Communion 6/2/2019

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he 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, saying, “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. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

Romans 8:31 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8 ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What then shall we say to these things?

1. 1-4 / No Condemnation. Even though we still sin.

2. 5-10 / Life in the Spirit. To lead us into truth and empower us to combat sin.

3. 11 / The promise of Resurrection. So that the tyranny of present circumstances doesn’t paralyze or dismay us.

4. 12-13 / The power of Cancelled sin – It’s power has been broken, even though we still need to learn how to live as fully in that reality as is possible.

5. 14-17 / The Spirit of Adoption - To cry out to God as beloved children - to know that is His heart toward us.

6. 18-25 / Our current sufferings produce the groanings of a new glory about to dawn – so glorious, comparison is not possible

7. 26-30 / The indwelling Spirit prays for us in seeing the Father’s plan of conforming us to Christ’s image fully carried out. So that everything in life is used for that good end.

8. 33 / God will absolutely provide us with everything we need to arrive - how will He deprive us of anything we need of He has already given us Christ?

9. 35-39 / Nothing can possibly separate us from the love of God in Christ.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

No temptation

No condition in body or mind

No circumstance

No failure on our part

No demonic power

Nothing unforeseen by us

What then shall we say Dear Lord

To all that we have heard

What You have laid before us here

In this, Your sacred Word?

The riches of our Christ and King

Of condemnation gone

The Spirit, and our life in Christ

Christ's true new day has dawned

The law of sin and death undone

In Christ sent in the flesh

You Father, sent your Only Son

To grant true life afresh

And by the Spirit's residence

To grant a Heav'nly mind

Abolishing hostility

Our hearts to yours to bind

And how the power of canceled sin

You grant to each you've bought

No more a debtor to its bonds

This victory you have wrought

You dealt to fear its fatal blow

Placed "Abba!" on our lips

And made us fellow heirs with Christ

With all His glorious gifts

Redeeming all our sufferings

Transforming every groan

Into hymns of sweetest praise

Tho in inexpressible moans

Your precious Spirit intercedes

When we're too faint to cry

Divine and Triune pleading

Your own transcendent sigh

Loving, yea predestinating

First called then justified

Not failing in the smallest thing

Til we are glorified

You who did not spare your Son

What won't you give us free?

For all in Him you've given us

Oh, give us eyes to see!

And add to all, inseparably

You bind us fast in love

Our names engraven on His hands

Til home at last above

The weak made more than conquerers

The wicked made anew

Declared as saints in Christ alone

Dear Lord - all praise to you.

[What then shall we say? - On , F.I.R.E. conference, Rowlett TX, 2019.

Reid Ferguson]

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