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Members Gathering · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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1 Corinthians chapter 10.
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We're going to take a break over the next two weeks, today and next week, from our exposition of John's Gospel account,
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!
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Participation in it to steady our souls in these types of times.
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So, if you are curious why, this is why.
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Yesterday morning, I woke up at 2 a.m. and could barely swallow.
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I had quite a sore throat.
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I thought, perhaps I had strep, which doesn't seem to be the case.
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I'm feeling much better now.
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Me and Ms. Susan were joking about needing to eat a Popsicle while I was up here talking with you.
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The sustaining grace of a Popsicle to get me through the sermon.
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Hopefully, that won't be a challenge, but do bear with me if I need to mute my mic and give a little cough here from time to time.
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We do this kind of sermon series.
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We kind of hop around, and bit by bit, we answer a question about why we do what we do.
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We're a little different as a church, and there's some things that are unique about us, perhaps to every other fellowship,
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although most typically, the thing that we're explaining is something that the church has done for centuries,
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and we just find ourselves a little bit odd in our day.
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Why we do what we do.
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And then it follows.
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Why do we do what we do the way that we do what we do?
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And this time, I want to speak to you about our members gathering.
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So we have two times that we gather on Sunday mornings, right?
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If you remember here, you should know this.
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Maybe you're being reminded that we do this.
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Presently, we are all participating in what we call the public gathering of the church.
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That word gathering is the word that we use because it's the most biblical word to speak about the church.
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The Greek word ekklesia, which is often translated to the word church, means gathering.
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So when we're communicating this, we're communicating to our church.
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This is when our church gets together.
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We do all kinds of other things, meetings of various kind, which no one's required to come to.
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They're just other great things that we do together.
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But when the church, the gathering of God's people comes, this is when we come together.
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So this public gathering, but you also may have noted on your bulletin that there is a time,
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if you've never been with us before, that we gather before this time that we call our members gathering.
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It is during this time, the primary thing that we're doing is taking the Lord's Supper together.
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We do this every single week.
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So to understand why we do this, why we do what we do, and why we do what we do the way we do what we do,
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that comes out of my mouth too easy.
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We need to do that.
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We need to begin with an understanding of what we believe the Lord's Supper pictures
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and what we believe about the nature of the church.
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So I have two texts for our reading, and I'll depart from them for a bit, but then we'll come back to them.
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1 Corinthians chapter 10, verses 16 and 17, and then 1 Corinthians chapter 11, verses 23 through 29.
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So I'll read them both now.
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The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?
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The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
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Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
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And then chapter 11, beginning in verse 23.
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For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you,
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that the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread.
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And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,
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This is my body, which is for you.
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Do this in remembrance of me.
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In the same way also he took the cup after supper, saying,
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This cup is the new covenant in my blood.
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Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.
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For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
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you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
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Whoever therefore eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner
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will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
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Let a person examine himself then,
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and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
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For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body
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eats and drinks judgment on himself.
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Join me in a word of prayer for our time.
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Father, we thank you for your word to us this morning.
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And as we consider this issue,
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we take up thinking about the Lord's Supper together
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and thinking about why we celebrate it the way we do as a church.
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I pray that you would lead us in the truth.
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We humbly recognize that we need your help to do so.
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Not one of us is going to be helped this day
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apart from the powerful working of your spirit in our lives.
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And so we ask that you would do that.
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That you would broaden our vision for the Bible
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and for the church
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and for your great mercy to us in Christ.
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We pray this in his name.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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We, as people, do a lot of eating.
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Eating is necessary to sustain our lives.
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Stop eating for very long,
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and you will not remain alive.
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It's ordinarily important to eat,
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but I bet you can't remember
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much of what you ate this past week.
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Maybe something that was particularly good
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or maybe that hurt a lot when you ate it,
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but you've probably forgotten
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most of the meals you've had,
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even recently.
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We don't eat mindfully,
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and frankly, that's okay.
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You don't have to remember what you ate
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for the food to do its job
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of nourishing your body.
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If you've ever prayed this,
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I have at times before.
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I just think it's funny that we pray
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that food would nourish our bodies
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because that's what it does,
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with or without prayer.
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Food nourishes our bodies.
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Some foods better than others.
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But there is a meal
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unlike any other meal,
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unique in every way,
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a meal that is meant
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to nourish our souls.
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This meal should always be eaten mindfully,
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and the whole point of the meal
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is that we would remember it
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and, more importantly,
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all that it means.
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As I walk throughout my week,
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I want to think back
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to the previous Lord's Day
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and that meal
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and everything that it signifies
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for us.
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Some treat the Lord's Supper
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as a private, mystical experience
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between them and God,
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or perhaps some sort of
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small, devotional time.
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But the Bible shows us
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something far richer
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about this meal.
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The Lord's Supper
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is a corporate,
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covenantal,
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gospel-proclaiming meal
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that marks off the church
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and strengthens
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our unity in Christ.
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It is significant.
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Today I want to show you
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why the Lord's Supper matters
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and why we dare not take it lightly,
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why we do not take it
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outside the context
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of a local church,
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or should not,
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and why we ought not neglect
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to gather to take it.
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We'll go back to our text
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in 1 Corinthians,
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but let's first look
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at the record of the institution
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of the Lord's Supper.
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You can find this
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in a number of places
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in the Gospel.
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Let's look at Luke chapter 22.
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This is verse 14
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and following.
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Luke records,
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And when the hour came,
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Jesus reclined at table
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and the apostles with him.
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And he said to them,
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I have earnestly desired
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to eat this Passover with you
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before I suffer.
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For I tell you,
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I will not eat
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until it is fulfilled
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in the kingdom of God.
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And he took a cup
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and when he had given thanks,
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he said,
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Take this
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and divide it among yourselves.
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For I tell you
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that from now on
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I will not drink
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of the fruit of the vine
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until the kingdom of God
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comes.
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And he took bread
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and when he had given thanks,
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he broke it
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and gave it to them,
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saying,
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This is my body
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which is given for you.
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Do this
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in remembrance
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of me.
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And likewise,
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the cup
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after they had eaten,
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saying,
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This cup that is poured out
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for you
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is the new covenant
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in my blood.
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All of that should
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sound familiar to you
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from our reading
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from 1 Corinthians chapter 11.
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Paul is citing
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this information,
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the institution
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of the Lord's Supper.
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He has earnestly desired
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to eat this Passover,
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this last supper,
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before he would pay
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for the penalty
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of the sins
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of the world.
