3 Comments

1. 

   Father K on May 5, 2014 at 4:50 pm

   It certainly can be….and a vigorous Christianity it can be!!

   I consider myself to be in a line of Christian Mystics…I study St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avia, Mother Julian of Norwich, etc.

   If you truly study more about the tradition and beauty of “Christian mysticism,” you will find lots of fundies who feel the very term itself has to be highly improper, an oxymoron.

   For these people, especially those of the fundamentalist nature, the word “mystic” summons up images of the occult, of otherworldly spiritual attitudes and belief or, more concretely, of concepts such as those found in “New Age” philosophies.

   Nothing could be further from the truth!!!!

   Part of the problem comes from the “Reformation” in which the baby was thrown out with the bathwater. In the Church’s dark times it committed indiscretions and flagrant violation of human rights. Yet, it was the mystics who were themselves within the Church that perpetuated and kept alive the inner core and true spirit of Christianity. Many are highlighted in various places on the site (below).

   The creation of the Protestant movement rejected the extremes of the Church, but ast the same time many simply turned their backs on the rich heritage represented by the mystics within Christianity.

   So, what is a mystic?

   A mystic, quite simply, is a lover of God who pursues the beloved actively and deeply. This is not to be confused with the rather static and passive attitude of having been “saved” on a certain date and time on a calendar, as if that as that.

   Instead, it is the deep realization that the Christian life experience is ongoing and evolving as the soul moves toward its fullness and destiny in relationship to God.

2. 

   villhelm on May 5, 2014 at 5:15 pm

   for the first 12 years of Jesus’s life he grew up where the Cabala was taught. in the bible you have spells just as in any book of mysticism they only need to be translated – deciphered any mystic wanting to keep their secrets would hide them the same way.

3. 

   Mosa A on May 5, 2014 at 5:45 pm

   May That can help you

   THE CHURCH
   “I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church”.

