bird_life-66 – We Love God!

Convince them what a contradiction it is to be a Christian, and yet to refuse to learn; for what is a Christian but a disciple of Christ? And how can he be a disciple of Christ, that refuses to be taught by Him. And he that refuses to be taught by his ministers, refuses to be taught by Him; for Christ will not come down from heaven again to teach them by His own mouth, but has appointed His ministers to keep school and teach them under Him. To say, therefore, that they will not be taught by His ministers, is to say, they will not be taught by Christ; and that is to say, they will not be His disciples, or no Christians.

Richard Baxter

Insights from 1 Corinthians 11:23-34: 1. The Lord's Supper is primarily designed to elicit or to stimulate in our hearts remembrance of the person and work of Jesus. 2. This remembrance is commanded. Participation at the Lord’s Table is not an option. 3. This remembrance entails the use of tangible elements. It isn’t enough simply to say, “Remember!” The elements of bread and wine are given to stir our minds and hearts. 4. It is a personal remembrance. We are to remember Jesus. The focus isn't any longer on the Jewish Passover or the night of his betrayal or anything else. The focus is Jesus. 5. In this remembering there is also confession. In partaking of the elements we declare: “Christ gave his body and blood for me. He died for me.” 6. In this remembering we also proclaim the Lord’s death till he comes. This, then, is not merely an ordinance that looks to the past. It is an ordinance of hope that points to the future. 7. To partake of the Lord’s Table in an unworthy manner (v. 27) is to take it without regard to its true worth, not yours. To partake unworthily is to come complacently, light-heartedly, giving no thought to that which the elements signify.

Sam Storms