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So the institution
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of the Lord's Supper
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was the changing
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of the Passover meal,
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which was a meal
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meant to mark out
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God's peeper
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under the Old Covenant
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or Testament,
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and Jesus makes it
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into another
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kind of meal.
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So to understand
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all of this
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a bit further,
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we need to understand
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something of the
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Passover meal,
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the significance
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of that meal.
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The Passover originates
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in God's great act
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of redemption
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for the people
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under the Old Covenant,
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his deliverance
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of Israel
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from slavery
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in Egypt.
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I hope you're familiar
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with this,
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but just in case you're not,
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it's important for us
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to get this right.
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In Exodus 12,
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after nine devastating plagues,
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Pharaoh still refuses
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to release the Israelites.
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God announces a final
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act of judgment,
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the death of every
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firstborn in the land
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of Egypt.
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There's a judgment
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of death given.
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But he also provides
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a means of substitution
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and protection
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for his people.
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Each Israelite household
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is to take a lamb
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without blemish,
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a male a year old.
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Exodus 12,
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and verse 5.
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Kill it at twilight
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and apply its blood
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to the doorposts
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and lintel
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of their homes.
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So either side
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and above the door
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of their homes.
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Exodus chapter 12
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and verse 7.
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God declares
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in Exodus 12, 13,
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the blood shall be a sign
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for you on the houses
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where you are.
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And when I see the blood,
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I will pass over you
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and no plague
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will befall you
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to destroy you.
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That night,
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the Lord struck down
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all the firstborn
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of Egypt,
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from Pharaoh's house
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to the slave
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in the dungeon.
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Exodus 12, 29,
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and 30.
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But he spared
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every Israelite home
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covered
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by the blood
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of that lamb.
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The Passover then
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was first and foremost
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an act of divine salvation
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through substitution.
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See, that lamb
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was killed
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in place of
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the firstborn
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and its blood
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marked out
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that reality.
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That lamb died
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in the firstborn's stead.
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God commanded
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that this meal,
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this meal that they had
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after they had done this,
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they hunkered inside,
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they ate a meal,
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there's some instructions
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given for the taking
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of that meal,
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was to be celebrated
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every year
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as a memorial
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of this redeeming work.
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Exodus 12, verse 14.
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This day shall be
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for you
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a memorial day
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and you shall keep it
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as a feast
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to the Lord
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throughout your generations
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as a statute
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forever.
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Each generation
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was to teach
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their children
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the meaning
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of the feast.
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Exodus 12,
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verse 26 and 27.
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When your children
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say to you,
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what do you mean
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by this service?
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You shall say,
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it is the sacrifice
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of the Lord's Passover.
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For he has passed
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over the houses
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of the people of Israel
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in Egypt
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when he struck
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the Egyptians
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but spared
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our houses.
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So the Passover
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was not only
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an act of deliverance
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but also
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a defining
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identity marker
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for God's people.
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They ate it
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every single year
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after that first
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Passover meal
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was taken.
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It reminded Israel
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that they were
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a delivered people
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belonging to
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a delivering
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God.
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And that's
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this meal
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that Jesus
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is having
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with his
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apostles.
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Bobby Jameson
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wrote in his book
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Understanding the Lord's Supper
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quote,
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the Passover meal
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was a living
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reenactment
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of Israel's redemption.
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A memorial
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that shaped
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their identity
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as the people
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whom God saved
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by substitution.
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End quote.
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The Passover
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was to be celebrated
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in homes
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with family.
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It's the way
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it was originally
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done.
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The very first
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Passover
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was a meal
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eaten in haste.
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That's why
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the unleavened bread
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with readiness.
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They were supposed
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to be in their
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clothes
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because they were
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supposed to have
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deliverance
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in their minds
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as they took
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the meal.
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The next day
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the Israelites
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would march
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out of Egypt.
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So,
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Jesus
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at the Passover
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the last
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supper
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takes these symbols
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of the old
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covenant meal
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the bread
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and the cup
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and he
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shows them
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that he
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fulfills them
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in himself.
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It's his body
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and it's
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his blood.
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Just as Israel
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was redeemed
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by the blood
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of a spotless
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lamb
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so now
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God's people
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are redeemed
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by the blood
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of his spotless
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son.
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1 Peter 1
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verse 18
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and 19
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The Passover
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celebration
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pointed forward
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it's typological
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it points forward
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to a greater
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deliverance.
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It points
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to Jesus Christ
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the true
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and better
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Passover lamb.
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When John
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the Baptist
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sees Jesus
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you may remember
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this in our study
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of John
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he declares
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John 1
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verse 29
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Behold
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the Lamb
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of God
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who takes
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away
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the sin
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of the world.
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And the Apostle
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Paul explicitly
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identifies Christ
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with the Passover
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sacrifice.
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1 Corinthians
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5
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verse 7
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For Christ
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our
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Passover
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lamb
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has
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been sacrificed.
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And
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finally
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at this
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last supper
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the Passover
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meal
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we read about
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in Luke
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chapter 22
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Jesus
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reinterprets
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the bread
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and cup
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to reveal
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their ultimate
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meaning
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and
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he redefines
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the familial
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nature
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of the meal.
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You cannot
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miss this.
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He is not
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having
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this meal
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back with
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his biological
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family.
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The very last
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one where he
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institutes
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the Lord's
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Supper
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he's having
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with the
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apostles.
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He's having
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this meal
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with his
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followers.
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So
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this is the
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background
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and substance
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of what we
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are set to
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consider today.
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So
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to further
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our thinking
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I'm going to
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make five
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statements about
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the Lord's
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Supper.
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And this will be
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back in
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1 Corinthians
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chapter 10
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and chapter
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11.
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Five statements
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about the
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Lord's Supper.
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Number one
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the Lord's
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Supper
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proclaims
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the gospel.
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We've said
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a bit about
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that already.
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Look with me
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at 1 Corinthians
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11 and
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verse 26.
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There Paul
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says for us
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often as you
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eat this bread
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and drink
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the cup
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you proclaim
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the Lord's
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death
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until he
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comes.
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Every time
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we take
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the Lord's
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Supper
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we're putting
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on a bit
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of a play.
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It's some
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pageantry.
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It's a
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visible
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representation
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of the
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gospel
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of Jesus
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Christ.
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I'll add
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it's a
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Bible commanded
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play.
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We don't
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do other
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kinds of
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plays.
