How the Spirit-filled life is necessary to fulfill 3 expectations set forth in the Lord's supper

1 Corinthians 11:23-25   "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying,“This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Introduction:
We saw from yesterday's post why the Lord's Table not only portrays in picture form the cross and coming of Jesus, but also the call to the Spirit-filled life - whereby the Christian enjoys and partakes of the Ascended Jesus on a regular basis. Today's post takes this idea further by noting what the Lord's table calls Christians to do in their fellowship with one another and with the Lord. It will be demonstrated that there are certain expectations that require the Christian to be Spirit-filled if they are to carry them out consistently and with sincerity.

1. Expectation #1 communicated by the Lord's table - put others ahead of yourself (i.e die to self). 
When we talk about the expectations of the Lord's table - of what do we speak? Paul's concern here in 1 Corinthians 11 had to do with Christians putting themselves above other Christians. The promotion of self and the by-passing of the cross as the tool of conformity to Jesus Christ were sorely missing. The situation at Corinth rendered the activity of the Lord's table as nothing more than an empty ritual full of carnality and self-ish ambition. Paul needed to yank the Corinthians back to the reality of what the Lord's table was all about. 

Think about what is called for whenever we approach the Lord's Table. In 1 Corinthians 11:20-22 and 11:33 we see the need for Christians to put each other ahead of themselves. In short - to put someone else's interests ahead of my own - I need to deny self and thus die-to-self. Nothing but the Spirit-filled life will see this as the only option. 

It is one thing to go through the ritual of the Lord's Table and not let-on how we are in our hearts. It is quite another to partake together in the reality of the fact that I truly value my fellow saved-church members as more important than myself. The Spirit-filled life calls for self-denial on a daily basis. Whenever you read any of the key passages on the Spirit-filled life (Romans 8:1-11; Galatians 5:1-25; Ephesians 5:8-6:4; Colossians 3:10-18; 2 Peter 1:4-11), the common enemy of spiritual progress is the self-life. The idea of "self" refers to that principle inside all of us that asserts what-it-wants, when-it-wants and how-it-wants. 

The problem with the Corinthian church was "self". In 1 Corinthians 3:1-4, Paul said he had to address those at Corinth as spiritual babes who were carnal - that is to say - operating from a self-centered, rather than Spirit-empowered life. Hence the expectation to put others ahead of myself requires the Spirit-filled life.  

2. Expectation #2 communicated by the Lord's table - Using the cross as your tool of conformity to Jesus Christ (i.e the crucified life)
The Corinthians still had the Spirit of God as Christians, however they were living the life from their soul rather than from the Holy Spirit inside their human spirit. When Jesus called his disciples in Luke 9:23-24 and Luke 14, He told them that they needed to take up their crosses daily, and die to self, and follow Him. 

Undeniably the calling of the Lord's table demands we die to self if it is to be enjoyed and God-honoring.  All Christians who have been scripturally baptized and are members of churches of like faith are proper recipients of the table. Even if we come to the table and are in a season of being more carnally minded than Spirit-led, the Lord's table clearly tells us that we cannot remain in such a condition. 

The question we must ask ourselves regarding our last time at the Lord's table is: "have I been living the Spirit-filled life?" Such a life is the only way in which one can see the necessity to die to self and participate daily in going to the cross as the chief instrument of daily conformity to Jesus Christ. 

When we die to self, the command to examine ourselves before God in 1 Corinthians 11:28 means we have willingly acknowledged the constant need to be in fellowship with Jesus above our selfish ambitions, self-centered motives and self-gratification. Such an act of daily self-denial occurs when we daily go to the cross as the tool of our conformity to Jesus Christ. Whenever we see how the Lord's Table pictures the Spirit-filled life, the central focus of the cross makes sense. Paul's exposition in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 points us to Jesus Christ and Him crucified, risen, ascended and soon coming. 