   (A) MEANING OF THE WORD “CHURCH” IN SCRIPTURES
   A.1. General Description of The Church
   The principal Old Testament word for Church is derived from a verb meaning “To Call” and the principal New Testament word, from a verb meaning “To Call Out”. Both denote the Church as an assembly called by God.
   A.2 The Church Was Established From the Apostolic Era
   A.2.1 Various Branches
   Most generally it denotes a local church, whether assembled for worship or not:
   Acts 5:11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
   Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
   Rom 16:4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
   1 Cor 11:18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.
   1 Cor 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also:
   A.2.2 A The Church in Your House
   The Apostles coined the phrase “the Church in your house”. Until to day the groom in a Coptic wedding is clothed with the priestly robe, to denote that he is the priest of his own home.
   Rom 16:5 Likewise [greet] the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.
   Rom 16:23 Gaius, my host and [the host] of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother.
   1 Cor 16:19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
   Col 4:15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that [is] in his house.
   A.2.3 The Body Of Christ
   In it’s most comprehensive sense it is a description of the whole body of believers, whether in heaven or on earth:
   Eph 1:22 And He put all [things] under His feet, and gave Him [to be] head over all [things] to the church,
   Eph 3:10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly [places],
   Eph 3:21 to Him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
   Eph 5:23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Saviour of the body.
   Col 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
   Col 1:24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,
   (B) THE ESSENCE OF THE CHURCH
   The Church is essentially based in the invisible and spiritual communion of the saints. The Church in its essential nature includes the baptized of all ages, and no one else. It is the spiritual body of the Lord Jesus Christ, in which there is no place for the un-baptized.
   We note that God entered into the Covenant of Grace with the whole Nation as well as the unborn generations.
   Eph 5:23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Saviour of the body.
   B.1 The Church is the Kingdom of God, and the Kingdom of Heaven:
   Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent , for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
   Isa 2:2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days [That] the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.
   Isa 54:1 “Sing, O barren, You [who] have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You [who] have not laboured with child! For more [are] the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman,” says the LORD.
   Dan 2:44 “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
   B.2 The Ark Of Salvation
   Furthermore, according to the fathers, the Church is also the Ark of Salvation, prefigured by Noah’s Ark.
   (C) DISTINCTIONS APPLIED TO THE CHURCH
   In speaking of the Church in general several distinctions come into consideration.
   C.1 The Church Militant and the Church Triumphant
   The Church as she now exist on earth is a militant Church, that is called unto and is actually engaged in a holy war. The Church in heaven on the other hand is the triumphant Church, in which the sword is exchanged for the palm of victory.
   C.2 The Visible and the Invisible Church
   This distinction applies to the Church as it exists on earth, which is invisible as far as her spiritual nature is concerned, so that it is impossible to determine precisely who do and who do not belong to her, but becomes visible in the profession and conduct and conduct of it’s members, in the ministry of the Word and the Sacraments, and in her external organization and government.
   C.3 The Church as an organism and as an institution
   This distinction applies only to the visible Church. As an organism it is visible in the communal life of believers, and in their opposition to the world, and as an organization, in the offices of the clergy, the administration of the Word and the Sacraments, and in the temporal form of the Church government.
   (D) THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE CHURCH
   Their are especially four attributes of the Church, and also three marks of external characteristics.
   One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church”.
   D.1 Its Unity.
   According to the Orthodox Church, the unity is a unity in faith and Sacraments, but not necessarily a unity of administration. It is the unity of the spiritual body of Christ.
   This unity does not include heretics, the apostle characterizes the heretics as perverted and dangerous to the faith:
   Titus 3:10 11 Reject a divisive “heretic” man after the first and second admonition, {11} knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self condemned.
   D.2 Its Holiness
   The Church is holy for the following reasons:
   1.Because her founder and leader is the Lord Jesus Christ.
   2.Because of its spiritual birth on the day of Pentecost
   3.Because of her apostolic succession and the cloud of witnesses and saints..
   4.Because she is the source of the Holy Spirit Whom she administers through the Sacraments.
   5.Because of it’s Holy teachings, based on the Scriptures and the tradition.
   6.Because the Holy Spirit Calls her so:
   Eph 5:25 27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, {26} that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, {27} that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
   D.3 Its Catholicity
   Catholicity of the Church means its universality.
   After His resurrection the Lord sent forth His disciples to preach, He told them :
   Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
   From these words and this injunction of our Lord to the disciples we can see that “CATHOLIC” means “Universal”.
   D.4 It Is Apostolic
   Apostolic means it is based on the Apostles, as the first bishops ordained by Christ, to ordain others.
   John 20:20 23 When He had said this, He showed them [His] hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. {21} So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” {22} And when He had said this, He breathed on [them], and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. {23} “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the [sins] of any, they are retained.”

   By Breathing on them and giving them the Holy Spirit, Christ ordained them Bishops. This ordination was accompanied by likening their mission to His (verse 21) AS THE FATHER SENT ME, I ALSO SEND YOU!!!?
   D.5 Christ Is Her High Priest
   The Lord Jesus was sent to this world as the new and eternal High Priest, according to the order of Melchizedek!!
   Heb 7:20 24 And inasmuch as [He was] not [made priest] without an oath {21} (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The LORD has sworn And will not relent, ‘You [are] a priest forever According to the order of Melkizedek’ “), {22} by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. {23} Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. {24} But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.
   D.5.1 The Present Priesthood Is Derived From Christ
   Their priesthood is to the order of His priesthood, they do not offer any blood sacrifices, but rather they are administering his perpetual sacrifice to His people, i.e. His Body and His Blood. As well as having the authority to impart the other sacramental gifts of the Holy Spirit to the Church members.
   D.5.2 Christ Ordained The First Bishops for The Church And Granted Them Wide Authorities
   John 20 Verse 23, is very clear authority to administer the forgiveness of sin!!!
   John 20:23 “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the [sins] of any, they are retained.”
   Christ obviously wanted His Church to administer forgiveness. As we believe that Christ has always meant what He said. An we have seen the Apostles using this right extensively.
   D.5.3 They Were Ordained For A Commission
   These bishops were ordained to administer Baptism, Confession, Absolution, Communion of others… etc. All these sacraments are directly related to the forgiveness of sin.
   D.5.4 The Apostolic Succession
   The First Bishops Were Given Commission By Christ To Ordain Successive Bishops And Priests
   Mat 28:19 20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age.” Amen.
   Christ was the direct mentor of saint Paul. We observe that St Paul ordained Timothy as a bishop as well as Titus. St John ordained Ignatious and Policarpos.

