Can taking Holy Communion miraculously heal?
Question:
Dear friend,
I was baptized as an adult who believes in Christ. I was told that he is our Perfector and our Savior.
I had previously struggled with lust, hoping to rid my life of pornographic images. After the baptism, I would still sometimes masturbate, which a Christian friend said he once had problems with. I no longer do this. Is sexual sin forgivable after baptism?
And also, what do you teach about rebaptism? Some call it a grave sin or sacrilege if it is done intentionally to break a known rule. If it is, is it forgivable?
And finally, do you know of anyone who was ever healed miraculously through Holy Communion? I have been struggling with hyponatremia, obesity, and other normal health problems. I also feel a profound feeling of pain, decay, decrepitude, and despair inwardly. I can only wish that it were possible to be healed of my inward problems.
Can you respond to these questions at your next convenience?
Thank you again in advance.
Answer:
My impression from reading your note is that you make decisions more from what people tell you than from what you have learned from the Bible.
It is really good to hear that you've broken the habit of pornography. That is often a difficult habit for men to overcome. See A Look at Pornography and Is masturbation unacceptable?
All sins are forgivable when they are left behind through repentance (II Corinthians 7:10-11). Baptism does not prevent sins from happening. Everyone stumbles in sin at times, even Christians. "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us" (I John 1:8-10). The difference between a Christian and a sinner is that a Christian refuses to remain in sin. He does something about his sin.
You are looking for being baptized again because you think you should never sin as a Christian. Baptism might be done again if the person was not baptized for the right purpose. See What authority is there for re-baptism?
The Lord's Supper or Communion is taken to remember Christ's death on the cross. "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes" (I Corinthians 11:23-26). It does not cause miracles to happen. It is a declaration by Christians that the Lord Jesus lived, died, and lives to return again.
The hardship and decay of this world are reminders to us that this world is not our permanent home. "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (II Corinthians 4:16-18).
