannot require that the contents must be fermented.

D. Oliver

Other pages in this section

About this site

What does it mean to "wait upon the Lord"?

Please explain what is meant by “waiting upon the Lord,” as in Isaiah 40:31" TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 40:31?

Several Hebrew words are translated, “wait,” in the Old Testament. The root used here for “wait upon” is different from that, say in Psalm 62:5," TARGET="_blank">Psalm 62:5, and elsewhere, where the R.V. Margin has “to be silent” (“dämam”—properly “to be dumb”). Here the word is “qãvãh, of which the primary meaning is “to be strong,” and then “to await” (the idea being perhaps that waiting God’s answer does need a certain strength of purpose or endurance). The two roots are found together in Psalm 62:5," TARGET="_blank">Psalm 62:5, “My soul wait (dãmam—be dumb) thou only upon God, for my expectation (qãvãh root) is from Him.” Isa. xl. 31 then means that they that come to the Lord and tell Him their needs, and are willing to wait His time for an answer, “shall renew their strength.” Waiting upon God gets the answer some day, and strengthens the soul to-day. Therefore “wait (qavah) on thy God continually” (Hosea 12:6)." TARGET="_blank">Hosea 12:6).

W.H.

Other pages in this section

About this site

Are earthquakes a sign of the end of the world?

Are earthquakes a sign of the end of the world?

Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 24 that there would be a number of signs that precede his return to the earth. These signs include false prophets claiming to be Christ, wars, famines and earthquakes.

Matthew 24:5-8" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 24:5-8 many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. (6) And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. (7) For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. (8) All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

These signs will occur in the beginning of the time of tribulation, leading up to the key event mentioned in Matthew 24:15," TARGET="_blank">Matthew 24:15, the abomination of desolation, when the Antichrist takes up his position as a god worthy of worship.

There are no signs given to us to predict when Christ will return for His Church in the rapture. Any signs we can distinguish, whether politically, spiritually or physically, show us that Christ’s return to the Mount of Olives is coming closer. Make no mistake, that the current pace of earthquakes and wars will have no comparison with the time of tribulation.

Matthew 24:21-22" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 24:21-22 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. (22) And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

Shad Sluiter
Other pages in this section

About this site

How can we apply Matthew 18 to interpersonal problems?

How can we apply the teaching in this passage to interpersonal problems?

Some principles from this passage apply to resolving an interpersonal problem. However, because all Scripture is "God-breathed" (2 Tim 3:16)," TARGET="_blank">2 Tim 3:16), the application of this passage must be in harmony with the truth in all the Scriptures (Psa 119:160).

If this passage teaches us how to pursue the redress of wrongs against us, it stands alone in the New Testament. When a brother wrongs us, the Lord teaches us to convince him of his wrong (Luke 17:3, 4)." TARGET="_blank">Luke 17:3, 4). If he repents, we are to forgive, even when his expressed repentance seems questionable. Apart from that, the New Testament teaches us to be kind, forbearing, forgiving, and concerned toward those who wrong us (e.g.: Co 6:7)." TARGET="_blank">Co 6:7)." TARGET="_blank">1 Co 6:7)." TARGET="_blank">Co 6:7). In fact, the remainder of Matthew 18" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 18 advocates unlimited forgiveness and shows how inconsistent it is for those whom God has forgiven to exact redress for wrongs others do to them.

In light of this, several limitations guard how these verses apply to resolving interpersonal disputes. First, the primary goal is gaining the brother. To use this passage to demand redress (v. 28) violates the clear statements of the Lord (vv. 22-35).

Maintaining these truths balances the application of this passage to interpersonal problems.Focus on the purpose: to gain your brother. Keep it private: "between thee and him alone." Many personal, family, and financial issues should never be repeated to the church. They will create factions among believers. If the matter does not affect the testimony of the assembly or clearly cross a moral boundary God has established, it is not an assembly issue. Perhaps the strongest limitation in applying this passage is that it presents a one-sided problem. Only one party has sinned. That is hardly ever (never?) the case in interpersonal problems; both have in some way contributed to the wrong. In the presence of the Light of the World, the Holy One to Whom nothing is hidden, he that is without sin in his relationship problems, let him cast the first stone at his erring brother.

