TEXT:

SUBJECT: Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper is meant to unite the People of God. It does it by reminding us of things we know very well--but are prone to forget.

The first is we are sinners. "This is the blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins". People who have no sins to remit are not welcome at the Lord's Table. No, this meal is for sinners!

Some of us were brought up in Christian homes, and spared the more vicious sins of the world. We weren't heavy drinkers or drug abusers; we weren't immoral; we didn't curse or lie very often; Atheism never occurred to us. Compared to others, we looked pretty good. But before the LORD, we too are sinners! In His sight, "There is not a just man on earth, who does good and does not sin". To men who were "clean in their own eyes", God said,

"All have sinned and come short

of the glory of God".

To make sure, no one takes "all" in the Calvinistic way, He adds,

"There is none righteous

No not one!"

The best man comes to the Lord's table, unworthy of God's favor, because he, too, is a sinner.

Others were not so blessed. And, without the restraint devout parents provide, they ran into every kind of sin and hurt themselves terribly, and broke many hearts along the way. They too are sinners. And they too are welcome at the Table.

This unites us wonderfully by removing all grounds for contempt and envy. The holiest man cannot despise the weakest brother because both are sinners! For the same reason, the shakiest brother has no cause for envy or resentment. Because "all have sinned", nobody is "better" than he is.

And so, by reminding us of our sins, the Lord's Supper unites the People of God.

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The other way it brings us together is by reminding us that we are forgiven. "This is the blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins".

Jesus Christ has died for His people. He didn't die to set an example for us to follow or to melt our hearts with pity and love. No, He died "the just for the unjust"--to bear the sins we commit and the penalty we deserve.

Does God accept His work on our behalf? The prophet said He would--"He shall see the travail of His soul and be satisfied". The resurrection confirms that He did. The One "delivered for our offenses was also "raised for our justification".

In coming to the Lord's Table, therefore, we recall that we are sinners--but not merely sinners. We are forgiven sinners! The newest convert is no less forgiven than the holiest man in the world. He's no less forgiven that the saints who stand before the Throne of God in heaven! Every believer can sing,

"My sin, O the bliss of that glorious thought;

My sin, not in part, but the whole;

Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more;

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul".

This truth also has a way of uniting us. For it too cuts the legs out from under contempt and envy. I cannot think ill of you because you're as acceptable to God as I am. And for the same reason--

"Christ died for our sins".

We are united in sin. We are united in grace. Let us not come to the Lord's table united in hearts. God give us that unity, for Christ's sake. Amen.