The commands to take up one's cross and die to self are really two parts of one great overall idea. Whenever I partake of those token signs of the bread and fruit of the vine, I am in effect declaring Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

3. Expectiation #3 communicated by the Lord's table: Desire more of Jesus, His work and His power. 
We honestly cannot love our fellow Christians as we ought apart from the filling of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, we cannot value the cross of Christ, the scriptures and Christ-Himself apart from the regular filling and empowering work of the Holy Spirit. How we treat other Christians reveals what we think of Jesus (compare Matthew 25:40). Paul's warnings in 1 Corinthians 11:27-33 regarding partaking of the Lord's table in an unworthy manner has mostly to do with how well we are regarding others Christians in our local churches. 1 John 3:14-16 reminds us - "We know that we have passed out of death into life,because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

To be sure, flippancy towards the Lord's table or a coldness towards the cross could be included in the warnings. However, to have any issue with a fellow brother or sister constricts the closeness I will have with Jesus until such issues are resolved (see Ephesians 4:32; 5:8-18).  

Closing thoughts
We have considered today how the Lord's table calls Christians to exercise themselves with one another and the Lord Jesus along the lines of three expectations. Such expectations can only be carried out when the Christian is repeatedly filled with the Holy Spirit. First, the expectation of putting others before myself (i.e dying to self). When Christians serve each other the elements, such an act represents what they ought to be doing all the time. The Spirit's filling work will make such a duty a delight.

The second expectation communicated at the Lord's table is to come to the cross as the tool of conformity to Christ. Dying to self occurs only one way - co-crucifixion with Jesus Christ. This is not getting converted over again. Rather, co-crucifixion has to do with taking what is an instrument of salvation and using it as a tool of sanctification. Self and the flesh would rather abandon the cross. However, the Lord's table features such. Hence the Spirit-filled life is necessary to embrace this second expectation of co-crucifixion communicated in the Lord's supper. 

Then finally, the expectation of loving Jesus and His people more deeply. Only when we have emptied our hearts of hurt and heartache by the Word and the Spirit can we be fit vessels for the filling and leading of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-22). The Lord's table calls Christians to unity, love for one another and the Lord Jesus Christ. The flesh will never be sold on such activities. Only the Spirit-filled life will continuously desire and strive towards improvement in the areas of loving Jesus and other Christians. 

How the Lord's Table is connected to the reality of Spirit-filled life

1 Corinthians 11:20-23 "Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, 21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise thechurch of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you. 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread."

Introduction:

These last several posts have attempted to trace the relationship between the Lord's table and the Person and work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life. Care has been taken to advance the notion that when the Lord's Table is observed in any local church, what is being pictured by the elements of bread and fruit of the vine is not some empty ritual or mere remembrance of things. The bread and fruit of the vine are symbols for sure - but they are more than symbols. 

Three realities pictured by the Lord's table
The bread and fruit of the vine that is partaken of converted people of God who have been scripturally baptized (see Acts 2:38-41) signifies certain realities. 

1. The chief reality of the past is of course the accomplishmentof salvation won by the Lord Jesus Christ - which Paul expressly tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. 

2. The second reality communicated by these signs and symbols is a future one - namely the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as stated in 1 Corinthians 11:26. However, in many Baptist churches at least - no further significance is found. 

3. The third reality portrayed by the Lord's table is the Spirit's work in ministering to God's people the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ. This is sadly a glaring omission that is unknowingly over-looked by many churches, pastors and Christians. When we consider what Paul states about his receptions of the Lord's Supper instructions for the church at Corinth, we must ask: in what manner did the Lord Jesus Christ deliver these instructions to Paul. The wording corresponds to what we read in the first three Gospels. However, when Jesus came to Paul, He had already risen and was already ascended. 

The post-resurrected, ascended Jesus is able to be with His people here while remaining in heaven due to the fact of Him not only remaining God, but by the Spirit granting opportunity for His people to experience Him.  It is in this vein of thought we must consider the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 

To get as quickly as possible to the point of today's post - it must be stated that the current Person and activity of Jesus Christ is experienced and enjoyed by the repeated filling and re-filling of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit's filling ministry of the Christian following their conversion represents the epicenter of post-conversion life. 