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This we're
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supposed to
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do when
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we come
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together.
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We
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proclaim
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but what
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is it that
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we proclaim?
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The Lord's
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death?
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Until he
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comes is
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what Paul
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says here
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and that's
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certainly
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true
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but it's
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not only
18:28
that.
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We proclaim
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his death
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but there's
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some implicit
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proclamation
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happening here
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as well.
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We proclaim
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his
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sacrificial
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work but
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also his
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life.
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Thoughts of
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his death
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cannot and
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should not be
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separated from
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thoughts of
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his perfect
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law-keeping
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life.
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And we
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proclaim his
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resurrection.
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He's coming
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again so he
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must be
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alive and
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we proclaim
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his second
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coming because
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we are
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proclaiming his
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death until
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he comes.
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All of
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those things
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life,
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death,
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resurrection,
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return.
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The supper
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practiced
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properly is a
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visible
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sermon.
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It's a
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visible
19:22
sermon.
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proclamation
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of the
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gospel.
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And notice
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that Paul
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says,
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you
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proclaim.
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And we
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do
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individually.
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But more
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importantly,
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much more
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importantly,
19:38
it includes
19:39
the corporate
19:41
body.
19:41
Remember that
19:42
Paul is
19:42
writing these
19:43
words to
19:44
a church.
19:46
He's referring
19:47
to the church
19:48
when he says
19:49
you.
19:50
If you are
19:51
part of a
19:51
church,
19:51
you're part
19:52
of that as
19:52
an individual.
19:53
But he's
19:53
talking
19:54
corporately
19:55
here.
19:57
Clue to
19:58
that,
19:58
if you go
19:58
back to
19:59
1 Corinthians
19:59
10,
20:00
verse 17,
20:01
he says,
20:01
because there
20:01
is one
20:03
bread,
20:04
we who are
20:04
many are
20:05
one body,
20:06
for we
20:06
all partake
20:08
of the
20:08
one bread.
20:10
He's talking
20:11
about us
20:11
gathered
20:12
together,
20:13
breaking
20:13
something that
20:14
pictures
20:15
Christ's
20:16
sacrifice on
20:16
our behalf.
20:19
If a little
20:20
further proof
20:21
will help you
20:21
at this point,
20:22
you can look
20:23
at the language
20:23
of the beginning
20:24
halfway through
20:25
the chapter
20:26
of Leaven.
20:27
Note the
20:28
phrase,
20:28
when you
20:29
come together.
20:30
He's talking
20:30
about this
20:31
meal.
20:32
When you
20:32
come together,
20:32
he repeats
20:33
that phrase
20:33
in verse
20:34
17,
20:36
verse 18,
20:37
and then
20:38
finally in
20:39
verse 20.
20:41
So,
20:43
we proclaim
20:43
together,
20:45
as a local
20:46
church,
20:48
when we
20:48
take the
20:49
Lord's
20:50
Supper,
20:51
by faith,
20:52
Jesus'
20:53
perfect life
20:54
grants us
20:55
righteousness.
20:57
By faith,
20:58
Jesus'
20:58
death is
20:59
sufficient
21:00
for our
21:01
forgiveness.
21:03
By faith,
21:04
Jesus'
21:05
resurrection
21:05
is the
21:06
sure foundation
21:07
of our
21:07
hope,
21:08
and by
21:08
faith,
21:09
Jesus'
21:10
return
21:10
is the
21:11
future
21:12
that we
21:13
long for.
21:15
Now,
21:15
we are not
21:16
given explicit
21:18
instruction about
21:19
how often
21:20
to do this.
21:21
We just
21:22
really like to
21:22
do it every
21:23
week because
21:23
of all of
21:24
that that I've
21:25
just said.
21:26
What a good
21:27
thing to
21:27
proclaim the
21:28
gospel in
21:29
this way and
21:30
the many other
21:31
ways that the
21:31
gospel can be
21:32
proclaimed as
21:33
often as we
21:35
possibly can.
21:38
The Lord's
21:39
Supper
21:39
proclaims the
21:40
gospel.
21:42
Number two,
21:43
the Lord's
21:44
Supper
21:44
marks off
21:46
the church.
21:48
Marks off
21:49
the church.
21:51
1 Corinthians
21:51
10, 16
21:53
and 17.
21:54
I'm reading
21:55
this before.
21:55
The cup
21:55
that we
21:56
bless,
21:56
the cup
21:57
of blessing
21:57
that we
21:57
bless,
21:57
is it not
21:58
participation
21:58
in the
21:59
blood of
21:59
Christ?
22:00
The bread
22:00
that we
22:01
break,
22:01
is it not
22:01
participation
22:02
in the
22:02
body of
22:03
Christ?
22:03
Because
22:03
there is
22:04
one bread,
22:06
we who are
22:06
many are
22:07
one body,
22:08
for we
22:08
all partake
22:09
of the
22:10
one bread.
22:13
The supper
22:14
is not only
22:14
vertical between
22:16
you and
22:16
Christ,
22:17
it is that,
22:19
but it is
22:19
also horizontal,
22:22
binding us
22:23
together as
22:24
one body.
22:27
When we
22:27
share one
22:29
loaf,
22:29
and hear me
22:30
at this point,
22:31
I don't think
22:31
that the
22:32
instruction must
22:33
be, a church
22:34
can be a size
22:35
that it
22:35
just doesn't
22:35
make sense.
22:37
We make
22:38
gluten-free
22:39
bread,
22:40
Katie Dome
22:40
does this
22:41
for us,
22:41
and for it
22:43
to cook
22:43
properly,
22:43
it has to
22:44
be done
22:44
in small
22:45
loaves,
22:45
so we
22:46
have more
22:46
than one
22:47
loaf on
22:47
any given
22:48
Lord's Day,
22:50
even when
22:50
there's not
22:50
that many
22:51
of us
22:51
here.
22:53
That's not
22:53
the point
22:54
being made,
22:55
right?
22:55
We are
22:55
together
22:55
at a
22:56
meal,
22:58
is the
22:58
point.
22:58
When we
22:59
do that,
22:59
we declare
23:00
that we
23:01
belong to
23:01
one Lord,
23:02
one faith,
23:03
one baptism,
23:05
one people.
23:07
This is why
23:07
the Lord's
23:08
Supper is
23:08
not a
23:09
private
23:09
devotional
23:10
act.
