Thursday, 5 August 2021

Holy Communion - Part 7

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Here is my opening statement today. Holy Communion is an occasion or an opportunity to get right with God. We can either accept that or challenge that. The thought itself is based on this verse (which we have studied previously, I'm justing bringing it up again) ... 1 Corinthians 11:27-28a Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the Lord's cup in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself.

Did you just read that? Don't miss the meaning of it. The purpose of examining ourselves is so that we can repent. This is what is wrong with the hyper-grace movement. It fails to mention the need for repentance. Repentance is how we access grace. It opens the door for God's Spirit to empower us to get right with Him.

There are two parts to the concept of judgment. A courthouse is called in Hebrew a "Beit Din," meaning "house of judgment." There is judgment (the trial) and then there is judgment (the verdict). We are all on trial and we are all guilty. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But that is not the same as our verdict found in the very next verse. Romans 3:24 They are set right as a gift of His grace, through the redemption that is in Messiah Yeshua. Being "set right" is having our guilty verdict commuted to NOT GUILTY when we repent, and that is good news.

Our NOT GUILTY verdict is NOT based on our works, but on God's grace. Getting right with God, therefore, is based on His righteousness and not on our own deeds. We get right with God because He is perfect, not us. Partaking of the body and blood of the Savior in Holy Communion is the perfect time to get right in a perfect way with the prefect God. Sounds just perfect, doesn't it.