D. Oliver
Other pages in this section

About this site

Bible Verse Finder

The Online Bible Verse Finder provides a free way to add the ability to your site visitors to find a Bible verse directly from your page. The Bible verse finder is available along with the dictionary under the link titled "Online Bible Search" or here.

Instructions for the Bible verse finder

1. Select this link Bible Verse Finder.

2. Choose a Bible version in which to find your verse (ASV -American Standard Version, BBE - Bible in Basic English, DBY - Darby "New Translation", GFR - God's Word for Readers, KJV - King James Version, WEB - World English Bible, YLT - Young's Literal Translation, or the ESV - English Standard Version)

3. Click "Go" to launch the Bible verse finder.

The results of your bible verse finder search will be different with each Bible version since the language in each Bible version is slightly different.

Other pages in this section

About this site

Are some overseers entitled to more spiritual weight than others?

Are some overseers entitled to more spiritual weight than others?

This questions requires particular balance in its answer, because the answer is both "yes" and "no." The consistent character, experience, and Biblical understanding of some overseers gives them greater "moral authority." The insights of such men deserve particular consideration. That consideration is afforded by others. If a man demands or obviously expects that consideration, he loses moral authority. Neither personality nor manipulative skill gives spiritual weight, not even age alone (Pro 16:31)." TARGET="_blank">Pro 16:31).

While each overseer is personally accountable to the Lord (Acts 20:28;" TARGET="_blank">Acts 20:28; Heb 13:17)," TARGET="_blank">Heb 13:17), the oversight functions as a unit (1Ti 4:14)" TARGET="_blank">1Ti 4:14) in which each elder is essential to the working of the whole. Spiritual weight will influence the decisions of the overseers only to the extent it addresses the issue at hand with the truth of the Word of God. Oversight decisions are not by majority vote, by weighted votes, or by a poll of all in the assembly, but through a consensus that considers all the overseers. Only such consideration fulfills the servant-leadership role the Lord described and exemplified (Mark 10:42-45;" TARGET="_blank">Mark 10:42-45; Phi 2:3-8)." TARGET="_blank">Phi 2:3-8).

The suggested answer then is "yes," because the character and Biblical insights of some will have greater influence on the oversight’s deliberations, and "no," because each overseer has equal responsibility for the decisions made by the oversight.

D. Oliver
Other pages in this section

About this site

Is it just believers in the free world who seem to be spared from the persecution?

Is it just believers in the free world who seem to be spared from the persecution?

Apart from the availability of international news, believers in the "free world" would likely assume that persecution for Christ is an ancient concept. Mass murders, economic oppression, social isolation, and immoral harassment consistently face many believers. The persecution is systematic, violent, and persistent. Our Christian brothers and sisters in some countries know by experience that "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 14:22). Some who come from foreign shores to the "free world" hear and receive the gospel message. As a result, they face strong opposition from their family. Sometimes, returning to their native country involves the threat of death. "Remember... them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body" (Heb 13:3)." TARGET="_blank">Heb 13:3).

The Scriptures also remind us, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2Ti 3:12)." TARGET="_blank">2Ti 3:12). In subtle ways, believers living in the "free world" face coercion to conform to ungodly thinking and practices. Their beliefs draw scorn, belittlement, dismissal, and isolation in the classroom and workplace. When they make every attempt to be considerate, reasonable, consistent, and faithful, their testimony, although blessed by God, may often meet the stone wall of condescending sneers. Our God still places highest value on faithfulness (1Co 4:2)." TARGET="_blank">1Co 4:2).

D. Oliver
Other pages in this section

About this site

Main Menu

Bible Verse Finder