23:13
You
23:13
could have
23:14
some juice
23:14
or some
23:15
wine and
23:15
some bread
23:16
by yourself
23:17
and it
23:17
not be
23:18
the Lord's
23:18
Supper.
23:19
It's not
23:20
how you're
23:20
supposed to
23:21
do it,
23:22
but it
23:22
is a
23:22
church
23:23
act.
23:25
It's a
23:25
responsibility
23:26
given to
23:27
the church.
23:29
In the
23:29
New Testament,
23:30
the supper
23:30
is always
23:31
tied to
23:33
the gathered
23:33
church.
23:35
We don't
23:36
have nearly
23:36
enough time
23:37
this morning
23:37
to unpack
23:38
everything that
23:39
could be said
23:39
about church
23:40
membership,
23:42
but I
23:42
posit to you
23:43
in just a
23:43
few brief
23:44
moments that
23:45
local churches
23:45
as a whole,
23:48
we're
23:48
congregational,
23:50
are meant to
23:50
do the
23:51
careful work
23:52
of exercising
23:54
the authority
23:55
of the keys
23:56
given in
23:57
Matthew chapter
23:57
16 and
23:59
in chapter
24:00
18.
24:01
we are
24:03
to examine
24:04
professing
24:05
Christians
24:06
professions
24:07
and affirm
24:08
or deny
24:10
those
24:10
professions
24:11
for the
24:12
good of
24:13
those people
24:13
making the
24:14
professions
24:14
and for
24:15
the glory
24:16
of God.
24:17
So hear me
24:17
carefully.
24:18
This is a
24:19
work given
24:20
to the
24:21
church.
24:23
If a
24:24
church says
24:24
something like
24:25
anybody who
24:27
calls X
24:29
home
24:30
belongs here,
24:32
this kind
24:33
of thinking
24:33
has to fall
24:34
apart at
24:35
some point.
24:36
If somebody
24:37
showed up on
24:37
your front
24:38
door,
24:38
knocked on
24:39
the door,
24:39
you open it,
24:39
and they
24:40
said,
24:40
this is my
24:41
home,
24:42
you'd go,
24:42
hmm,
24:43
who are
24:43
you?
24:45
You might
24:46
want to
24:46
assess to
24:46
see if
24:47
they're
24:47
actually
24:47
part of
24:48
your
24:48
family
24:49
or not
24:50
before you
24:51
welcome
24:52
them in
24:52
and give
24:53
them a
24:53
bed.
24:54
There may
24:54
need to
24:54
be,
24:55
some kind
24:56
of a
24:56
process
24:56
by which
24:57
that would
24:58
take place.
25:00
Not because
25:01
we're
25:02
unkind,
25:03
but because
25:04
we care
25:04
about the
25:05
souls of
25:06
people.
25:07
We want
25:07
people who
25:08
are professing
25:09
faith in
25:09
Christ to
25:10
have confidence
25:11
of that
25:12
profession.
25:13
And so we
25:13
come together
25:14
as Christians
25:14
with trembling
25:16
and much
25:18
begging for
25:19
grace to
25:20
help to
25:21
see if
25:21
professions
25:21
are in
25:22
fact
25:23
credible.
25:24
careful,
25:25
careful
25:25
examination
25:26
for the
25:27
good of
25:28
those
25:28
people
25:28
and for
25:29
the glory
25:30
of God
25:30
that the
25:30
church
25:31
would not
25:31
be full
25:32
of people
25:33
who say
25:34
they're
25:34
Christians
25:34
and act
25:35
like
25:36
devils.
25:39
Baptism
25:40
is the
25:42
admitting
25:42
sign.
25:43
Welcoming
25:44
people into
25:45
the church.
25:45
We believe
25:46
as far as
25:47
we can
25:48
that you
25:48
are in
25:48
fact
25:49
a
25:50
professing
25:50
Christian.
25:51
You are
25:51
in the
25:52
faith.
25:52
It's
25:52
the
25:53
admitting
25:53
sign
25:54
or the
25:54
welcoming
25:55
sign.
25:56
The
25:56
Lord's
25:56
Supper
25:57
is the
25:58
renewing
25:59
sign
25:59
or the
26:00
keeping
26:00
sign.
26:02
Yes,
26:02
you
26:03
belong.
26:05
We welcome
26:05
people in
26:06
through the
26:07
ordinance of
26:08
baptism.
26:10
We keep
26:11
them and
26:11
in some
26:12
sad and
26:13
unfortunate
26:13
cases
26:14
dismiss
26:15
them
26:15
through
26:16
the
26:17
family
26:18
meal
26:19
we call
26:20
the
26:20
Lord's
26:20
Supper.
26:20
We like
26:22
the term
26:22
ordinance
26:24
when referring
26:24
to baptism
26:25
and Lord's
26:25
Supper
26:25
as it's
26:25
from a
26:26
Latin
26:27
verb
26:27
ordinare
26:28
which means
26:29
to put
26:30
in order.
26:32
What are we
26:33
ordering?
26:34
We're marking
26:35
off the
26:36
local
26:36
church's
26:37
boundaries.
26:39
Who
26:39
belongs
26:40
and who
26:41
doesn't
26:42
belong.
26:43
Right?
26:44
In a
26:45
caring
26:45
way.
26:46
Right?
26:47
Not trying
26:47
to be
26:48
exclusive
26:48
but the
26:50
claims of
26:50
the gospel
26:51
are
26:51
exclusive.
26:53
Right?
26:53
You are
26:54
either in
26:54
Christ or
26:55
you are
26:55
not and
26:55
we want
26:56
to be
26:56
careful
26:56
about who
26:57
we believe
26:58
is and
26:59
isn't.
27:01
The Lord's
27:02
Supper
27:02
then is
27:04
about
27:04
individual
27:05
assurance
27:06
but also
27:08
others
27:09
assurance.
27:11
It's
27:12
about
27:12
church
27:14
membership.
27:15
it is
27:17
the meal
27:18
that marks
27:18
off the
27:19
people who
27:19
belong to
27:20
the new
27:20
covenant
27:21
the
27:21
visible
27:22
church.
27:25
As an
27:26
anecdote
27:26
my
27:27
sweet
27:28
wife's
27:28
family
27:29
has always
27:29
spent
27:30
Friday
27:30
evenings
27:30
together.
27:31
When her
27:31
grandparents
27:31
were alive
27:32
it was over
27:32
at her
27:32
grandparents'
27:33
house.
27:33
They
27:34
continue
27:34
to do
27:34
this.
