Messy Grace - Part 20 25 June 2017 Participating with Jesus BBC AM and PM Proposition Statement: Communion is a proclamation of our oneness with Christ and a celebration of our oneness with each other. Intro: Sanibonani, Dumelang, Howzit, Good to see you. We are 5 months in to our 9-month study of 1 st Corinthians. We love and believe the bible. I love what Paul said to Timothy about the Scriptures. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 1 So, we go through these Scriptures verse by verse, trusting that they will be profitable and that they will equip us for a life of following Christ. They never disappoint. 1 Corinthians 10:15 is where we will be. Paul is building on an argument about Christian freedom and the dangers of idolatry. 1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), 2 Ti 3:14 17. 1
o Remember that a number of former idol-worshiping gentiles had become believers in Corinth, and some of them were suggesting that because of the grace of Jesus Christ, they were still free to engage in many of their old practices, which included ceremonies and sacrifices at the temple of their old Gods. o Paul had spoken to them about using their Holy Spirit inspired consciences in terms of eating meat that was a by-product of such practices, but had been reminding them that worship of Christ needs to be singular and comprehensive. o Therefore, they ought to seek to glorify God with their whole lives. And they should have sought to eradicate anything else that took worship away from him. o While not many of us frequent pagan temples, the same instruction would be given to us today. Worship Christ singularly, and worship Christ totally. Paul is now going to take that argument into a Christian worship practice. The ordinance of communion. The instruction given to the church to break bread and to drink wine in remembrance of Jesus. What is this sacred meal? What benefit does it have for believers? How best should we prepare for it and live as a result of it? Passage and Main Points: 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Theologians have been arguing for a couple of thousand of years over what this word participation means, but isn t it a beautiful image? We participate in the blood of body of Christ. Not just outsiders, participants. When Christ goes to the cross he wins stuff for us and then invites us into the blessing of his victory. 2
In terms of how that blessing of participation is extended is something that has spilt churches, and you may not be interested in it, but it might help you know what the views are, because some of us have faulty views of a sort and may not even know it. The traditional Catholic doctrine is called TRANSUBSTANTIATION. o The bread and wine actually transform into Jesus body and blood when blessed by the Priest. o They are therefore effective at extending the grace of Jesus. o This could be extended to believer or unbelievers as the power lies in the sacred blessing of the priest, and eating and drinking becomes an act of receiving salvation. The Lutheran response to that is called CONSUBSTANTIATION or in some spheres SACRAMENTAL UNION. o Luther s response to what he saw as too much power given to priests. o While trans means change, con means with. There was no actual changing of the elements, but Christ and his power was still fully present in and with the elements. o They were effective means of grace to both believers and unbelievers. Zwingli is widely thought then to come up with a response to those which is widely held in various forms today called MEMORIALISM. o God is present through the Holy Spirit, but the elements are simply reminders or memorials of Christ s work. At BBC, we would hold to a traditional Reformed view of communion, which isn t purely memorial, but doesn t bestow an actual means of grace. The elements are mere elements (and that is part of their beauty) and they don t change. AND when eating and drinking, we are united to the effectiveness of Christ s righteousness through faith. Christ is present with us and reminding us of the gift of his lavish grace. We participate with him as Paul said. o Calvin said: The godly ought by all means to keep this rule: whenever they see the symbols.to think and be persuaded that the truth is surely present there. For why should the Lord put in your hand the symbol of his blood, 3
except to assure you of a true participation in it? 2 o I love how Sam Storms explained it. When we receive the elements in faith, we are enabled by the Spirit to enjoy and experience and receive a greater manifestation of the spiritual power and presence of Jesus than we do ordinarily and at other times. Now why is that little theology lesson important? o Well, I think that while many of us would find the thinking of consubstantiation and transubstantiation ridiculous, we actually engage communion like it is true. o We live our lives in a way that shows that we are not participating in the life of Christ, but then we hope that some sorts of religious rites will cover us up and make us safe. We want the pastor to do something sacred to give us an experience of union, because we know that we have little or no desire to live a life that is united to Christ. o And some of us live as purely memorial. We believe that Jesus died and in some way believe that will pay but we feel very little of the presence of God and the empowering nature of new life and truth be told we have become comfortable with that. 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? This is a reference to Deuteronomy 7:17 and 8:31, where the eating of the remainder of the sacrifice was seen as a religious ceremony in and of itself. It was participating in the work of the altar, and was governed by religious instruction. In Deuteronomy 12, the priests are told to remember that they are eating in the presence of the Lord. Paul is making the case that a sacrificial feast is an act of worship. This is big. Look why. 2 John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, John T Mcneill (ed), Pg. 1371. 4