The importance of the Spirit-filled Christian life in the local church
The Spirit of God is the One who initially unites us to the Living and exalted Christ at salvation - hence taking care of our position before God in Christ. The Spirit's filling ministry deals with our experience of such a life with God by our fellowship with Christ Who lives inside of us. 

The very identity of the church as the "body of Christ" speaks to the present reality every Christian continues to enjoy from their inception into salvation by grace through faith. The church as a body of believers partaking of the Lord's table is the chief point of 1 Corinthians 11. Moreover, the church as a body of Christ is made possible by the Person and work of the Holy Spirit - as seen in 1 Corinthians 12. 

As we noted earlier, the Spirit's ministry of filling the Christian stands as the central hub of post-conversion Christianity. The Spirit-filled life is the Spirit-led, Spirit-controlled life. Whenever one reads the key passage on the Spirit-filled life - Ephesians 5:8-21 - we find the call to such a life in Ephesians 5:8-14; the command to have a Spirit-filled life in Ephesians 5:15-18 and the consequences flowing from such a life in Ephesians 5:19-6:4. 

All Christians have the Holy Spirit indwelling them from the moment of regeneration in saving faith (Romans 8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19-20; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:4-5). Were the Holy Spirit not active in salvation - no one would be saved. In that moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit unites the new Christian to Jesus Christ through what the Bible calls "Spirit-baptism" (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). All of this occurs instantaneously. The Christian now has all of the Holy Spirit they're ever going to get. However, the issue that remains from regneration onwards is: "how much of me does God the Holy Spirit have?" 

The answer to that question is answered by the filling ministry of the Spirit. The filling of the Spirit weds the increased experience and power of the risen Christ. This is not to say that I wasn't already connected to Jesus. The Spirit's initial uniting of me to Him guarantees that positional reality (see Ephesians 2:6-8). However, the Christian should throughout their Christian walk desire to have an increasing experience to match what they are learning about their position in Christ. 

When we approach the Lord's table - we approach with the idea that what is being pictured in those signs and symbols is not only the historical reality of Calvary and not only the future reality of the second coming - but also the present reality of the Spirit's uniting of Jesus with me - and me with Him. Our churches need Christians who are filled with the Holy Spirit. The filling ministry of the Spirit is a repeatable reality that is available to all Christians and is commanded to all Christians. Are we yielded to the Lord? Does He have more of us today than He did yesterday?

Since the weaknesses of the flesh and the onslaught of the world makes Christians prone to spiritual leakage - we need to be filled again and again. The repeatability of the Lord's table reminds us of the fact we need to be fellowshipping with Jesus repeatedly. The experience of the Lord's table and the actions of taking in bread and fruit-of-the-vine reminds us of the growing experience every Christian needs in taking in the Person, presence and power of the risen and ascended Christ by the filling of the Spirit. Proof positive of these observations found in the next chapter of 1 Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13. Together we "drink" of One Spirit. Together we are the body of Christ. Such truths are pictured by the Lord's table. 

The hope from these last few posts is that the reader is seeing the clear linkage between the Holy Spirit's Personal ministry in continuously uniting the Christian to Christ to what is communicated and portrayed in the Lord's supper. Moreover, the specific filling ministry of the Holy Spirit stands central to the post-conversion Christian life. Although no passage of scripture forbids a Christian from partaking of the elements who is not Spirit-filled, nonetheless the picturing of the necessity of that reality in the Lord's supper should quickly move a wavering Christian to repent and ask the Spirit of God to fill them anew with a deeper experience and love for Jesus. 

More tomorrow....

How The Holy Spirit's working is pictured in the giving of bread in the Old and New Testaments

Nehemiah 9:20 "You, in Your great compassion,Did not forsake them in the wilderness; The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day, To guide them on their way, Nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go. 20 “You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, Your manna You did not withhold from their mouth,
And You gave them water for their thirst."