27:35
I
27:35
think
27:35
that
27:35
this
27:35
is
27:35
going
27:36
to
27:36
be
27:36
a
27:36
tradition
27:36
that
27:36
continues
27:37
on.
27:38
And
27:38
everybody
27:39
in the
27:39
family
27:40
is
27:40
expected
27:41
to be
27:41
at this
27:42
family
27:43
meal.
27:43
Are we
27:44
always
27:44
there?
27:44
No.
27:45
Sometimes
27:45
things
27:45
come up
27:46
that can't
27:47
be avoided.
27:49
But you
27:49
should be
27:49
there if
27:50
you can
27:50
be there.
27:51
And if
27:51
you can't
27:51
be,
27:52
everyone's
27:53
going to
27:53
know why.
27:55
The answer
27:56
can't just
27:56
be because
27:57
I didn't
27:57
feel like
27:57
it this
27:58
time.
28:00
I'm a
28:00
good son-in-law.
28:02
There's a
28:02
reason given
28:03
to my
28:03
mother-in-law
28:03
why I'm
28:04
not there.
28:06
She's very
28:07
kind about
28:07
the whole
28:07
thing.
28:08
If I
28:08
just need
28:08
some rest
28:09
she gets
28:09
it.
28:10
But it
28:11
can't be
28:11
because I
28:11
just don't
28:12
want to
28:12
this time.
28:14
It's a
28:15
good and
28:15
healthy
28:15
expectation.
28:17
And I'm
28:17
grateful for
28:18
the way we
28:18
grow as a
28:19
family as I
28:20
go and
28:20
participate in
28:21
these meals on
28:22
Friday evenings.
28:24
It's analogous.
28:25
Not perfect,
28:26
but it's
28:27
analogous.
28:28
it's a faith
28:30
family meal.
28:33
That's why
28:34
if you've
28:34
been with
28:35
us in
28:36
our members
28:36
gathering,
28:37
we invite
28:38
baptized
28:39
believers,
28:40
members of
28:42
Christ's
28:43
church to
28:44
partake.
28:45
Whether it's
28:45
this church or
28:46
you're a guest
28:46
and you're a
28:47
member of a
28:48
gospel preaching
28:48
church.
28:50
It's not
28:51
about,
28:51
the point is
28:52
not exclusion,
28:54
it's about
28:55
clarity.
28:56
clarity.
28:57
It's about
28:57
clarity.
28:59
The supper is
28:59
a sign of
29:00
belonging.
29:02
It says,
29:03
these are the
29:04
people,
29:05
as far as we
29:06
can,
29:06
fraily,
29:07
right,
29:07
we don't do
29:07
it perfectly,
29:08
but these are
29:08
the people
29:10
who belong
29:11
to Jesus.
29:14
The Lord's
29:14
Supper
29:14
marks off
29:16
the church.
29:18
Thirdly,
29:20
very briefly,
29:21
the Lord's
29:21
Supper
29:22
nourishes
29:23
the faith
29:24
of believers.
29:25
We could
29:25
talk on
29:26
and on
29:26
about this,
29:26
but I
29:27
think most
29:28
people have
29:29
some
29:29
understanding
29:30
of this
29:31
already.
29:33
I've read
29:33
to you
29:33
before,
29:34
1 Corinthians
29:34
10,
29:35
16,
29:35
and 17,
29:35
you can
29:36
look at
29:36
it there
29:36
if you
29:37
would like
29:37
to once
29:38
again.
29:40
The bread
29:40
and the
29:40
cup
29:41
don't
29:41
change
29:42
substance,
29:44
but they
29:45
are signs
29:46
that
29:47
strengthen
29:47
faith,
29:48
just like
29:50
a wedding
29:50
ring reminds
29:52
a spouse
29:53
of the
29:54
covenant
29:54
that they
29:55
have made.
29:56
It's a
29:57
symbol.
29:59
I'm wearing
29:59
a silicone
30:00
one right
30:01
now because
30:01
the one
30:02
that my
30:02
wife gave
30:02
me on
30:03
our wedding
30:03
day got
30:04
lost in
30:04
the bottom
30:05
of a lake
30:05
in a
30:06
desk drawer,
30:07
and I
30:08
wear a
30:08
silicone
30:09
ring.
30:09
It's a
30:10
different
30:10
ring,
30:11
but it
30:11
means the
30:12
same thing,
30:13
and it
30:13
reminds me
30:14
of the
30:14
commitment
30:14
that I've
30:16
made to
30:16
her.
30:16
In that
30:17
same way,
30:18
they're
30:19
symbolic
30:20
for us.
30:22
When you
30:22
eat the
30:22
bread,
30:23
you are
30:23
reminded
30:24
Christ's
30:25
body was
30:26
broken
30:26
for me,
30:28
more
30:28
importantly,
30:29
for us.
30:31
When you
30:31
drink the
30:32
cup,
30:32
you are
30:32
reminded
30:33
Christ's
30:34
blood was
30:34
shed
30:34
for me,
30:36
more
30:37
importantly,
30:38
for us.
30:40
When you
30:40
take it
30:41
with your
30:41
brothers and
30:42
sisters,
30:42
you are
30:43
reminded
30:43
Christ's
30:45
salvation
30:46
has
30:46
united us
30:48
as a
30:48
divine
30:49
reality,
30:49
we are
30:50
united
30:51
because of
30:51
what Christ
30:52
has
30:53
accomplished.
30:54
This meal
30:54
is meant
30:55
to feed
30:55
our faith,
30:57
to re-anchor
30:58
us in
30:59
grace,
30:59
to strengthen
31:00
our assurance
31:01
that Jesus
31:03
truly is
31:05
enough.
31:07
The Lord's
31:08
Supper
31:08
nourishes
31:09
the faith
31:09
of believers.
31:11
Fourth,
31:13
the Lord's
31:13
Supper
31:14
calls us
31:15
to
31:16
self-
31:17
examination.
31:18
Look in
31:19
chapter 11
31:19
of 1 Corinthians
31:20
27,
31:22
28,
31:22
and 29.
31:24
Whoever
31:24
therefore
31:25
eats the
31:25
bread or
31:26
drinks the
31:26
cup of
31:26
the Lord
31:27
in an
31:27
unworthy
31:28
manner
31:28
will be
31:29
guilty
31:29
concerning
31:30
the body
31:30
and blood
31:31
of the
31:31
Lord.