   So ordination of bishops is an institution of Christ Himself, and has been an apostolic tradition
   1 Tim 4:14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
   2 Tim 1:6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
   St Paul written to St Timothy stipulating the qualifications of the Bishop and the Deacon as well as encouraging hard working priests and recommending them to be doubly rewarded.
   Also St Paul spoken to the priests of the Church of Ephesus prior to his departure
   Acts 20:28 “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

   Priests are Perpetually Needed by the Church

   St James calls on the sick to call the priests to take the patient’s confession anointing him with oil:
   James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

   This shows us that the apostles were aware that priesthood is a perpetual part of the life of the Church. The word “Presbyters” should be translated priest and not just an elder.
   D.5.5 The Doctrine Of The Laying Of Hands
   The doctrine of laying of the hands is counted so important for the faith, and is equaled with the belief in the second combing and the baptism:
   Heb 6:1 2 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary [principles] of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, {2} of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
   It is obvious that St Paul is not trivializing any of these teachings and beliefs of the early Church, but is rather referring to them as a foundation.
   (E) THE MARKS OR THE EXTERNAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH
   The marks of the visible Church are three in number.
   E.1 The True and Correct preaching of the Word of God. This is a very important mark of the Church
   1 John 4:1 3 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. {2} By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, {3} and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the [spirit] of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
   2 John 1:9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
   It means that all preaching must be true to the fundamentals of the Christian religion and to the Church tradition.
   E.2 The Right Administration of the Sacraments
   The Administration of the Sacraments is another important mark of the Church. The Sacraments could not be divorced from the word. The true Church must administer the Sacraments as established by Christ Himself and as practiced by the Church through the generations. The Seven Sacraments of the Church are an absolute necessity for salvation.
   E.2.1 Baptism
   For The Remission of Sin
   Acts 2:38 (NKJV) Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
   Mat 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
   Mark 16:15 16 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. {16} “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
   For Salvation
   1 Pet 3:21 (NKJV) There is also an antitype which now saves us; baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
   Mark 16:16 (NKJV) “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
   Purificatio and Santification
   Eph 5:25-26 (NKJV) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
   An Edict of Our Lord Jesus Christ

   We note that Nicodimos went confessing his faith in the Lord Jesus, to The Lord. It is obvious that in spite of this confession of faith, the Lord Jesus Christ insisted on the necessity of baptism of both the water and the Spirit. Christ also defined baptism as a mystery when he equated its mystical part with the wind.
   Nicodimus Declares His FaithJohn 3:1-2 (NKJV) There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
   Jesus States that Entery to the Kingdom of God is conditional on being born again John 3:3 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
   Nicudimos asks how to be born againJohn 3:4 (NKJV) Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
   Jesus States that Baptism with water and the Spirit is the New BirthJohn 3:5-7 (NKJV) Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
   Jesus Declares Baptism a MysteryJohn 3:8 (NKJV) “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
   Nicudimos Still PuzzeledJohn 3:9 (NKJV) Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
   Jesus Declares Baptism as a heavenly mysteryJohn 3:10-13 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 “Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
   Jesus Links the Cross to BaptismJohn 3:14-15 (NKJV) 14 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
   Jesus Links the Love of The Father to Baptism (the famous John 3:16)John 3:16 (NKJV) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