Introduction:

Today's post is a continuation from the past couple of posts, wherein we have been exploring how the Lord's table pictures not only the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the Christian, but also the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian. Yesterday we concluded by noting how Christians partake of and enjoy the Person and work of Jesus Christ by their union with Him, and He with them by the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit from the inception of salvation takes a sinner upon their reception of Christ through Divinely wrought faith and places them "in Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). It is being set forth in these posts that the Lord's table portrays the Spirit's manifest work in the life of the Christian in bringing the reality of the Person and work of Christ to the Christian and the Christian's life to fuller realization of Jesus Christ. 

Today's post wants to consider the Old Testament background that informed the backdrop of Jesus' institution of the Lord's table. It will be proposed that if we can find evidence of the Holy Spirit's working in those instances where God fed his people, or where He gave them institutions like the passover, then the link between the Spirit's ministry and Christ's ministry should follow in a fuller and richer way.

How we know the Lord's supper was the fulfillment of what was pictured in the Passover

The Jewish Passover feast was initiated by God in Exodus 12 to commemorate His deliverance of the children of Israel from their bondage in Egypt. Exodus 12:6 reads - "You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight." In context we discover several important details that point the way to God's ultimate passover lamb - the Lord Jesus Christ. 

First, the "it" in Exodus 12:6 is noneother than the Passover lamb, that every family was to slaughter and later on in the Mosaic law would specifically be done by a qualified Levitical priest (Leviticus 23; Deuteronomy 16:1-2). 

Second, the "fourteenth day" of the month corresponded to March or April on our calendars. Now with the details thus far seen, we have foreshadowed the Lamb of God, spoken of by John the Baptist in John 1:29 and the timing of when He was to be crucified. 

The third detail we find in Exodus 12:6 is with reference to the whole congregation of Israel. The Passover lamb was given on behalf of each family and in a representative way the whole of God's people. We know when Jesus came to this world, He did indeed come to die for the whole world in one respect as the Historically given Savior who is offered to all men indiscriminately in the Gospel (1 John 2:1-2). However in a specific, saving way, Jesus died for His church, composed of all whom God set His Spirit to work and who by faith responded to such work (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 4:10). 

All of these details revealed in the Passover meal foreshadowed what would be the final passover and thus - the Ultimate Passover Lamb - the Lord Jesus Christ. Mark 14:12 tells us the timing of the institution of the Lord's Table - "On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?” As we noted earlier, Jesus Christ was called by John the Baptist the "Lamb of God" in John 1:29  "The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" So Who was it that was revealing the Passover and events like it? Notice what the Apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:10-12 "As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as Hepredicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow." The Holy Spirit is the One who revealed the Passover and also connects it to what would be its culmination in the Person and activities of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How we see the Holy Spirit working in the giving of manna and Jesus' preparation for the giving of Himself

As the Israelites made their way through the wilderness following their deliverance out of Egypt, God began fedding them Manna or bread from heaven. God gave them this celestial - but nonetheless physical - bread, knowing full-well they would rebel against Him and would have to be sustained by Him in the wilderness of Sinai for 40 years. 1,000 years after those events, Nehemiah retells the entire history of God's dealings with the people of God and connects the Holy Spirit's leading to the giving of manna. Notice Nehemiah 9:20 “You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them,Your manna You did not withhold from their mouth,
And You gave them water for their thirst." Jesus would 450 years after Nehemiah reveal how He was the fulfillment of the meaning foreshadowed in God's giving of Manna. In John 6, Jesus revealed Himself to be the Bread of Life. To be more specific, John 6:58-63 records Jesus saying - "This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever." 59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard thissaid, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?”61 But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? 62 What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life."

Bringing home the main point of today's post - the Holy Spirit works to illuminate the believer's heart and mind to their ongoing connection to Jesus Christ

What is the point? The point is to show how the Holy Spirit in both the giving of the manna and in Jesus' revelation of Himself as the bread of life works to illluminate minds and hearts to the implications of all that is being said. When we see the giving of the Passover and then the later giving of the manna of Heaven, we come to realize how both actions foreshadowed the ultimate giving of Jesus Christ - both the Bread of Life and Lamb of God. The significance of such realities would not be possible without the Holy Spirit. In the same token, when we consider the Lord's supper, the signs of the bread and fruit of the vine serve to portray the reality of which the Holy Spirit is communicating to every Christian. Each time we partake of the Lord's supper, we are in that instant reminded in a fuller way of the profound, daily reality of our union to Jesus Christ. 