31:32
Let a
31:33
person
31:33
examine
31:33
himself
31:34
then,
31:34
and so
31:35
eat of
31:35
the bread
31:36
and drink
31:36
of the
31:36
cup.
31:37
For
31:37
anyone
31:37
who eats
31:38
and drinks
31:39
without
31:39
discerning
31:40
the body
31:40
eats
31:41
and drinks
31:42
judgment
31:42
on
31:43
himself.
31:45
I
31:45
reject
31:46
altogether
31:48
that what
31:48
Paul is
31:49
calling us
31:49
to in
31:50
these
31:50
verses
31:50
is
31:51
self-scrutiny
31:53
concerning
31:54
the failing
31:55
of the
31:56
previous
31:56
week
31:57
or
31:58
months.
31:59
Some
31:59
churches
32:00
take the
32:00
Lord's
32:00
Supper
32:00
once a
32:01
year
32:01
or
32:01
year.
32:03
If we
32:04
were
32:04
capable,
32:04
if,
32:05
and we're
32:05
not,
32:06
if we
32:06
were capable
32:06
of sorting
32:07
through
32:07
every detail
32:08
of the
32:09
week,
32:09
we would
32:10
still fail
32:10
to realize
32:11
every action,
32:12
every misplaced
32:13
emotion,
32:14
every
32:14
solid
32:15
intention.
32:16
It's just
32:16
not possible.
32:18
You are
32:18
more sinful
32:19
than you
32:19
realize.
32:21
You can't
32:22
take an
32:22
honest
32:23
assessment
32:23
of it
32:24
all and
32:24
repent of
32:24
every
32:25
little
32:25
minutia.
32:26
It's
32:26
not
32:27
possible.
32:29
Should we
32:30
repent
32:30
when taking
32:30
the
32:31
supper?
32:32
Of
32:32
course.
32:34
Because
32:34
there is
32:34
plentiful
32:35
mercy for
32:36
sinners found
32:37
in the
32:37
completed work
32:38
of Jesus
32:38
Christ.
32:39
We should
32:39
be moved
32:40
to repentance
32:40
as we
32:41
think about
32:41
the gospel
32:42
and its
32:43
benefits
32:43
to us.
32:45
You should
32:45
be repenting
32:46
all the
32:47
time.
32:47
Repentance
32:48
and faith,
32:49
repentance
32:49
and faith.
32:51
It's an
32:52
opportunity,
32:52
another one,
32:53
to do
32:53
that very
32:54
thing.
32:56
But Paul
32:56
is not
32:57
saying that
32:58
you are
32:58
meant to
32:58
determine
32:59
whether your
33:00
performance
33:01
warrants
33:02
the reward
33:03
of the
33:04
supper.
33:05
That is not
33:06
what's being
33:06
communicated here.
33:07
And sadly,
33:07
that's what's
33:08
been taught.
33:09
there is a
33:12
particular issue
33:13
he is
33:14
speaking to
33:14
and I
33:15
say to
33:16
you that
33:17
the call
33:17
for self
33:18
examination
33:18
is more
33:19
stark when
33:20
the actual
33:21
context is
33:22
considered.
33:23
This
33:23
self
33:23
examination
33:24
thing,
33:24
I am not
33:25
dismissing
33:25
it.
33:25
It's
33:26
important.
33:27
We
33:27
should be
33:28
self
33:28
examining,
33:30
but is
33:31
it a
33:31
work when
33:32
we realize
33:32
the context
33:33
of what
33:34
Paul is
33:34
talking about
33:35
here.
33:35
So what's
33:36
happening
33:36
in this
33:37
church?
33:38
We need
33:38
to go up
33:38
a little
33:39
bit in
33:40
the text
33:40
of verse
33:40
17.
33:42
He says,
33:43
But in
33:43
the following
33:43
instructions,
33:44
I do not
33:45
commend you,
33:47
because when
33:47
you come
33:48
together,
33:49
it is not
33:49
for the
33:50
better,
33:51
but for
33:51
the worse.
33:53
For in
33:53
the first
33:54
place,
33:54
when you
33:54
come
33:54
together
33:55
as a
33:55
church,
33:56
I hear
33:56
that there
33:56
are
33:56
divisions
33:57
among
33:57
you,
33:58
and I
33:58
believe
33:59
it in
33:59
part,
33:59
for there
34:00
must be
34:00
factions
34:00
among
34:01
you,
34:01
in order
34:01
that those
34:02
who are
34:02
genuine
34:02
among you
34:03
may be
34:03
recognized.
34:05
When you
34:05
come
34:05
together,
34:06
it is
34:07
not the
34:07
Lord's
34:08
Supper
34:08
that you
34:08
eat.
34:09
For in
34:10
eating,
34:10
each one
34:11
goes ahead
34:11
with his
34:12
own meal,
34:13
one goes
34:13
hungry,
34:14
another
34:14
gets
34:15
drunk.
34:16
What?
34:18
Do you
34:18
not have
34:19
houses to
34:19
eat and
34:20
drink in?
34:21
Or do you
34:21
despise the
34:22
church of
34:22
God and
34:23
humiliate
34:24
those who
34:24
have
34:24
nothing?
34:25
What shall
34:26
I say
34:26
to you?
34:27
Shall I
34:28
commend
34:28
you in
34:28
this?
34:29
No,
34:30
I will
34:31
not.
34:32
It's
34:34
on the
34:35
heels of
34:35
that,
34:36
that he
34:36
is talking
34:37
about this
34:37
self-examination.
34:40
So,
34:40
to our
34:41
best guess
34:41
what's going
34:42
on here
34:42
is that
34:42
slaves who
34:43
are getting
34:43
off of
34:44
their work
34:45
later than
34:46
others
34:47
are not
34:48
being waited
34:48
for.
34:49
People are
34:49
going ahead
34:50
without them.
34:50
They're eating
34:51
the meal.
34:52
They're drunk
34:53
and others
34:54
are having
34:54
to do
34:54
without.
34:56
And he's
34:56
saying to
34:56
them,
34:57
that is not
34:57
the Lord's
34:58
Supper
34:58
because it's
34:58
not being
34:59
done
34:59
in
35:01
unification
35:01
with
35:02
others.
35:04
And his
35:04
words are
35:05
strong,
35:06
strong words.
