Should wine or grape juice be used for communion?

Similarly, some stress their opposition to the use of wine at the Lord's supper, or at any time. This would again be a mere human regulation, for Timothy is told to use a little wine for his stomach's sake (1 Tim. 5:23). The Lord Himself made "good wine" (Jn. 2:7-11) and manifestly drank wine (Mt. 11:19), though certainly not to excess, as some would accuse Him. But He makes no law as to what the cup should or should not contain, and we must not make such rules. Let us remember that the bread speaks of the body of Christ and the cup, of His blood, and not be sidetracked by men's legal thoughts.

Fourth, wine was used at the Paschal Feast, with the Lord's express sanction; and though, for special reasons in His own case, He did not then partake of it Himself, He told the apostles all to drink of it; and this was not ceremonial, as it related to the earlier cup which was part of the feast, not to the one after supper out of which He instituted the Eucharist:

At the supper the word "wine" does not appear but is spoken of by our Lord as "the fruit of the vine"; and in 1 Cor. 11. we find abuse of it gave rise to drunkenness, which could scarcely have been if the Corinthians were using the unfermented fruit of the vine on the occasion! Compare Eph. 5:18.

A. 2. — The answer is, Yes, and the same word in every case except as already pointed out in the institution of the supper, where it is (not "barley," "palm," or "lotus" wine) but specifically "the fruit of the vine", which "wine" properly is (cf. Gen. 9:20-21).

Second, drinking wine is an essential part of Christian testimony, specifically enjoined in the Lord's Supper. This would certainly not be the case, if the drinking of wine were an evil in itself.

Looked at from this point of view, we see no superstitious mysteries attaching to the Lord's Supper; we see no need for any oath-taking (sacrament) process; we behold no barrier in the way of the simple-hearted disciple. The bread and the wine, unchanged in their character, are such as the Holy Ghost uses to be remembrancers of a Person to whom, and to whom exclusively, we are sincerely attached.

Looked at from this point of view, we see no superstitious mysteries attaching to the Lord's Supper; we see no need for any oath-taking (sacrament) process; we behold no barrier in the way of the simple-hearted disciple. The bread and the wine, unchanged in their character, are such as the Holy Ghost uses to be remembrancers of a Person to whom, and to whom exclusively, we are sincerely attached.

Therefore, if you enter the modest meeting place of Christians gathered to the Lord's Name on a Lord's day morning you will see them gathered around a table upon which is a loaf of bread and cup of wine. The bread symbolises the body of Christ which was given for us, and the cup symbolises His blood which was shed for us (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). This is the only prominent feature, for there is no presiding clergyman, elder or human being in charge.

But the Supper was not confined to the loaf only. Subsequently the cup also was given. He took the cup and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it, for this is My blood of the new testament." In these words the Lord shows us unmistakably that the particular event in His history to be remembered on these occasions is His death, because there were the two elements, each bearing its witness. There was the bread, and there was the wine. The bread was the body, and the wine the blood. Separate as they were in that emblematical form, jointly they truly set forth the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then, having taken the cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it. For this is my blood, that of the new covenant, that shed for many, for the remission of sins." This was to assure their souls the sea was dry, the fire was quenched, the sword had drunk its fill, and the overflowings of that blood were for their stay and joy in the way. The cup once filled with wrath had been emptied and its dregs wrung out, and instead, the blood, which told of pardon, peace with God, and separation from a world of sin and woe, now filled it to its brim. Real and absolutely true for the soul and faith as the Lord has made the cup of His blood which we drink, yet He goes on distinctly to declare that the fruit of the vine is not His blood; for He says He will in no wise drink of that until He drinks it new with us in the kingdom of His Father.

(V. 25). The Lord has used the cup as the symbol of His blood shed for many. Looking at the wine in its natural sense as the fruit of the vine, it would set forth earthly joy. The death of Christ breaks His links with earth and earthly, until at last the Kingdom of God is established on the earth. Today the believers' links are with a heavenly Christ Who has suffered on earth; they wait for the future Kingdom to share with Christ in the glories and joys of the earthly Kingdom.