Such a union with Jesus, wherein we "partake" or "enjoy" the benefits of His still remaining in a physical body on our behalf while being God, is all made possible by the Holy Spirit. The bread and the juice do not contain such realities, but rather are signs and symbols signifying the fact that Christians are the ones possessing such realities. Bible teachers of old expressed rightly that the Spirit's work in the Lord's supper includes making clear our unbreakable connection to the Lord Jesus Christ. We as it were are brought up to where He is positionally at salvation (see Ephesians 2:6-8). What the Lord's supper does is set the occassion whereby the church of the living God enjoys that reality in the fullness and richness of what it means to be in fellowship with the risen and exalted Christ. 

Where is Jesus when the Lord's Supper is celebrated? In Heaven and by the Spirit's working - in us. Where is Jesus after the Lord's supper has concluded? In Heaven and by the Spirit's working - in us. The only distinction here is that in the Lord's supper - the Holy Spirit amplifies our awareness of this truth - which is one reason Christians so often sense the solemnity of such an observance. The Holy Spirit's work and ministry is included in all that is portrayed by the bread and fruit of the vine. He points the way to what Jesus did, will do and is doing in us. Praise be to God, by the Spirit's working, we are in union with the Lord Jesus Christ - and He with us. As 1 John 4:13 and 17 states - (13) "By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit." (17) "By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world."

More tomorrow.....

How the Lord's Table pictures the Holy Spirit's union of believers to Jesus Christ

picture is from sermoncentral.com
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is thenew covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes."

Introduction:

Yesterday we began considering the Lord's table from the vantage point of how it is connected to the Spirit's ministry in the life of the Christian and the local church body. Inasmuch as the Lord's table points us to what Jesus did (in the past) regarding our salvation and points us forward to the future regarding His second coming, in this particular series of posts, we are interested in the present. In other words, what does the Lord's table have to tell us about the Holy Spirit's current ministry in the life of the Christian in how He connects the believer in continuous union with Jesus Christ?

Exploring the language of union with Christ as found in the Lord's supper

As we consider Paul's words here in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, we discover a certain set of expressions that describe the Christian's union with the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the purposes of the Lord's table - as we are laboring to show here - is to signifiy the reality of how the Christian partakes of Jesus Christ in a special way at the Lord's table as a result of their continuous union with Him in their daily lives. 

In 1 Corinthians 11:25-26, we see the language of "eating" and "drinking" associated with the body and blood of Jesus. Notice - "and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said,“This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” This particular language can only make sense when we realize that the Holy Spirit's ministry of uniting the Christian to Christ at salvation enables them to enjoy His Person and achievements. Outside of the Spirit's ministry, eating of Jesus' flesh and blood makes no sense. 

When Jesus was ministering on this earth, He gave the language of eating and drinking of His flesh and blood prior to His institution of the Supper for His church. Notice what we read in John 6:53-56 "So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I willraise him up on the last day. 55 For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him." Whenever you read the context of John 6, it is clear that the Jewish audience of Jesus' day were having a difficult time understanding Jesus' words. How could one literally eat the flesh and blood of someone who was still speaking to them? How could someone eat flesh and blood and have that person abide in them and they in that person? For the Jewish mind, to eat blood of any sort was forbidden by the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 17:10-11). Clearly the ability to partake of Jesus' flesh and blood was not going to be achieved in the strict literal manner in which the Jews were thinking. Even the disciples had a hard time with Jesus' teaching (see John 6:60).

So what in the world was Jesus talking about in regards to "eating His flesh" and "drinking His blood"? Jesus begins to open the door of understanding a crack in John 6:61-63 "But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble?62 What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life."