35:07
So,
35:07
it's in
35:08
that context
35:09
that he
35:09
then says,
35:11
whoever
35:11
therefore
35:11
eats the
35:12
bread or
35:12
drinks the
35:12
cup of
35:13
the Lord
35:13
in an
35:13
unworthy
35:14
manner
35:14
will be
35:15
guilty
35:16
concerning
35:17
the body
35:19
and blood
35:20
of the
35:21
Lord.
35:22
So,
35:23
what's the
35:24
worthiness
35:24
that's supposed
35:25
to be going
35:25
on here?
35:26
It's a
35:26
mindfulness,
35:27
it's a
35:28
proper
35:28
orientation
35:29
toward
35:30
the
35:31
church,
35:31
the
35:32
people,
35:32
the
35:32
local
35:33
church,
35:33
those
35:33
people
35:34
that
35:34
you
35:34
know
35:34
that
35:35
were
35:35
bought
35:36
by the
35:36
body
35:36
and
35:37
blood
35:37
of
35:38
Christ.
35:41
So,
35:41
let's
35:42
examine
35:42
ourselves
35:43
and then
35:44
eat of
35:44
the bread
35:45
and drink
35:46
of the
35:46
cup.
35:47
For
35:47
anyone who
35:48
eats and
35:48
drinks,
35:49
verse 29,
35:49
without
35:50
discerning
35:50
the body,
35:51
whose
35:52
body?
35:53
Not
35:53
your
35:53
body,
35:54
he's
35:55
talking
35:55
about
35:55
that
35:56
body,
35:57
the
35:57
body and
35:57
blood of
35:58
Christ that
35:58
purchased
35:59
the
35:59
church.
36:00
drinks
36:01
judgment
36:02
on
36:03
himself.
36:04
And
36:05
there's a
36:05
temporal
36:06
judgment
36:06
going on
36:07
in this
36:07
day,
36:08
1 Corinthians
36:08
11,
36:08
verse 30,
36:09
that is
36:09
why many
36:10
of you
36:10
are weak
36:11
and ill
36:12
and some
36:13
have died.
36:15
This
36:15
kind of
36:16
carelessness
36:16
for the
36:18
church.
36:20
You
36:20
cannot
36:20
feast
36:21
on the
36:22
grace of
36:22
Christ
36:23
and refuse
36:24
to extend
36:26
grace
36:27
to others.
36:28
Christ,
36:29
the
36:29
Lord's
36:30
supper
36:30
ought to
36:31
be bringing
36:32
us
36:32
together,
36:32
helping us
36:33
to recognize
36:34
the unity
36:34
that is
36:35
ours in
36:36
Jesus.
36:38
This is
36:38
a unity
36:38
that we
36:39
must work
36:40
to maintain,
36:41
Paul tells
36:41
us in
36:41
Ephesians
36:42
chapter 4.
36:44
So the
36:44
context of
36:45
the Corinthian
36:45
church is
36:46
far removed
36:47
from us.
36:48
I don't
36:48
really doubt
36:49
anybody in
36:49
the room
36:50
is guilty
36:50
of what
36:51
was going
36:51
on in
36:52
the life
36:53
of the
36:53
Corinthian
36:54
church.
36:55
So what
36:56
are we
36:56
to consider
36:57
in our
36:58
self-examination?
37:01
Are you
37:02
rightly
37:02
thinking about
37:03
the church
37:04
when you
37:05
come together
37:06
to take
37:06
this meal?
37:07
Blood-bought
37:08
people of
37:09
Christ.
37:10
Are you
37:11
unified
37:12
with the
37:13
body?
37:14
Do you
37:15
harbor any
37:15
unresolved
37:16
conflict?
37:19
I'll say
37:19
right now
37:20
to you,
37:20
you don't
37:20
have to
37:21
like
37:21
everybody
37:21
who's a
37:22
member of
37:22
the church,
37:22
but you
37:23
have to
37:23
love them.
37:23
We
37:24
cannot
37:25
avoid
37:25
those
37:26
commands
37:26
in the
37:27
scripture.
37:28
We have
37:28
to work
37:28
through
37:29
hard
37:30
issues
37:31
together.
37:33
Next week
37:34
I told you
37:35
that we're
37:35
taking a
37:36
break from
37:36
John's
37:37
gospel,
37:38
and we're
37:38
going to
37:38
talk about
37:39
reasons to
37:40
and reasons
37:41
to not
37:41
leave a
37:42
church,
37:43
and then
37:43
the right
37:44
and wrong
37:44
way to
37:45
go about
37:45
doing it.
37:47
And you
37:47
better believe
37:48
I'm going
37:48
to talk
37:48
about
37:49
relationship
37:50
as a
37:50
major part
37:51
of what
37:52
we have
37:53
to say
37:53
do you
37:55
harbor
37:55
unresolved
37:56
conflict
37:57
when you
37:58
come and
37:58
take
37:58
the Lord's
38:00
Supper?
38:01
Is the
38:02
truth of
38:02
the gospel
38:03
orienting you
38:05
toward others
38:06
the way
38:07
that it
38:08
ought to
38:09
orient you
38:10
to them?
38:10
Right?
38:13
Beloved,
38:14
we shouldn't
38:15
consider each
38:16
other anymore
38:17
by the flesh,
38:19
by the spirit,
38:20
precious people,
38:21
bought by the
38:22
blood of
38:22
Christ.
38:23
We should
38:23
have such
38:24
humility
38:25
towards
38:25
one another.
38:28
And then
38:28
let me ask
38:29
you lastly,
38:30
do you
38:30
even come
38:31
to the
38:33
family meal?
38:35
Do you
38:35
come and
38:36
participate
38:37
in this
38:38
meal?
38:39
Now I
38:40
know that
38:41
a car is
38:41
not going
38:41
to start
38:42
some
38:42
mornings,
38:43
a diaper
38:44
is inevitably
38:45
going to
38:45
blow out,
38:47
there are
38:48
some reasons
38:49
not to
38:50
be here.
38:51
take a
38:51
family vacation
38:52
from time
38:53
to time.
38:55
But we
38:56
had a busy
38:56
Saturday,
38:58
it's not a
38:58
good reason
38:59
not to show
38:59
up at
39:00
10 o'clock.
39:02
Beloved,
39:02
it's not
39:02
that early.
39:04
It's not
39:05
that early.
39:05
You can
39:05
make it.
39:08
And hear
39:08
this with a
39:08
great deal
39:09
of kindness,
39:09
I'm just
39:10
not a person
39:10
who's late
39:11
to things,
39:11
I don't
39:11
like being
39:12
late to
39:12
things.
