The Mystery of the Faith
God’s peace be with you as we explore the Mystery of the Gospel God has entrusted to us.
Continuing from last week, we move beyond schism to laying the foundation for standing against heresy in the church. Now these are strong words which are used by Paul, but he does not use them lightly. He understands the consequences of what he is saying and the far reaching implications.
Paul has already said that there are times when it is “necessary” for these heresies to manifest that we might clearly see the difference between the truth and error. “Indeed, it is necessary that there be factions (heresies) among you, so that those who are approved may be recognized among you” 1 Cor. 11:19. When heresies are manifest in the Church it results in a painful experience for everyone. To know that people, who were once children of God, have rejected the truth of the Gospel and are holding onto error which will lead to the damnation of their spirits eternally. This is a sad situation indeed!
Sadly, in the church of Paul’s day these situations were already present. John writes these words to us. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us” 1 John 2:19. Paul said this, “Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme” 1Timothy 1:20. The work of the devil to pervert the truth, even among God’s people, has been ever present.
Having laid the foundation that heresies must be manifest and addressed, Paul then testifies to the truth. The truth must be manifest so the error can be seen clearly for what it is!
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “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. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Without any expounding or redefining of what Paul writes, what does Jesus say He is giving to us? Paul references the night Jesus was betrayed! This would be the night of Passover or the Thursday evening before His crucifixion. He took the unleavened bread used in the Passover meal, gave thanks and spoke the words, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Taking the words simply for what they mean as Jesus spoke them, Jesus is giving His body to those gathered in His name to receive it. This is how the Church understood the meaning of the Lord’s Supper. There are those who desire to interpret and change the meaning of His words to mean something else! Rome says the bread ceases to be bread and becomes only the flesh of Jesus which is bearing the sins of humanity as the communicant receives it. Most of Protestantism denies Jesus is present at all in the sacrament, declaring it is nothing but bread. But what did Jesus say? He is holding a piece of bread and He declares that the bread is His body. Why do we feel the need to go farther? We receive a piece of bread and by Jesus’ working He is present to bless the one who receives it.
What is said of the bread is also true of the cup. “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” The cup which Jesus passed contained wine. The disciples drank from the cup and that cup was filled with wine, but the Mystery of the Gospel is that as they drank the wine Jesus was present, sharing the blood He would shed upon the cross for them. Jesus called it the blood of the new covenant. What is a covenant? It is a relationship established by God through which God and His children dwell in peace with one another. The sacrament brings to us the blood of the covenant by which we have peace with God and dwell in fellowship with Him and one another. To read more into this text than what Jesus declares is to speak where God does not speak, and it is that which leads to heresy.
Paul is laying this foundation of truth concerning the Lord’s Supper because he will soon address the errors which are being taught in the church of Corinth. Unlike the situation last week where schism was present because of the lack of love among the members, when it comes to the Gospel as it is made known in the Church, it is a truth which cannot be compromised. Where individual(s) diverge from the teaching of the Church, a true separation must take place because the preservation of the Gospel is at stake.
If we are confused about the Lord Supper being Gospel, then look at the final words of our text. "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes." What is the sacred trust that Christ has given to the Church? It is to make Him known as the Savior of all mankind. To preach Jesus Christ as Lord to all the world. To make disciples of all nations. The celebration of the Lord's Supper, in the truth of what it is as the body and blood of Christ given to His people, is a proclamation of Jesus’s death upon the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. If it were simply something we do, which does not really matter, Paul would not have placed the emphasis upon it as a proclamation of Jesus.
As Paul moves beyond our text, we will hear him speak of the consequences of celebrating the Lord's Supper in a way which he declares is unworthy. But for now, he is simply expounding the truth of the gift Christ has given to the Church. We who are the Church, who understand the Gospel for the wonder that it is, as it reveals God's love to us, are to celebrate and share the gift Christ has entrusted to us. He gave it to us because it is His desire to be ever present in the midst of His people.