What Jesus was describing here were the conditions that were going to be present to make possible the partaking of the Son of Man's flesh and blood. Undoubtedly there would have to be a death. We know from reading on in the Gospels that there was Jesus' crucifixion. Secondly, there would need to be an ascension of Jesus into Heaven. Again, when we read on in the Gospels, Jesus raised from the dead three days after his crucifixion and then 40 days hence ascended into heaven. The changes brought about in his physical body by both His resurrection and ascension positioned Jesus in His humanity to be united to all who would believe on Him by the Holy Spirit's working. That third element - the sending of the Spirit - occured ten days following His ascension. 

When the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost, the experience of Jesus Christ was amplified in the life of every single believer not only then - but also now. Inasmuch as Jesus Christ - in heaven - still retains glorified physical humanity and everlasting Deity - the enjoyment of His entire majestic Person and work is made possible by the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit.

The significance of Paul's mentioning of the Lord's supper and the idea of the Spirit's union of us to Jesus and He to us

So where is Jesus right now? Jesus Christ is in Heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father (see 1 John 2:1-2; Hebrews 4:14-16). However, there is more to the answer. Because of the Holy Spirit's descent to earth on the day of Pentecost, that means then that the presence and power of Jesus Christ is not confined to Heaven. Afterall, we read in over 100 places throughout the New Testament of believers being "in Christ". In like manner, we also read in other places of Jesus being "in the Christian". How is this possible? Furthermore, believers together are called "the body of Christ". How can this be the case? The answer is found in how the Holy Spirit continuously keeps Christ and Christians in bond and union with one another. 

Consider 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, which explains the meaning of the Lord's table - "Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread." There the reader will notice the language which was noted earlier - namely the "body and blood" language which Jesus gave back in John 6. As we also mentioned, Jesus alluded to how followers of His were going to have the ability to partake of His flesh and blood - namely by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Whenever you consider 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, you find similarity of expression as seen already in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17. Notice 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 - "For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit."

Hence what the Lord's table does is signify the reality of the Holy Spirit's ministry in bringing us to the Lord Jesus Christ. Such an activity begins at the moment He first draws us to saving faith and continues in the work He is doing in making possible our enjoyment of Jesus in our daily walk of faith. 

The Lord's table gives Christians the opportunity to enjoy this work of the Spirit in a more concentrated manner and in a special way. We must of course realize that the bread and fruit of the vine are not in themselves carriers of Christ's presence. Rather, they signify (i.e symbolize) that those who are partaking are the carriers! By the Holy Spirit, the Christ-follower is bearing in themselves, and in connection with others of like faith, the very presence and person of Jesus Christ. 

More tomorrow.....

Some thoughts on how the Lord's supper signifies the Holy Spirit's work among the body of saints

picture is from sermoncentral.com
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 "Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread."

1 Corinthians 11:23-24 "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 "For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit."

Introduction:
Today's post opens with the above three verses from Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth. I'm sure that many readers have experienced what it is like to partake of the Lord's supper. It is fair to say that often-times, the meaning of the Lord's supper is too often restricted or boiled down to one meaning. Certainly the main point of Paul's exposition in 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 is to show how this covenant meal was given by the Lord Jesus to His church to signify the spiritual realities He achieved for them on the cross and empty tomb. However, it is very evident that the significance of the meal goes beyond some bare symbol or referring merely to a time where we try to recall to our minds that all-important death of Jesus.

The Lord's supper is a sign that signifies true spiritual realities. What Jesus did on the cross and accomplished following His resurrection from the dead is stated in Paul's opening statement in 1 Corinthians 11:23. A living, post-resurrected Jesus gave these instructions directly to Paul. We can of course trace the wording and significance of the instructions back to what we read of Jesus' institution of this meal with his disciples in Matt 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24 and Luke 22:17-20 

Nonetheless, the same Jesus who initiated this meal in the four Gospels had risen, ascended and at some point relayed them to Paul by way of a Personal, post-resurrected appearance. Hence the point is to show that in the Lord's supper, we are given a sign of the reality of what it means to experience Jesus Christ - Lord of the past, present and future. 