39:14
It's not
39:15
a pet
39:15
peeve of
39:16
mine when
39:16
people are
39:16
late to
39:17
things,
39:17
so don't
39:17
hear me
39:17
being unkind
39:18
towards you,
39:19
but if you
39:20
have a hard
39:20
time getting
39:21
here by
39:21
10,
39:21
then we
39:22
start at
39:22
930.
39:24
Set that
39:26
time on
39:26
your clock,
39:27
that's when
39:27
you're supposed
39:28
to be here,
39:28
and then you'll
39:29
show up on
39:29
time,
39:29
and it'll
39:29
be so
39:30
great,
39:30
because there's
39:32
a group of
39:33
people,
39:34
we can't
39:34
wait forever,
39:36
time has to
39:36
start,
39:37
but who loves
39:38
you,
39:39
and wants
39:39
you at the
39:39
family meal.
39:40
We want
39:41
you to come
39:41
and proclaim
39:42
with us all
39:43
that Christ
39:44
has done on
39:45
our behalf.
39:47
It's an
39:47
important time,
39:48
for us to
39:49
be together.
39:52
The
39:52
supper is
39:53
not just
39:54
a look back
39:54
to the
39:55
cross,
39:56
but also
39:56
a look around
39:57
you to your
39:58
fellow believers,
39:59
and it's a
40:01
look ahead
40:01
to the
40:02
marriage supper
40:02
of the
40:04
Lamb.
40:04
This will
40:05
be the
40:05
fifth and
40:05
final point.
40:07
The
40:07
Lord's
40:07
supper
40:08
points us
40:09
to the
40:11
future.
40:13
Again,
40:14
verse 26
40:14
of chapter
40:15
11,
40:15
as often
40:16
as you eat
40:16
this bread
40:16
and drink
40:16
the cup,
40:17
you proclaim
40:17
the Lord's
40:19
death
40:19
until he
40:20
comes.
40:21
The
40:21
supper
40:21
looks
40:22
forward.
40:24
It's a
40:24
foretaste
40:25
of the
40:25
feast to
40:26
come,
40:26
the day
40:27
when faith
40:27
becomes
40:28
sight,
40:28
when we
40:29
sit with
40:29
Christ
40:30
at the
40:30
marriage
40:30
supper
40:31
of the
40:32
Lamb.
40:34
Every
40:34
Lord's
40:35
supper
40:35
whispers,
40:36
he's coming
40:37
back,
40:38
he's coming
40:39
back.
40:40
Every
40:41
broken piece
40:42
of bread
40:42
and poured
40:43
cup
40:43
declares,
40:44
this story,
40:45
it isn't
40:46
over.
40:47
Hold
40:48
on,
40:48
hope,
40:49
he will
40:50
accomplish
40:50
all that
40:51
he has
40:52
promised.
40:53
In that
40:54
sense,
40:54
every time
40:55
we come
40:55
to the
40:55
table,
40:56
we are
40:57
training
40:57
our
40:57
appetites
40:58
for
40:59
eternity.
41:01
We are
41:01
reminding
41:02
our hearts
41:03
that this
41:03
world's
41:04
pleasures
41:04
are
41:04
temporary,
41:05
but that
41:06
Christ's
41:07
kingdom
41:07
is forever.
41:10
Revelation
41:10
chapter 19,
41:12
verse 6
41:12
and following,
41:13
then I
41:13
heard what
41:14
seemed to
41:14
be the
41:14
voice of
41:15
a great
41:16
multitude,
41:16
like the
41:17
roar of
41:17
many waters
41:18
and like
41:18
the sounds
41:19
of mighty
41:20
peals of
41:20
thunder,
41:21
crying out,
41:22
Alleluia for
41:23
the Lord,
41:23
our God,
41:24
the Almighty
41:24
reigns.
41:26
Let us
41:26
rejoice and
41:27
exult and
41:28
give him the
41:28
glory,
41:29
for the
41:29
marriage of
41:30
the Lamb
41:31
has come,
41:32
and his
41:32
bride has
41:33
made herself
41:34
ready.
41:36
And the
41:36
angel said
41:37
to me,
41:37
write this,
41:38
blessed are
41:39
those who
41:39
are invited
41:40
to the
41:41
marriage
41:41
supper.
41:42
of the
41:43
Lamb.
41:44
The
41:45
Lord's
41:45
Supper
41:45
points us
41:46
and we
41:46
need to
41:46
be
41:47
pointed
41:47
to the
41:49
future.
41:51
So why
41:51
do we
41:52
do what
41:52
we do
41:52
and why
41:53
do we
41:53
do what
41:53
we do
41:53
the way
41:54
that we
41:54
do what
41:55
we do?
41:56
It is
41:57
commanded
41:57
for our
41:59
good and
42:00
God's
42:01
glory that
42:02
we would
42:03
remind one
42:03
another of
42:04
the gospel.
42:05
We remember
42:06
together Christ's
42:07
life,
42:07
death,
42:07
resurrection,
42:08
and return.
42:10
Who
42:11
belongs?
42:12
church.
42:14
We declare
42:14
together who
42:16
belongs to
42:18
Christ.
42:20
And I'll
42:20
say to you,
42:20
if you're a
42:21
guest,
42:21
we would
42:21
love for
42:23
you to
42:23
become a
42:23
member of
42:24
this church
42:24
and join
42:24
us at
42:26
this meal.
42:27
We remind
42:28
one another
42:28
of God's
42:29
abundant
42:30
grace.
42:32
We are
42:32
nourished and
42:33
strengthened
42:34
together in
42:35
faith.
42:36
We remind
42:37
one another
42:38
of our
42:38
unity in
42:39
Christ.
42:41
We examine
42:42
and we
42:43
reconcile.
42:46
And we
42:47
remind one
42:47
another of
42:48
our future
42:49
glory.
42:50
We long
42:51
together for
42:54
his return.
42:55
So if you
42:56
are in Christ
42:57
and part of a
42:57
local church,
42:59
join your
42:59
faith family at
43:00
the table with
43:01
great joy.
43:04
Do not come
43:05
privately but
43:07
corporately.
43:08
Come not in
43:09
despair but in
43:10
faith because
43:12
the supper
43:12
tells you that
43:14
the cross still
43:15
speaks, grace
43:16
still reigns,
43:19
and the king
43:20
is coming
43:21
again.
43:22
Let's pray
43:23
together.