[ ] 1/3/2010 #862

REMEMBERING OUR LORD

Matthew 26:26-30

INTRODUCTION: The Lord’s Supper was instituted by our Lord so we would remember Him. It reminds us that our faith must be in Him and why we should love Him. The Lord’s Supper reminds us of our “blessed

hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself” a people of His own. We have a reason to celebrate and praise our Lord.

I. OUR FOCUS ON JESUS

A. FOCUS ON HIS BODY.

“Eat” as it is used here is a picture of faith. We can believe in food but only by eating it will we receive its benefit. Saving faith is taking Christ into one’s life.

“Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.” Jn. 6:53-57

Jesus said the bread was to be eaten in remembrance of His broken body. We believe by faith that Jesus was “stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” We believe by faith that “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed.”

B. FOCUS ON HIS BLOOD.

1. Jesus’ blood ratified the New Covenant. (Covenant of grace)

2. Jesus’ blood redeemed us. (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14)

The word “redemption” means to rescue by ransom or to buy back as a slave from captivity. It means for us to be released from sin by the payment of a ransom (Eph. 1:7,14; 4:30; Rom. 8:23; Heb 9:15; Lk. 21:28). Our ransom was the blood of Christ. The ransom paid by the blood of Christ indicates the completeness of our redemption. We are redeemed through the sacrificial death of Christ.

Illustration: “We use the word redeem in association with pawn brokers. If we pawn our ring then later want it back, we must redeem it from the broker. To redeem the ring we must pay a price with interest. In the case of our salvation, it was Jesus who paid the price (Mark 10:45; Acts 20:28; I Cor. 6:20; I Tim. 2:5,6; II Pet. 2:1).”

3. Jesus’ blood justified us. (Rom. 5:9)

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Oh precious is the flow,

That makes me white as snow,

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

II. OUR FORGIVENESS FROM JESUS “for the remission of sins”

A. MEANING OF REMISSION.

Forgiveness means “remission.” It means to be released from bondage or captivity. It means a debt that has been paid; a captive that’s been freed.

B. MEANS OF REMISSION.

We are pardoned by Christ who paid the price for our sins on the cross (Rom. 3:24-26).Our sin is cancelled by His death. Our sin will not be mentioned against us anymore. Our sin is dismissed and discharged. We are set free by the blood of the Lamb.

"Many years ago, a father and his daughter were walking through the grass on the Canadian prairie. In the distance, they saw a prairie fire, and they realized that it would soon engulf them. The father knew there was only one way of escape. They would quickly begin a fire right where they were and burn a large patch of grass. When the huge fire drew near, they then would stand on the section that had already burned. When the flames did approach them, the girl was terrified but her father assured her, 'The flames can't get to us. We are standing where the fire has already been.'"

The fire of God’s wrath for sin fell on Jesus as He hung on the cross.

III. OUR FUTURE WITH JESUS “drink it new with you”

A. RETURN OF JESUS.

“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.” 1 Cor. 11:26

B. REIGN OF JESUS.

“The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Rev. 11:15

“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” 2 Tim. 2:11-13

LESSONS FOR LIFE:

1. We were held in the grip of sin’s penalty, but Jesus released us from our sin by His shed blood.

2. We cannot eat the bread without remembering how Jesus was broken, pierced, and beaten with stripes for our redemption. We cannot drink the cup without remembering that His blood was poured out on Calvary for us.

3. Someone has said, “He took our hell that we might have His heaven.” We earn hell, but heaven is a gift. The Lord’s Supper reminds us to give thanks to our gracious Savior.

4. Observing the Lord’s Supper is a reminder that we will see Him in glory.

Will He be your Savior or your Judge?

Come ye sinners, poor and needy,

Weak and wounded,

Sick and sore;

Jesus, waiting, stands to help you,

Full of mercy, love and power …

Let not conscience bid you linger,

Nor of fitness fondly dream;

All the fitness he requireth

Is to feel your need of Him.

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