Elements Of Communion

Consider the warning Jesus gave His disciples at the Garden of Gethsemane, Matthew 26:41, Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Just like the disciples in the Garden, we may be committed to following Christ, but we have to deal with the sin nature that fights against righteousness and the Word of God every step of the way.

Living the Christian life is a struggle. We live in a world full of people who are out for one thing: self-satisfaction. They are looking to be fulfilled in their lives with pleasure, at any cost.

The person who is saved and in Christ realizes that there is nothing in this world that can bring ultimate satisfaction; and the only place to get true fulfillment is in Jesus Christ. But that doesn’t stop the draw and temptation to return to the mire of sin.

There is no greater reminder for us to resist temptation than to remember what the cost was to cover our sin.

As we come to this time of Communion, we remember that it is an act of public profession that Jesus died, which should cause us to be humbled by the reminder of what it took to be delivered from the bondage of sin.

His Body Was Given (1 Corinthians 11:23-24)

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which 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.”

Jesus unselfishly took on the human body, and willingly gave up His life

Philippians 2:6-8

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

On the way to and at the Cross, His body was beaten and broken

Matthew 27:26-35

He was scourged

He was given a robe, that would have ripped away at His skin even more when it was taken off

He was given a crown of thorns, which were beaten into his head

His hands and feet were nailed on the cross as He was crucified

Not only was He beaten and broken, He was forsaken of God in order to eliminate the gap between God and Man

Matthew 27:45-46, 50-51

The Reformer, Martin Luther, commenting on this,

God forsaken by God, who can understand that?

1 Timothy 2:5-6

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

1 John 2:1-2

If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation [satisfaction] for our sins; and not for our only, but also for those of the whole world.

This was done for the deliverance from the bondage of sin

Romans 6:3-11

We identify with Christ in every area of His work on the cross

Our old self (body of sin) was crucified with Him on the cross (v. 6)

Our old self, after being crucified, has been buried (v.4)

We are resurrected to newness of life (new self) (v. 4)

The Apostle Paul expands on this in Ephesians 4

Verses 22-24 – lay aside the old (dead) self and put on the new self

Verses 25-32 – examples of laying aside the old and putting on the new

Those who are in Christ are expected to show that they are by not producing these deeds of the flesh

Ephesians 5:1-5

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

1 Peter 2:24

and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

HYMN #186…………… “The Old Rugged Cross”

~Partake of the bread element~

His Blood Was Poured-Out – 1 Corinthians 11:25

In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of Me.”

The atonement [covering/reconciliation] for sin is in the blood of the sacrifice

Leviticus 17:11

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.

Jesus’ death resulted in the blood of the covenant for the forgiveness of sins

Matthew 26:27-28

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Jesus infused a new meaning to a Passover element, by attributing the cup to being symbolic of His blood, which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins

Ephesians 1:7

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.

The blood of Jesus provides deliverance from the penalty of sin, permanently

Romans 5:8-11

God’s demonstration of love was to have the Christ die for us, so that we can be saved from His wrath and reconciled with Him.

Hebrews 9:11-12

When Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

HYMN #195…………… “Nothing But The Blood”

~Partake of the cup element~

In the same way He took the cup also 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.

CONCLUSION

In order to help you keep from entering into temptation, perhaps you will consider memorizing the 3rd stanza of How Great Thou Art:

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing; Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in; That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

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