Grace and Truth
Bible Ministries

Celebration of the Lord's Table and a short continuation of our ongoing study


In our current study we have seen from examining the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened bread the symbols that God gave Israel in their ritual plan that revealed to them what they need to know about the Messiah.

Doctrines that include the innocence and impeccability of the Lamb and the deliverance what was provided by God because of the sacrifice of the Lamb.

All of the OT rituals were fulfilled in TLJC who was appointed by God from eternity past to be "the lamb who takes away the sins of the whole world" who was the real substitute.

Because of his impeccability he was qualified to perform the work on the Cross that we celebrate in the Lord's table and he is presently seated at the right hand of the Father. Heb 12:2;

The ritual of the Lord's table was part of the mystery doctrine of the church that was inaugurated by TLJC as the only ritual of Church Age as part of the new covenant to the Church the evening before his crucifixion. Luke 22:14-20;

By suffering the death of the cross he was obedient to the Father's plan Phil 2:8; that resulted in his humanity being exalted above every created being, such that, every created being will ultimately bow down to him. Phil 2:9-10;

He completely and perfectly fulfilled the directive will of the Father by unilaterally providing a way of salvation for all men. Rom 5:8; as the "lamb slain from the foundation of the world" Rev 13:8; KJV John 1:29;

While we were enemies of God, God demonstrated his love for us by giving his uniquely born Son "monogenes" John 3:16

As a result, God is free to reconcile us in our fallen state of depravity without compromising his perfect righteousness and justice. because TLJC willingly laid down his life for us as our substitute. John 15:13 ; 1John 3:16

This is why believing in TLJC is the only way to a relationship with God John 14:6 , salvation Acts 4:12 and eternal life John 3:16;

Anyone can appropriate this Grace gift of salvation which is secured by the Power of God John 10:26-29; simply by believing in TLJC 1Cor 15:3-4 in the same way that Paul and Silas instructed the Philippian Jailer who asked "what Must I do to be saved?"

Their response recorded In Acts 16:31

Anyone, any time, anywhere can become saved in a moment in time simply by believing in TLJC privately in their thoughts only.

TLJC left his friends, the members of The Royal Family of God, this one and only ritual in the church age The Lord's table which we are mandated to observe in remembrance of Him.

The mandate is found in 1Cor 11:24; in the second person plural present active imperative of the Greek word " poieo" that where Paul references TLJC's own instruction found in Luke 22:19-20;

An expanded translation of 1Cor 11:24 taking into consideration the tense mood and voice of "poieo" would be " Keep on doing this in remembrance of me"

As a result of this mandate, the Lord's Table is one and only ritual of the Church Age and it is a test of our capacity to concentrate on our Lord Jesus Christ through the Bible Doctrine that is resident in our soul as we partake of the elements that represent his work on our behalf.

We have these instructions for partaking of the Lord's table from the Apostle Paul starting in verse 26 of 1Cor 11.

1Cor 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.
30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.
31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.

We understand from this that we are to evaluate ourselves in the light of the word, privately in our thinking, in the privacy of our priesthood, and when we find we are outside of the word, we apply the first problem solving device, and simply acknowledge the sin as described in 1 John 1:9




If we acknowledge our sins he is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.


Having examined ourselves, and taken appropriate action, We are then instructed to partake of the elements, the bread and the cup.


The bread which represents his body in which he bore the sins and the judgment for our sins and the sins of the whole world, past present and future.


1Cor 11:23 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;
1Cor 11:24 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.

eat the bread

The cup which represents his substitutionary spiritual death on the cross which purchased the freedom from spiritual death and eternal condemnation of everyone who believes in him.

1Cor 11:25 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.

drink cup


We are continuing in our study where we are discussing the relationship between the Jewish Feasts and the events of the First Advent of TLJC that launched the church age.

We have seen that the Jewish Feasts that relate to the events of the First Advent of TLJC are Passover, Unleavened Bread: First Fruits and Pentecost, the day that the Holy Spirit was sent to indwell and fill believers universally providing the power for unique spiritual life for believers in the church age.

We have seen that the model and precedence for this unique spiritual life was established by TLJC during his life on this earth in unglorified humanity at the beginning of the hypostatic union. Heb 10:5; Heb 12:2a;

At Pentecost God launched the church age and in view of this at this point in our study, we are briefly contrasting Israel and the Church.

Last time we ended with the idea that the Church was a mystery not revealed in the Old Testament scriptures. However the purposes of Israel are revealed there with great detail.

Eph 3:3-5; states concerning this mystery, "Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit."

The nature of that mystery is stated in Eph 3:6; "that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel"

This of course is because all who are "in Christ" are made into a new spiritual species. 2Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15; From God's perspective, church age believers no longer identified from their first birth, they are identified from their second birth.

The Old Testament scriptures give much information on the death of Christ, his resurrection, and many other factors, but no information is given regarding His unique relationship with the Church.

There are Saints in the Old Testament, but no universal community of believers, the Church, is revealed exclusively in the New Testament.

God's purpose for Israel is very clear. They are to keep their national identity; their blessings and cursings center around the land, their descendants, and they were to hold to the truths that pointed to TLJC.

This leads to another distinction between the church and Israel... worship.

Israel was authorized to worship only in one place, initially the tabernacle, and later the temple in Jerusalem, on specific days as recorded in Lev 23; the Church on the otherhand is authorized to worship at any time. Col 2:16-17;

Lev 17:8,9 indicates that it is "the door of the tent of meeting" that is the authorized place for worship for Israel, whereas Matt 18:20; says that , "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

The Lord told the Samaritan woman in John 4:21-24; that this change would occur.

Worship in Israel involved ritual and externals such as the sacrificing of animals, the washing of garments, and the prohibition against touching things that were ritually unclean.

The worship of the Church emphasizes the inner man, the thinking, Heb 13:15; "Through him let us continually offer up the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to his name."

We see from this that the Church contrasts greatly with Israel in regard to protocol for the spiritual life.

The Mosaic law had its glory. It spelled out God's high and holy standard and His hatred of sin. It pointed out that man could never attain God's standard, and that mankind was a sinner.

It indicated through type or shadow that the Israelites were in need of a savior, the Messiah who would come at a future time. It also laid down rules for diet, for stability in daily life, and conduct.

However, when Jesus Christ came to the earth in his unglorified humanity, He fulfilled the law by keeping every portion of it. He did this by being obedient to the Father, under the sustaining ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Now, in the Church Age we live under that higher law, Rom 8:2; "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus."

When we walk in fellowship with the Lord we fulfill the righteous demands of the law. The emphasis is now on a "walk by the Spirit." Gal 5:16;

The removal of the Church on earth to their heavenly blessings at the exit resurrection or Rapture is in contrast to the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel that begin on the earth at the second advent of TLJC.

When the church is completed it is caught up to meet the Lord in the air. 1 Thes 4:13-18;

 

© Copyright 2007, Michael Lemmon Bible Ministries. World Rights Reserved.  This document was created on 6/28/2009