This Supper isn’t to be accompanied by the grunts & sweat of self-righteous effort. Nor is it to be marked by a “Let Go, Let God” passivity. Here is nourishment for your faith, which equips you–by Christ the Word in these visible words–to do your duty.
If you begin to think that by partaking faithfully each Lord’s Day you are logging credits in the book of your justification, you’ve lost the plot. This isn’t a divine punch card, where the 10th time gets you a free pass for heaven. Your partaking isn’t the means of your justification, but rather what you are partaking of. You are partaking here of the life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Christ the Redeemer. Our justification rests on the fact that Christ’s righteousness was made ours, and we brought nothing but our sinful rags.
But this meal does indeed nourish us in the work of sanctification. You aren’t saved by good works, but you are saved to good works. This bread & wine, when taken in faith, is a good work that compels you to more good works. Faithless partaking is like putting lead in your cleats before a track meet. But taken in faith, the grace of God works mightily in you, according to the working of His mighty power.
In Christ is all authority and power. By your union with Him, as embodied in this meal, the infinite ocean of grace which resides in Him, cascades like a Niagara Falls of empowering grace down into you. Christ is at the Father’s right hand, His hand holds the scepter of the universe, and here He gives you his token that all His power is at work in you. Power to fight sin. To rest in His peace. To trample your lusts. To face your foes. To endure your hardships. To rejoice in all things.
So come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ…
Leave a Reply