Preparing our hearts for Communion October 27, 2009
Posted by roberttalley in Communion, Covenant, Lord's Table, Philippians, Religion.add a comment
This Sunday, as we do every first Sunday, we will again celebrate Communion. It is clear that Communion is to remind us of what the Lord did for us when He established through the shedding of His blood the new covenant, by which we are forgiven and become God’s children. Yet there is also a sense in which the celebration of Communion should be a renewal of our part in that covenant. It is true that the covenant was established by Christ alone without any aid from man but we enter that covenant through faith. Should we not renew our faith in Christ when we celebrate Communion? I do not mean be born again again 
Rather, that through the celebration and recognition of what Christ has done for me, renew my discipleship to Him.
I think something like that is what Paul is describing in Philippians 3:8-12, “Yet indeed I also count all things loss…that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering, being conformed to His death, if, by any mean, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”
Lord’s Table Preparation from October 2005 October 4, 2007
Posted by roberttalley in Communion, Covenant, Lord's Table, Religion, Revelation of Jesus Christ.add a comment
From the Revelation of Jesus Christ according to John, chapter 19:
5 ¶ Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!7 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.9 9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
When Jesus introduced the Lord’s Supper, He made reference that He would eat it again with His disciples. This is what we read of here in Revelation 19. In a sense, we could say that we are practicing in symbol that which will be a reality in the future, the marriage feast of the Lamb. It is interesting that He describes the bride as clothed with white linen. He even tells us what her garments symbolize the righteous acts of the believer. That is why it is important that we make sure that our conscious is clear before we partake of the Lord’s Supper. True, this is only a symbol, but it is more than a rehearsal. We are actually testifying to something very important, that we who have trusted Christ as Savior have all been forgiven through His blood. Our favor with God comes not through the bread and juice but through faith in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
Our dear, gracious Father. We thank you that we are yours by your Son’s blood and that the forgiveness and salvation you’ve provided through Jesus Christ is eternal. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!
