In communion, we partake of the new human nature of Jesus Christ, the second Adam. When we partake of the bread it his body, his new human nature, filled with uncorrupted Life which is offered to our human nature. His body, this mysterious bread, thus enters our human nature and transforms it. Our humanity is becoming like his humanity…our nature is becoming his nature. The dying and decaying body of our humanity is passing away and we are becoming alive in a new, previously unknown way as he changes our very nature. In communion when we partake of the bread we are taking in this new nature of Christ and in an absolutely real way we are being made into something new because of our participation. This implies more than just a spiritual regeneration of some kind but also holds within it the promise and hope of a physical regeneration.
When we partake of the wine, it is his blood—the blood of a new covenant, Jesus says. What is blood but the very life flowing through a body? His blood, this mysterious wine, is his Life flowing into our new humanity generously shared with us by him. This is his Life filling our life with his Spirit. The power of his blood is such that it flows into our once twisted heart and untwists it, liberating it from the corruption suffered in the Fall through the first Adam. This is a transformation of the human spirit within the new humanity bestowed and given to us through and by Jesus Christ, the first New Man.
In communion, we are offered the new nature of Jesus Christ. We partake of his holy and uncorrupted humanity and receive the mysterious action of the Holy Spirit making us new creations filled with the Life of Christ in both body and spirit.
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