True Cups Of The Lord Series

True Cups of the Lord

The Blessings of Being Under the Blood

Coming under His blood we are found righteous. His bloodshed paved the way for us to miss the wrath of God, purchased our salvation, and enables us to enjoy the blessings of God. The Bible tells us to partake in the Lord’s Supper, Communion.

The Bible says, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.” (1 Corinthians. 11:16) Biblically this is one very good way of showing our appreciation through obedience to the Word and telling others who observe us of Jesus’ sacrificial death upon the Cross.

The word “cup” is often used figuratively in the Bible for that which is portioned out and of which one is to partake. Thus, it can mean God’s Judgments, His wrath or afflictions. (Psalms 11:6; 75:8; Revelations 14:10) Jesus used this term regarding His sufferings. (Matthew 26:39) He also used the term cup in reference to what some of his saints would suffer. (Matthew 20:22)

In the Old Testament the cup had also been applied to the blessedness and joy of the children of God, and the full provision made for their needs. (Psalms 16:5; 23:5; 116:13)

(The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, under “cup”)

There are three cups I will talk about today. 1.) The Cup of Wrath. 2.) The Cup of Salvation. And 3.) The Cup of Blessing.

There is a source that moved Jesus Christ to willfully lay down His life on the cross, which leads us to the first cup in this teaching. There is a “cup of wrath” and it is imperative we recognize this truth as we come and partake in Communion.

The beloved John gives us this insight, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (John 3:36) “Wrath” (orge) here is “referring to divine judgment to be inflicted upon the unrighteous.” (Zodhiates) This wrath of God is not an uncontrolled, unthinking, or a violent reaction. It is a deep, sometimes permanent, thoughtful, controlled righteous anger that is good and deals justly with all who reject Christ. (Practical Word Studies in the New Testament)

Here is what the Bible teaches: Without being under the blood of Jesus Christ, being truly Savior and Lord mankind is under God’s wrath, their sinful flesh will lead them to total destruction. Romans 1:18 says, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness…” Ephesians 5:6 says, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” God’s wrath (orge) here is a “decisive anger, a deliberate anger that arises from His very nature of holiness.” (The Preachers Outline & Sermon Bible, Volume 2)

This wrath is on the “disobedient” (apeitheia) – those not surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, who willfully walk in unbelief and are not persuadable. They have an obstinate rejection of the will of God for their lives. They live in defiance….” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary {Zodhiates}; Vines Amplified Expository Dictionary of the New Testament Words; Practical Word Studies in the New Testament)

The beloved John tells us, “The wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36) In its proper context “the wrath of God ‘abides’ (meno) means to continue to live in, or rather sin remains upon or more accurately they remain in their sin. (Practical Word Studies in the New Testament; The Complete Word Study Dictionary; Vines Amplified Expository Dictionary of the New Testament Words; Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament)

People who are under this cup from God are like the burglar Walter B. Knight wrote about. They know it’s wrong but they are bound by their sin needing to be set free by Christ. In Saint Paul, Minnesota, a thief broke into a U.S.O. and stole $23.50. He left a note to Mrs. Margaret Wood, the director, which read, “I am sorry I stole this. I hate it, but I am bound to it.”

Keeping with the key truth of this portion for the message: The Prophet Isaiah tells us God the Father, “laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53) The prophet continues with “Yet it was God’s will to crush Him [Jesus] and cause him [Jesus] to suffer… by [Jesus’] knowledge… He will bear their iniquities.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 says “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us…”

It has been well written: “Till on that cross as Jesus died. The wrath of God was satisfied. For in every sin on Him was laid. Here in the death of Christ I live.” This is a religious statement supported by the many of the truths we have just talked about. – The results of the wrath of God were laid upon Christ so the wrath of God poured upon mankind may be overcome.