   Baptism of Infants
   (1) Christ Orders their Baptism
   Christ’s Edict #1
   From the dialog between Lord Jesus and Nicudimos we note that Baptism is an essential condition to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
   Christ’s Edict #2
   Christ also made it imperative to baptize the children as He instructed the disciples to “suffer little children unto Him as for them is the Kingdom of Heaven.”.
   Hence It Is Imperative to Baptise Infants
   So if one cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven without baptism, and children are to be admitted to the Kingdom of heaven, then children must be baptized.
   (2) Deciples Baptise Full Families Inclusive of Children
   Acts 10:48 (NKJV) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
   Acts 16:14-15 (NKJV) Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
   Acts 16:33 (NKJV) And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
   1 Cor 1:16 (NKJV) Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other.
   God Enters in Covenants with unborn Children

   Jer 1:5 (NKJV) “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
   Luke 1:15 (NKJV) “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
   Gen 17:11 (NKJV) “and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
   Gen 17:14 (NKJV) “And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
   E.2.2 Chrism or Holy Myrrhon:
   Acts 8:17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
   Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
   2 Cor 1:21 22 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us [is] God, {22} who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
   E.2.3 The Eucharist
   Without eating the Body of Christ, and drinking His Blood, one is considered dead.

   John 6 (27-69)
   Christ implores the people to seek the heavenly bread”Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

   The people ask Christ about the bread He gives{28} Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” {29} Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” {30} Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? {31} “Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”
   Jesus declares that His Body is the heavenly giftThen Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. {33} “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” {34} Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”

   Jesus declares that He is the Bread of Life{35} And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. {36} “But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. {37} “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. {38} “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. {39} “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. {40} “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” {41} The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” {42} And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” {43} Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. {44} “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. {45} “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. {46} “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. {47} “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

   Jesus declares that He is the Bead of Life48} “I am the bread of life. {49} “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. {50} “This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. {51} “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
   The Jews murmur against this{{52} The Jews therefore quarrelled among themselves, saying, “How can this [Man] give us [His] flesh to eat?”
   Jesus Declares the His Body is a true one (not a Symbol){53} Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. {

   Jesus declares that His Body and Blood grants eternal life54} “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. {55} “For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. {56} “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. {57} “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. {58} “This is the bread which came down from heaven; not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” {59} These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
   Jesus Challenges the remaining disciples to leave if they do not believe{60} Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard [this], said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” {61} When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? {62} “[What] then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? {63} “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and [they] are life. {64} “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. {65} And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” {66} From that [time] many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. {67} Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” {68} But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. {69} “Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

   Saint Paul clearly sees Communion as the Body and Blood of Christ.

   1 Cor 11:23 26 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the [same] night in which He was betrayed took bread; {24} and when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and said, “Take , eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” {25} In the same manner [He] also [took] the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink [it], in remembrance of Me.” {26} For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
   1 Cor 5:7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

   It is significant to observe that St John did not record the establishment of the Sacrament of Communion on Maundy Thursday as he adequately covered the subject in John 6
   E.2.4 Repentance and Confession:
   John 20:20 23 When He had said this, He showed them [His] hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. {21} So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” {22} And when He had said this, He breathed on [them], and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. {23} “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the [sins] of any, they are retained.”
   Prov 28:13 (NKJV) He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
   Lev 5:5-6 (NKJV) ‘And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing; 6 ‘and he shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin.
   Mat 3:5-6 (NKJV) Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
   James 5:16 (NKJV) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
   Josh 7:19 (NKJV) Now Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I beg you, give glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
   E.2.5 Priesthood:
   As discussed above.
   E.2.6 Marriage
   Mat 19:4 6 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made [them] at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ {5} “and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? {6} “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
   Mat 5:32 “But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
   E.2.7 Holy Unction
   James 5:14 15 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. {15} And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
   E.3 The Exercising of Discipline By The Church
   This is necessary to maintain the purity of the doctrine and safe guarding the holiness of the Sacraments.
   Mat 18:18 “Assuredly , I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth

   1 Cor 5:1 5 It is actually reported [that there is] sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles; that a man has his father’s wife! {2} And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. {3} For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. {4} In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, {5} deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
   1 Cor 5:13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
   1 Cor 14:33 For God is not [the author] of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
   1 Cor 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
   Rev 2:14 “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
   Rev 2:15 “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
   Rev 2:20 “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.