The Lord's supper points not only back to what Jesus achieved in His first coming in the past, but also what He will accomplish when He comes again in the future. 1 Corinthians 11:26 states - "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes." 

So in celebrating the Lord's supper as pointing believers to what Jesus has done and what He will do, what about the here and now? I think too often in Baptist churches at least, we tend to approach the Lord's supper with the idea that Jesus is only to be thought of for what He did for us in the past. I of all people certainly do not want to minimize that point, since it is after the main point of the meal. 

However, focusing our attention on what Jesus has done is not the only point of the Lord's table. As we just mentioned, the meal points us to the future whereby Jesus will return and gather us to Himself, raise the dead, conquer His enemies and (without going into inordinate detail) reign. This to me is an exciting element that both Jesus and Paul communicate about the rich significance of this meal. However, there is one remaining time element - namely the present. To put it plainly - the Lord's supper is a sign that reminds Christians what Jesus in them, by the Holy Spirit, is currently doing. 

When the Lord's table is approached, do we ever think of the fact that Jesus Christ is already present inside each and every Christian as a result of the Person and work of the Holy Spirit? Whenever we read the above three opening verses, it is clear that within the context of Paul's exposition of the Lord's supper, there is a tie to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit's role from the inception of Christian salvation until we are in the presence of Jesus is to prepare us, shape us and make us more and more like Jesus. Additionally, the Spirit's main work has to do with uniting us to Jesus and Jesus to us. 

The goal over these next couple of posts is to spell out how the Lord's supper signifies or pictures for us the reality of the Holy Spirit's continuing work of enabling Christians to participate in the life of Jesus, and He with us. These thoughts (I hope) will excite the reader and perhaps give a fresh perspective on how we view the Lord's supper. 

Jesus is not hermetically sealed off somewhere in the past nor is He waiting with anticipation in the future before He can be with us. Such thoughts tragically and often-times describe how many Christians view their relationship with the Lord Jesus. We rightly build our faith on what Jesus has done in the past, as well as what He will do in the future. However, we must realize there is an in-between-time, the present. Jesus Christ is by the indwelling Holy Spirit in every Christian living and acting. He did promise afterall that He would be with His church, even to the end of the age. 

Hence when God's people meet together to celebrate the Lord's supper, they are in that instant presenting snapshot of the reality of the risen Christ working in union with them, and they with Him. The Lord's supper pictures for us the amazing reality of the Holy Spirit's continuing work in us as we enjoy our union with Jesus Christ by faith. This particular point is what I hope we can understand in the days to come. 

More tomorrow....

The necessity of the Christian life - being Spirit-filled

Note: Credit for today's image is from vehiclefixer.com
Ephesians 5:18 "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit"

For today's post I wanted to lay out in short order some of the major New Testament passages that speak on the subject of the Spirit-filled Christian life. The Book of Acts certainly gives us concrete illustrations of such (such as Peter, Paul and Barnabas), however we also need explanations and clarifications of such events and experiences, which is why we turn to the Epistles.

1. Romans 8:5  "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit."

In Romans 8:1-5 the Apostle Paul lays out a full description of the Spirit-filled life with regards to how it operates  - namely by the law or power of the Spirit.  Much like an aircraft "operates" by the law of lift in counteracting the "law of gravity", the Spirit-filled Christian relies upon the indwelling Spirit to influence him or her to govern their drives, emotional life and thought lives by the Spirit's work of filling and leading them.

2. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?"

The distinctions made between "carnal" and "spiritual" should not be taken too sharply to refer to two classifcations of Christians, but rather two ways in which Christians can operate.  All Christians have the indwelling Holy Spirit and all Christians have the new nature. However some Christians choose to rely upon their soulish realm of mind, emotions and will in living their lives, rather than the Holy Spirit inside their human spirit.  The terms "spiritual" and "carnal" define the source from whence the Christian is operating or being influenced. The goal of the Spirit-filled life is always to submit one's soulish realm under the influence of the Holy Spirit in the human spirit. Remember - the Spirit-filled life is not a matter of you getting more of the Spirit, but rather Him having more of you.

