Shewing Forth The Lord’s Death

“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death, till he come.” 1 Corinthians 11:26

THE LORD’S SUPPER WAS INSTITUTED ON THE NIGHT OF THE PASSOVER OBSERVANCE: “…That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:” (1 Corinthians 11:23). “For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:7). The PASSOVER set forth Christ’s redemptive work in typology. The Lord’s Supper sets forth Christ’s redemptive work in a pictorial ordinance. BOTH AGREE! They set forth the same redemption and the same Redeemer. There was one law that governed the observance of the Passover–there were to be no exceptions granted. No stranger was to partake with the congregation, and only those in covenant with the congregation were to observe the ordinance with the congregation.

THUS, THE LORD’S SUPPER IS TO BE OBSERVED IN LOCAL CONGREGATION CAPACITY. “…when ye come together in the church” 1 Corinthians 11:18, “When ye come together therefore into one place” 1 Corinthians 11:20, “…when ye come together to eat” 1 Corinthians 11:33.

The Church is to have jurisdiction over this ordinance. The Church has no jurisdiction over non-members. Neither can non-members examine themselves in view of their standing in the Body (Local Church) that is observing the ordinance. The Lord’s Supper is not an individual ordinance, but a church ordinance. Any non-member is not in the position of partaking as a member of the church observing the ordinance. A non-member has neither responsibility, obligation, nor rights as a member of the local church.

THERE IS NO CANNIBALISM OR VAMPIRISM IN THE PARTAKING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER. We are eating unleavened bread (a type of Christ’s sinless body broken for us), and drinking the fruit of the vine (a type of Christ’s precious blood shed for us). We are neither eating His flesh, nor drinking His blood.

THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A PICTORIAL ORDINANCE, NOT A SACRAMENT! The Lord’s Supper shows forth the properties upon which our salvation is established–the sacrificial offering of Christ in our stead. To make the Lord’s Supper out to be a sacrament (a requirement to help be saved and keep saved), makes the deed of observing as having saving power, rather than observing that which the ordinance sets forth as being the merits of our salvation–the blood and body of Christ!

As often as we do it, we show the Lord’s death till He come!

SHARING
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Contributing To Life

“Train up a child in the way he should go…” Proverbs 22:6

The expertise for raising children is found in God’s Word, not in our emotions, feelings, etc., which can very well get in the way. There are some unsaved parents who give their children good structure for behavior, etc. But if you note, their methods parallel the ways of the Bible, rather than go against them.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 is a template for mentoring children. I would like to quote from an article written by John Goetsch:
“While the key component of this process (Deut. 6:6-9) is ‘these words’, the emphasis is on the constant and consistent declaration and display of God’s Word. As parents, we fall into the trap of compartmentalizing the Bible to a few hours at church each week, or perhaps a few minutes of ‘family altar’ in our homes each day. The rest of the time, our children are being spoiled “through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.’ (Colossians 2:8) Now, God is certainly in favor of the formal preaching and teaching of the Bible. Scripture would support that practice to the fullest. The Lord knows, however, that it is through the informal settings that Truth has its greatest impact on our children. When we can take an incident or circumstance in our child’s life, and apply biblical teaching to provide comfort, challenge, conviction or change, a lasting impression is made. Jesus Himself gives us this example over and over, as in the middle of a temptation or crisis, His response was “Have ye not known?” or “It is written”, or “Moses and the prophets…” He was always directing His followers’ hearts back to the Word of God. We will never be able to pass the Word of God on to our children in those critical moments if we, as parents, are not saturated ourselves, with Truth. We cannot teach what we ourselves have not learned.” –End Quote

It has been rightly observed that children learn the way they live, from one source or another. We must guard against the wrong sources through separation (true and accurate oversight). And we must supply the right sources for them that will be practical for their lives. At the top of that list, is that we as parents have learned to live and love the right ways ourselves. This is the best recommendation of the right ways for our children.

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Away With Sound Doctrine?? (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17-19

The last time I checked, heaven and earth had not yet passed away, so the law and the prophets are still valid. However, there seems to be those who are not holding with Christ on this all important matter, but rather teach men that it is proper to abandon and do contrary to the principles set forth by the law and the prophets. Why? “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7; “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other.” Galatians 5:17a

According to Christ, New Testament doctrine fulfills (agrees with) Old Testament doctrine, rather than running contrary to it (see our introductory scriptures – Matthew 5:17-19.

The devil cannot take away a believer’s salvation, which is eternally redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, but he can mislead us unto becoming the least in the kingdom of heaven, Matthew 5:19.

Have you considered that even the gospel we preach is the gospel of the Old Testament? see 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Acts 28:23, Luke 24:26-27, etc.

Have you considered that we would not know what sin is, if it were not for the law, Romans 7:7? Have you considered: “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Romans 7:12? Have you considered that it is the law that defines what being spiritual is: “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” Romans 7:14? Have you considered that the transgression of God’s law is what sin is: 1 John 3:4? Have you considered that the law is what God uses to convict sinners unto repentance, being our schoolmaster which brings us to Christ: Galatians 3:24?

The need is to rightly divide the scriptures = see how they all fit together, 2 Timothy 2:15.

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A Good Report – Blamelessness

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

Abstain = to keep oneself back; voluntarily do without.

This principle of Christianity is pretty straightforward, for two important reasons: (1)Things that don’t look right are an open door for things to happen that are not right. (2)To be associated with that which doesn’t look right, has the appearance of wrong doing in the eyes of others. A person will bring reproach upon their own reputation and discredit their Christian testimony for doing things that have the appearance of wrong doing.

The proud, defiant, self-willed, and forward spirit says, “It’s nobody’s business, but mine. It’s my life, I’m in charge, and I know what I’m doing.”

But when a person is saved by God’s grace, they are bought with a price–they are no longer their own, but God’s. They are responsible to God to diligently do what will best glorify God in both their body and spirit, which are God’s, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

We are responsible to avoid the appearance of evil, so as to be blameless and give none occasion for others to question our Christian integrity and morals. “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:14 “Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” 1 Peter 3:16

Our church covenant expresses our common duty unto and for the testimony of the church, the name of Christ, and the principle of godliness: “We also engage…to walk circumspectly in the world” = careful attention to all circumstances that may relate to an action, conduct, etc.; “faithful in our engagements” = what we set out to be and do is to uphold godly standards; “exemplary in our deportment” = serving as a model and example for others.

Things that have the appearance of evil project just the opposite of our obligations to our Redeemer and to the Body of Christ, and unto all others to see it.

There is nothing more valuable than a good reputation. To have it, we must guard it by abstaining from all appearance of evil. Separating from the appearance of evil is the practical safeguard against being caught up in evil.

SHARING
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