The church, through all windings of history, has emphatically taught that Christ is memorialized in this Supper. The bread we break is His body, the wine we drink is His blood; this is a cup of blessing, because it overflows with Christ. But the only reason the saints partake of Christ is because of the Holy Spirit’s work.
One of the works which are attributed to the Holy Spirit is that of sealing. After hearing the Word of Christ’s saving work proclaimed, those who believe are, as Paul taught, “sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise (Eph. 1:13).â€
The Spirit changes our heart and opens our eyes, so that the declaration of the Gospel is not only heard by our physical ears but is received by faith. The Spirit then seals that faith, confirming to the believer that they are owned a child of God. A seal confirmed that the letter which was received was genuinely from the one who sent it; and thus the contents of the letter could be believed, the promises made would be fulfilled, the benefits conferred would be given.
This is Christ’s body and blood. If you’ve heard & believed the good news that your sins are forgiven and have been given eternal life, it’s only because you’ve been united with Christ. The Christ whose body was broken & whose blood was shed to reconcile sinners to the Father. The only reason that you partake of Christ in this meal is because the Spirit has sealed you.
Calvin put it this way: “the Holy Spirit is the bond by which Christ effectual unites us to himself.†The Holy Spirit binds you to Christ, and Christ brings you to the Father, and by God’s triune grace, you enjoy fellowship with the Source and fountainhead of all the blessings. Fellowship with the Blessed One. Fellowship with God, because the Holy Spirit has sealed you.
So come in faith and welcome to Jesus…
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