3. Galatians 5:16 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."

Paul here is explaining the Spirit-filled life in another fashion as that which defines the Christian's manner of living or walking. It is in this chapter of Galatians we see both the primary moral emphasis of the Spirit filled life (Galatians 5:22-24, 26) and the supernatural aspect undergirding the moral fruit (Galatians 5:25). 

4. Ephesians 5:18 "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit."  

This passage is the clearest one in all the New Testament that demonstrates the obligation every Christian has to be Spirit-filled.  Here we see the heart of this teaching - namely being under the influence and control of the Spirit. In context we see how the filling of the Holy Spirit is to be a constant and repeatable experience of the Christian, whereby they consciously submit themselves to the Spirit's leading through the scriptures.  Ephesians 6 of course lays out the practical outcomes of the filling of the Spirit in the realm of marriage, raising children, employment and spiritual warfare. 

5. Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

This passage functions as a parallel to Ephesians 5:18 and ties together the Holy Spirit's ministry inside the Christian's human spirit to the Holy Spirit's ministry to the Christian through the scriptures.  It is a manifest impossibility to be Spirit-filled apart from exposure, study and submission to the Word of God.  Being that Paul wrote Ephesians and Colossians at almost the same time, we can see why his remarks are so closely related.  

6. 2 Peter 1:4-5a "For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence...."

Though we may not necessarily see the term "filling in this passage", yet this is Peter's way of describing the same reality.  Both the primary moral dimension of the Holy Spirit's filling and ministry and its attendant supernatural aspect is described fully here in 2 Peter 1.  

Years ago author Jack Taylor described the Spirit-filled life as the "much more life".  As Peter dsecribes the Spirit-filled Christian in these verses, he is speaking of someone who sees the need to "add" onto their faith.  

Closing thoughts
The hope is that the reader has gotten initiated to this very important and often neglected area of the Spirit-filled Christian life.  The reader is encouraged to look at the passages in today's post to bring into sharper understand this crucial truth for Christian living - the Spirit-filled life. 

The four delights that result from justification by faith alone - Galatians 2:19-21

Galatians 2:20-21 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

Introduction:

In yesterday's post, we considered how the doctrine of justification by faith alone is the Gospel's central jewel. We began by defining it and illustrating it. We then spent some time in Galatians 2:11-15, noting the dangers that occur when denial of this doctrine takes place. As Paul had to confront Peter (Cephas) in these verses, we saw first-hand what Peter experienced before it was all said and done: guilt (2:11); isolation (2:12); fear (2:12); hypocrisy (2:13) and the beginnings of departure from the Gospel itself (2:14-15). Thankfully Peter humbled himself. We know he did by what we read of he and Paul's unity on justification by faith against the legalistic Judiazers and their affirmation of this truth in Acts 15. 

Inasmuch as we are saved by grace alone through faith alone apart from works of the law, we are saved nonetheless unto a faith that works. Following one's justification by faith, the Christian life is accompanied by various delights that stem from justification. Obviously to list all of them would exceed the scope of today's post. However, from Galatians 2:19-21, we can mention four. Today's post aims to briefly consider the delights that follow from justification by faith alone.

1. Justification results in my being able to live for God. Galatians 2:19

2. Justification results in my experiencing life with Christ. Galatians 2:20a

3. Justification results in my experiencing the love of Christ. Galatians 2:20b

4. Justification results in experiencing the permenance of His life and love. Galatians 2:21

These four delightful benefits that result from being justified by faith are experienced in a process we call "sanctification". Justification is certainly the all-encompassing event that occurs when God declares a sinner righteous at saving faith. The position of the sinner is changed to that of a saint. Thankfully, salvation isn't only about one's position. A necessary growing experience with God begins to flow from that particular moment. Justification is the root and sanctification is the stem and flower. Both saving graces are to be distinguished for sure, and yet both cannot and must not be cut off from one another. Furthermore, we musn't confuse justification with sanctification. The delights the flow from justification by faith yield good works. This is Paul's point in bringing out the delights of justification by faith alone.