May you be blessed to know that as you come to worship, Christ comes to join you.
Pastor Russ
Continuing from last week, we move beyond schism to laying the foundation for standing against heresy in the church. Now these are strong words which are used by Paul, but he does not use them lightly. He understands the consequences of what he is saying and the far reaching implications.
Paul has already said that there are times when it is “necessary” for these heresies to manifest that we might clearly see the difference between the truth and error. “Indeed, it is necessary that there be factions (heresies) among you, so that those who are approved may be recognized among you” 1 Cor. 11:19. When heresies are manifest in the Church it results in a painful experience for everyone. To know that people, who were once children of God, have rejected the truth of the Gospel and are holding onto error which will lead to the damnation of their spirits eternally. This is a sad situation indeed!
Sadly, in the church of Paul’s day these situations were already present. John writes these words to us. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us” 1 John 2:19. Paul said this, “Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme” 1Timothy 1:20. The work of the devil to pervert the truth, even among God’s people, has been ever present.
Having laid the foundation that heresies must be manifest and addressed, Paul then testifies to the truth. The truth must be manifest so the error can be seen clearly for what it is!
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “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. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Without any expounding or redefining of what Paul writes, what does Jesus say He is giving to us? Paul references the night Jesus was betrayed! This would be the night of Passover or the Thursday evening before His crucifixion. He took the unleavened bread used in the Passover meal, gave thanks and spoke the words, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Taking the words simply for what they mean as Jesus spoke them, Jesus is giving His body to those gathered in His name to receive it. This is how the Church understood the meaning of the Lord’s Supper. There are those who desire to interpret and change the meaning of His words to mean something else! Rome says the bread ceases to be bread and becomes only the flesh of Jesus which is bearing the sins of humanity as the communicant receives it. Most of Protestantism denies Jesus is present at all in the sacrament, declaring it is nothing but bread. But what did Jesus say? He is holding a piece of bread and He declares that the bread is His body. Why do we feel the need to go farther? We receive a piece of bread and by Jesus’ working He is present to bless the one who receives it.
What is said of the bread is also true of the cup. “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” The cup which Jesus passed contained wine. The disciples drank from the cup and that cup was filled with wine, but the Mystery of the Gospel is that as they drank the wine Jesus was present, sharing the blood He would shed upon the cross for them. Jesus called it the blood of the new covenant. What is a covenant? It is a relationship established by God through which God and His children dwell in peace with one another. The sacrament brings to us the blood of the covenant by which we have peace with God and dwell in fellowship with Him and one another. To read more into this text than what Jesus declares is to speak where God does not speak, and it is that which leads to heresy.
Paul is laying this foundation of truth concerning the Lord’s Supper because he will soon address the errors which are being taught in the church of Corinth. Unlike the situation last week where schism was present because of the lack of love among the members, when it comes to the Gospel as it is made known in the Church, it is a truth which cannot be compromised. Where individual(s) diverge from the teaching of the Church, a true separation must take place because the preservation of the Gospel is at stake.
If we are confused about the Lord Supper being Gospel, then look at the final words of our text. "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes." What is the sacred trust that Christ has given to the Church? It is to make Him known as the Savior of all mankind. To preach Jesus Christ as Lord to all the world. To make disciples of all nations. The celebration of the Lord's Supper, in the truth of what it is as the body and blood of Christ given to His people, is a proclamation of Jesus’s death upon the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. If it were simply something we do, which does not really matter, Paul would not have placed the emphasis upon it as a proclamation of Jesus.
As Paul moves beyond our text, we will hear him speak of the consequences of celebrating the Lord's Supper in a way which he declares is unworthy. But for now, he is simply expounding the truth of the gift Christ has given to the Church. We who are the Church, who understand the Gospel for the wonder that it is, as it reveals God's love to us, are to celebrate and share the gift Christ has entrusted to us. He gave it to us because it is His desire to be ever present in the midst of His people.
May you be blessed to know that as you come to worship, Christ comes to join you.
Pastor Russ
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