Communion, with Baptism, is one of two official ‘ceremonies’ or ordinances. Communion occurs often and celebrates the eternal relationship with God that flows from salvation. Communion means properly dealing with sin.
Communion participation may be legitimate or illegitimate. Legitimate participation is when a believer has totally trusted in Christ for salvation, and has dealt with all personal sins by confessing them to God and making all possible reparation to injured parties, and has freely forgiven all who have sinned against him whether or not they have confessed and made reparation back. A person partakes illegitimately when Christ has not saved him, or when he has not confessed or made reparation for his sin or has not forgiven others who have sinned against him. A person who partakes illegitimately professes to be but is not in intimate relationship with God, although he may be saved. Such participation may bring on God’s discipline.
Communion involves eating a portion of unleavened bread and drinking a small sip of wine (or grape juice) with other believers. The bread and the wine represent Christ’s body and blood. Eating the bread communicates that Christ has died to remove the penalty of the person’s sins. Drinking a small sip of wine pictures that Christ now lives in the person, and that the person is in the most intimate fellowship with God and other believers, having dealt properly with personal sin and others who have sinned against him.