arunangelo
Newbie
Offline
Posts: 49
I'm a llama!
|
|
« on: April 30, 2005, 11:19:00 PM » |
|
Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World (John 1:29). He is the new Passover lamb whose sacrificial flesh and blood brings us forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:27-28). Therefore, unless we eat His flesh and drink his blood, we would not have life within us (John 6:53). By His sacrificial flesh and blood He sealed God’s new and ever-lasting covenant with us (Luke 22:19-20). In His old covenant God wrote His words (Exodus 20) on stony tablets. The people were to follow the written words and prosper. In the new Covenant, God became flesh and sacrificed His life to save us from sin (Matthew 26:27-28). Furthermore, He feeds us with His sacrificial flesh and blood so that we may have Eternal Life (John 6:54). Because of His life in us, His Words are imprinted on our hearts. This makes God present with His people (Rev 21:3). In addition, it is continually being made present to us through the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. This fulfills Jesus’ request, (Luke 22:19) to do this in remembrance of Him (which is, make it ever present in Greek). This celebration is the wedding feast of the Lamb (Revelation 5:6) in which Christ unites with His people. Due to our imperfect state we do not see and feel the full glory of this union. However, when we are completely freed from the effects of sin we will see its glory. This celebration fulfills what Malachi had prophesized (Malachi 1:11): “from the rising of the sun even to the going down, My name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to My name a clean oblation”. By partaking in this meal we establish a communion of life with Christ (John 6:56). Because Christ is one, those who receive Him, therefore, share a common meal. This brings unity among believers (1 Cor. 10:16-17), which Jesus desired very much (John 17:21). In 1Cor. 10:16-17 Paul tells us: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we partake of one loaf. Christians therefore, have celebrated this supper from the very beginning of Christianity (1 Corinthians 11:26-29, Act 2:46, 20:7 &11 and 27:35) and considered themselves very blessed for having the opportunity to celebrate it (Rev. 19:9).
|