Title: THE LORD OF THE SUPPER
Text: I Corinthians 11: 23-34
Date: 10-03-2010
Place: SBBC, New Jersey
Today, we have come together to eat the Lord's Supper. The only ones who are bid to come to the Lord's Table are those born of the Spirit of God, whose hope is Christ alone.
Colossians 1:12:…the Father,…hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:
Just as the Father through Christ has made the believer meet to be partakers of the heavenly inheritance, so he has made every believer meet to partake of this ordinance.
All the problems among the Corinthian brethren were because many--those who were yet babes in Christ--were focusing their attention on carnal things rather than Christ--even at the Lord's Table. Paul said,
“For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among you, and many sleep” (1Co 11:30).
Yet, Paul's exhortation to them was "let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of [that] bread, and drink of [that] cup" (1 Cor 11: 28). Not examine ourselves to find worthiness in ourselves, but rather:
2 Corinthians 13: 5: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.
If God has made Christ your Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption then you are not only free to eat this supper but you are commanded of the Lord Jesus himself to partake of it. And if so then let us come to this table turning our full attention on Christ Jesus, "discerning the Lord's body." The Lord Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of me." This morning we will endeavor to focus our attention on Christ by looking at the manner in which our Lord gave us this ordinance.
Proposal: In the things our Lord did as he gave us this ordinance, we behold how our Lord has actually made every believer complete in him. Our text is in 1 Corinthians 11: 23-34. Follow along as I read it.
I Corinthians 11: 23: For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the [same] night in which he was betrayed took bread:
The Lord Jesus said that the bread and the wine represented his body and his blood. As they were eating, our Lord took bread.
I. In the very manner in which our Lord gave us this ordinance--taking bread--so he reminds us IN ORDER TO REDEEM US THE SON OF GOD TOOK PART OF OUR FLESH.
1. The Son of God--God who is Spirit--took part of our flesh and our blood.
Hebrews 2: 14: Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on [him the nature of] angels; but he took on [him] the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto [his] brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
1 Corinthians 11: 24 And when he had given thanks,
II. THE ENTIRE PERSON AND WORK OF THE LORD JESUS--ALL THAT HE IS AND DID FOR HIS FATHER AS THE REPRESENTATTIVE and SUBSTITTUE OF THOSE THE FATHER GAVE HIM--WAS A CONTINUAL THANKOFFERING TO HIS FATHER.
A. He is the true Bread, the Bread in whom is no leaven of sin, only perfect faithfulness and fidelity to his Father.
B. The joy which God the Father set before him before the world began filled his heart with pleasure and thankfulness.
Hebrews 12: 1:…for the joy that was set before him [He] endured the cross,
1. The joy
· of honoring and magnifying the holy law of his Father
· of manifesting the righteousness of his Father
· of laying down his life to declare God just and the Justifier
· of fulfilling his Father's will in redeeming those the Father loved from before the foundation of the world.
Hebrews 10:5: Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6: In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7: Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
C. As he walked this earth he thanked--he blessed God--for revealing these things unto his babes.
Luke 10:21: In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
D. As he offered himself, this was his prayer and all his desire. Mediate on these words:
John 17: 1: These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
Back to our text:
1 Corinthians 1: 11: 24: And when he had given thanks, he brake [it],
III. JUST AS HE HIMSELF BROKE THE BREAD, THIS ONE WE REMEMBER THIS HOUR, WILLINGLY GAVE HIS BODY TO BE BROKEN IN PLACE OF HIS PEOPLE.
A. Here is the pinnacle of his Faith and Fidelity. The Faith that our faith rests in:
Philippians 2:8: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Isaiah 50: 6: I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. {now here is HIS FAITH in whom even the weakest of faith is perfect} 7: For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
John 10: 17: Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18: No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.
Remember him--think on what he did: He took bread--partaker of our flesh and blood; he gave thanks (he is the offering of thanksgiving to God for his people), he brake {it}-willingly gave his body for the body of children given him of the Father.
1 Corinthians 1: 11: 24:…and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
IV. CHRIST JESUS IS OUR LIFE
A. Bread and wine is food, it is life.
John 6: 51: I am the living bread which came down from heaven:…53: Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
1. We were dead in trespasses and in sins, but just as he gave his apostles the bread and wine, he sends forth the Spirit of Life into his redeemed
2. Just he commanded, "Take, eat", at his effectual command, we take him and we feed upon him.
3. We never stop taking and eating--he is our Life.
John 6: 54: Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
1 Corinthians 11: 25 After the same manner also [he took] the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me.
V. THROUGH HIS BLOOD WE HAVE REDEMPTION, EVEN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
A. Notice, "he took the cup" and "when he had supped" (Turn to Is 51: 22.)
1. The Lord Jesus Christ took the cup of trembling--the cup of God's judgment that was the just due of those given him.
2. "When he had supped"--Christ Jesus drank every last dreg of the cup of God's fury.
3. So instead of that bitter cup of wrath, he hands you this cup of wine--this easy, sweet cup of wine--to remind us of his promise that we shall never drink that cup of wrath.
Isaiah 51:22 Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:
B. How sure is this promise?--"This cup is the new testament in my blood." (Turn to Heb 9: 15-28.)
1. This cup of wine is to remind us that by shedding his own blood the everlasting covenant is ordered in all things and sure
2. We who are called are promised, sure of, "eternal inheritance" (v15.)
APPLICATION: Now examine yourselves. Is the broken body and shed blood of Christ Jesus the Lord all your fitness for glory? Then your Lord says, "Do this in remembrance of me."
1 Corinthians 11: 26: For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
Just as we eat this bread and drink this wine and it becomes one in us.
· Even so, as one as Christ was made sin for us, we are made the righteousness of God in him.
· As sure as his Spirit dwells in us, we dwell inseparably in him.
· As sure as our Lord is risen in glory so shall he return and give us the promise of eternal inheritance--he is the Lord of this Supper!
· Even as we did in the ordinance of baptism, eating this bread and this wine, we publicly shew forth that Christ Jesus is the Lord in who alone we rest.
Jude 24: Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25: To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.