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Christianity

3/25/2012 Sunday

The Call To Communion

The Truth of the Gospel in an Action

Matt 26:14-30

  • act of communion as act of worship; why are we so consumed with self preservation/help/advancement?
  • if you’re tempted to give God a bad rap, check out the passage we are studying today…
  • What is the call to communion all about? OR what is Christ like?
    • Communion is the centrepiece of Good News!
  • The call to communion is…
    1. Making arrangements for the grossly undeserving
      • Matt 26:14-16; Mt 26:21, Mt 26:28
      • all of the epistles make a point to show that Judas betrays
        • remember this is during Passover, when it is supposed to be celebration for all things done for people
        • encouragement that God would deliver, save…
        • Judas was “celebrating” while being disappointed with God
          • Judas expects Jesus to overthrow the Roman empire and remove Romans from them…
      • though the whole atmosphere was charged with glory of God’s gracious deliverance of Israel, the stink in the room is raw betrayal
      • “Those who wait upon the Lord will renews their strength…” (Isa 40:31)
        • Judas obviously jumped the gun
      • the Lord has not come to save us from our rotten situations, but rather to save us from our sinful selves!
      • Jesus extending offer to be forgiven…
      • why Mt 26:21?? Look at point 2
    2. For those grateful for forgiveness, amazed @ grace, in need of forgiveness and the accompanying humility that leads to honesty
      • “Surely not I, Lord”…but ALL the disciples had actually betrayed (or will betray) in their heart (“…maybe it is me…?”)
      • all are capable of destroying; always have opportunity to self examine and return (“joy comes after the mourning”)
      • contrast between those who really worried and he who wasn’t
        • “Surely not I, Lord” VS “Surely not I, rabbai” (v25)
        • true contrite heart vs intellectual view of salvation/God
      • “…Excluded is only he who doesn’t desire grace…” <get rest of quote> – Luther
      • we see Judas’ heart in v15 “what are you willing to give me?”
      • Lord’s table provides ceremony whereby repentant faithful can respond to truth as act of worship
    3. Commemorating Christ’s body as a substitute for my betrayal – the grace of invitation 
      • the heart of the Gospel: we are all receivers!
      • communion is a call to obedience – to obey first the invitation to receive (Eph 2:2-3)
      • forgiveness received is the divine medicine for every soul – without which there can be no fellowship with God, others or even consciene
      • you don’t need to clean up your life first and then receive…RECEIVE IT DAMMIT.
    4. Ceremonially enjoy by special divine invitation what you’re to enjoy continually – the real presence of Christ
      • Jer 31:31-34
      • ritual based on reality is GREAT
      • remember the covenant and what it is!
        • “You sin, I die; you repent, I will forgive; you run away, I will chase you and call you to your return”
      • the law has gone INSIDE, to be a personal relationship, changing you from the in (Jer as referenced)
    5. Reminder of our tremendous cleansing needs until the greatest celebration of all
      • disciples couldn’t even pray with Jesus…and by end of the night Peter rejected 3x
      • every time we eat and drink together, it’s about grace surrounded by sin
      • Brumer, “…we have been living too long on slim rations of careerism…” <get rest of quote>
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