OceanSide church of Christ

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WHAT ARE WE REALLY SAYING?

The Lord’s Supper

Victor M. Eskew

INTRODUCITON

A.             In harmony with the example of the early church, we gather upon the first day of the week to partake of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7).

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and he continued his speech until midnight.

1.                The denominational world tells us that a weekly observance is too much.  They assert that is causes the Lord’s Supper to become commonplace.

2.                This view puts human reasoning above the authority of God’s Word.

B.              Having said this, we now must agree that the Lord’s Supper can become a mindless ritual in which we engage for a few minutes during the worship service.

1.                This problem has nothing to do with the frequency of observance.

2.                It has everything to do with the heart of the believer.

C.              To overcome a lackadaisical attitude during the Lord’s Supper, we must really engage the mind and temper the body.

D.             To assist us, we want to ask and answer this question:  “When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, what are we really saying to the world?”

I.        JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD

A.             Jesus was not just a unique man.  He was not just a wise teacher.  He was not just a special servant of God.

B.              He was the very Son of God.  In essence, He was God in the flesh (Matt. 1:23).

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

C.              This proclamation may seem trivial to us, but the vast majority of the world does not believe this fact.

D.             In light of Jesus’ words in John 8:24, it is of vast importance.

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins:  for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

II.      GOD SENT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD

A.             At least 10 times this fact is declared in the NT (John 3:17, 34, 8:42; 10:36; 17:3; Acts 3:26; Gal. 4:4; I John 4:9-10).

1.                Galatians 4:4.

But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law.

2.                Love was the motivating force behind the sending of Jesus to earth (I John 4:9-10).

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

B.              It is difficult for us to comprehend that deity took the nature of human beings.

1.                John 1:14, 18.  See also Philippians 2:5-8.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

2.                In order to satisfy the demands of divine justice, God knew that the death of a perfect sacrifice was needed.  Thus, He sent forth His precious, only begotten Son.

III.     JESUS, DEITY, TASTED DEATH ON THE CROSS OFCALVARY

A.             I Corinthians 11:26.

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death…

B.              This is another fact that some have had difficulty accepting.

1.                How can deity die?  Yet, we know that He did.

a.         Luke 23:46.

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:  and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

b.         His death was confirmed by Pilate at the hands of a Roman centurion (Mark 15:44-45).

2.         Jesus’ death is part of His ceasing to be equal with God (Phil. 2:6) and is part of the mystery of godliness (I Tim. 3:16).

IV.     JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD.

A.             Had the grave held the body of the Son of God until this day, we would not be assembling around this table.

B.              It was the Lord’s resurrection that declared him to be the Son of God with power (Rom. 1:4), and made valid all the wonderful benefits of His death.

C.              Let’s examine the words of Jesus found in Matthew 26:29.

But I say unto you, I will no drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

1.                The kingdom was established on the Pentecost following our Lord’s crucifixion (Acts 2).

2.                Jesus said that He would drink the fruit of the vine anew in the Father’s kingdom.  It He were dead, his would be impossible.

3.                Jesus lives and every Lord’s Day He communes with his disciples around the Lord’s Table.

V.       JESUS IS COMING AGAIN

A.             I 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.

1.                The word “till” marks the point in time when the Lord’s Supper will come to an end.

2.                We will take of the bread and the fruit of the vine “till” the Lord comes.

B.              Each Lord’s day when we assemble around the table of the Lord, we do so in anticipation of the Lord’s coming.

1.                He promised it.  I will come again… (John 14:3).

2.                The angelic hosts declared it (Acts 1:10-11).

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

3.                The NT writer promised it (II Peter 3:10).

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night…

4.                We believe this fact and proclaim it to the world as we observe the Supper.

CONCLUSION

A.             One has said:  “I would rather see a sermon than hear one any time.”

B.              As we partake of the simple elements of the Lord’s Supper, we are proclaiming a marvelous sermon to all who are present about the Christ, the Son of God.