Luke 22:14-20
1 Corinthians 11:23-25 (These will be read later in the sermon)
This morning we will be remembering the Lord’s Supper also known as Communion.
Augustine, in the 5th century described a sacrament as “an outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace.”
A sacrament is a visible manifestation of the word. The bread and cup in the Lord's Supper are considered sacraments in that they are visible manifestations of the covenant promise of our Lord: "In the same way, after the supper [Jesus] took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you,'" (Luke 22:20).
This morning we will take a look at the differences between Old Testament rituals such as circumcision and the Passover feast and the New Testament sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper or Communion.
In the OT there are two rituals of utmost importance, the first is circumcision and the second is the Passover.
Why circumcision? - This ritual indicated that a man was a son of Abraham, an Israelite. This was a physical sign of a spiritual condition. A Hebrew male child would be circumcised on the eighth day of life. Yet, the child might grow up to reject the God of Israel or he might grow up to be faithful to the Lord, not turning to the left or the right. On the other hand if the parents failed to have a male child circumcised and he later came to know the Laws of God and faithfully followed the Lord he would naturally submit to circumcision out the an obedient heart.
For the infant who was circumcised according to the law he was neither an obedient or disobedient child based upon being circumcised but upon his choice to follow the Laws of God or reject them.
For the uncircumcised adult male who came to follow the Lord, when he became circumcised it did not save him but only indicated his faithfulness to follow the Lord.
In the NT the sacrament of baptism replaced the ritual of circumcision.
Baptism is an outward sign of an inward spiritual transformation which has taken place.
Baptism is a testimony to the radical change that takes place in the life of someone who comes to know Jesus as their Savior. The old spiritual self is put to death and a new spirit is born from above - we are a new creation in Christ.
In the NT we do not see any examples of children being baptized. In the 16th chapter of Acts we see where two households believed and were baptized but there is nothing to indicate if there were any infants or children younger than the age of accountability in either home.
In almost every instance of baptism in the NT we see that the people believed and then were baptized.
Baptism is an outward sign of an inward spiritual transformation which has taken place.
Can you be baptized and live a life that rejects Christ? Of course you can.
Baptism cannot save you. But baptism is a testimony of a saved life.
So what about the OT ritual of the Passover celebration?
In the OT the ritual of the Passover celebration was a reminder of deliverance from Egypt by the mighty hand of God. You can read in Exodus 12 the ritual of the Passover and when and how it is to be observed each year.
The Lord was very specific on how this ritual was to be observed and many Jews still follow this ritual every year.
Of course we all know the history from the OT of how the nation of Israel was enslaved in Egypt and the Lord sent Moses to intercede for them with Pharoah.
And how in the final judgment the angel of the Lord passed through Egypt and if the blood of the Passover lamb was seen on the doorposts of the Jewish homes the firstborn would be spared.
In the NT the OT ritual of the Passover was replaced by the Lord Jesus Himself with the sacrament of communion.
Now, before we read the Scriptures for today, there is one thing we need to remember; there are absolutely NO rituals defined in the NT. None!
In the NT we find a dramatic change from ritualistic religion to personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ
Let’s read about the sacrament of Communion and see what we find
Luke 22:14-20
1 Corinthians 11:23-25
What do we see in these Scriptures? What is the on common thread?
“Do this in remembrance of Me.”
That’s all!
This is NOT a ritual. Jesus didn’t say:
What kind of bread you are to use
What kind of drink you are to drink
When you are supposed to observe the sacrament
How often you are to observe the sacrament
Because: Jesus didn’t want us to make a ritual out of it!
This was Jesus’ intent, that:
You have come to know Me as your Savior.
When you came to know Me as your Savior you understood that my body was broken and my blood was shed for the forgiveness of your sins and for your salvation.
Whenever you observe the sacrament of Communion you are to remember Me and what I did for you.
Communion is a reminder.
Communion is a physical reminder of what Christ did on our behalf.
Just as the ritual Passover feast was intended to take the Israelites back to that day in Egypt where the blood of the lamb was painted on their doorposts and their lives were spared, the sacrament of Communion reminds us of how the salvation of our eternal souls was provided for when Jesus blood was shed on the cross of Calvary.
The truth is that we do not reflect often enough and intently enough on the great work that was done in the shedding of Jesus’ blood on the cross of Calvary.
The church, the Body of Christ, was bought with the blood of Jesus!
Acts 20:28 NIV
“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood.”
We who come to Christ are justified by the blood of Jesus!
Romans 5:9 NIV
“Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him!”
We have been redeemed through the blood of Jesus!
Ephesians 1:7-8a NIV
“In [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us.”
Through the power of Jesus’ blood we can be made holy!
Hebrews 13:12 NIV
“And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood.”
The blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin!
1 John 1:7 NIV
“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.”
Without the blood of Jesus
We are not a part of the church the body of Christ - we are not “in Christ”
We are not justified but condemned
We are not redeemed but are left homeless, unsheltered, un protected
We are not purified from all of our sin
We are not holy but unholy, sinful, wretched and spiritually dying.
Have you ever seen a photo of this sculpture? What’s it called? The Thinker.
What’s he thinking about?
According to the artist, Auguste Rodin, "the Thinker" is sitting in mute amazement as he contemplates lost people in hell.
That is indeed a vast contemplation but not as vast and amazing as the Son of God giving His life and shedding His blood for you and for me!
Concluding remarks leading to Communion.