19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? 3 If eating in a Jewish sacrificial feast is participation in worship, then eating in a pagan sacrificial feast is participation in worship. That is Paul s big case and here is the point he is trying to make to them. 1. In Communion, Christians Collectively Participate in the Righteousness of Christ - This Must Drive Out a Collective Singularity of Worship a. Paul is reminding them that communion isn t passive. It is participating with Christ. b. How then could they participate with Christ, and then leave that place and attempt to participate with other Gods? c. We can t participate with Christ and with demons! d. Yet how many of us still want to try? The work of the demonic may not be as explicit to us today as it was then, but they continue to work. They continue to try to get us to participate in lies and false worship and sin and divided hearts. e. Paul is saying, Jesus didn t just do something for you. He is doing something to you and in you. How singular are you in your worship of him in return? So how should we approach this amazing meal? Down to chapter 11:17 3 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), 1 Cor 10:15 22. 5
17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not. 2. In Communion, Christians Collectively Participate in the Righteousness of Christ - This Must Drive Out a Collective Unity in Worship a. Communion is communal, and isn t just a celebration of individual salvation, but a mutual remembrance of our collective participation in the work of Christ. b. Paul says if there is division amongst you when you eat, and if there is no concern from you for the needs of your brothers and sister, then we cannot be said to be taking the Lord s Supper together. c. Jesus says elsewhere in Matthew 5 that we need to check ourselves before approaching God in sacred ordinances. He says: 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 4 d. The gospel is so humbling. The participation that I get in Christ s righteousness is also available to my enemy. It means that I am never too good to need it, but never too bad to be able to receive it. What a great leveler. e. We mustn t come to the table thinking only of ourselves, but also of others. 4 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Mt 5:23 24. 6
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 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. 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord s death until he comes. 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another 34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come. 5 3. In Communion, Christians Collectively Participate in the Righteousness of Christ - This Must Drive Out a Collective Thoughtful Hopefulness in Worship a. This is a big deal and so Paul says we must judge ourselves and examine ourselves, or else there are serious consequences. b. God has no desire to see and in fact is actively opposed to empty religious ceremony. We must soberly prepare ourselves for our participation with Christ s righteousness. c. So here are four looks and an action that we should always take when we are faced with the Lord s Supper. 5 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), 1 Co 11:17 34. 7
1. Look back at Christ s atoning work a. This is such a wonderful reminder of the sacrificial and merciful love of Christ. b. Paul said that when we eat this meal we proclaim the death of the Lord till he returns. c. It is very hard for us to doubt the love of Christ at the communion table. He went all in for us. Gave himself fully for us. He kept his promise. He didn t drink again, and won t till that wonderful day when we drink with him as his bride. 2. Look in at our own failures and rebellion a. Jesus instituted this meal at Passover. Passover was a time for repentance and consideration. Communion is the same. b. Again, Paul tells to stop and to reflect, and Paul says that to fail to do that is to heap condemnation and judgment on ourselves. c. To remember that Christ paid for our sins and not stop to consider our sins would be madness, and a lack of understanding that Christ paid for our sins. d. Here are a couple of things to consider before eating: i. Are you a Christian? Tim Keller says, The mealness of the Lord s Supper is a reminder that no one can appropriate the benefits of Jesus s death unless he calls them into personal relationship with him. So Jesus is saying that we need a personal relationship with him if all the benefits of his perfect, substitutionary, sacrificial suffering are to come to us. 6 ii. Are you in unrepentant sin? Paul says that we should do the work of judging ourselves so that we aren t judged by God. e. So, it is double-edged. Looking back knowing that God forgives sinners and looking in acknowledging that is what we are. 3. Look around a. Communion is supposed to be a time when we remember that we are part of this great family. Again, Paul warns us then not to come to the table when there are divisions in our midst. b. We can t enjoy reconciliation with God unless we are reconciled to each other. 4. Look forward 6 Timothy Keller, King s Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus, Pg. 170. 8
a. Jesus promises that he will drink the next cup of the meal with us in heaven. b. Everything in this world is just a shadow of what it will one day be. On that day, we will be fully alive and fully with him, and communion helps us to remember to look forward to that day. 5. Eat a. Jesus told the disciples to take the bread and eat. They had to receive what he was giving to them. b. The same is true for us today. We have to receive in faith, these elements and the truths of God s love and forgiveness that they speak of. c. You don t get any of the benefits of food by just looking at it. You have to take it in and digest it. As we by faith consider our commitment to Christ, we must by faith believe in his furious commitment to us. We have to believe that and show it by eating in faith. Conclusion: Into reflective, slow time of communion. To participate in Christ s righteousness. 9