Spiritual Observance of the Lord’s Supper
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 9/17/2017 AM |
Text: | II Corinthians 13; Lord's Day 30 |
Psalters: | 401, 324, 233, 187 |
- A spiritual presence.
- We reject any concept of Christ’s presence being physical.
- The Biblical and Reformed understanding of Christ’s presence in the Supper is that He is present only in a spiritual sense.
- First, Jesus is locally in heaven, no longer on the earth; so He can be only represented in the Supper in a spiritual sense.
- It is in this way that we show (demonstrate) the Lord’s death (as the way to salvation) until He returns.
- The administration of the sacrament must be spiritual. It is in three ways.
- Spiritual administration means: Jesus is seen as the Host, who is represented in the elders.
- Second, spiritual administration requires the preaching which displays the Jesus and the death He died.
- Third, spiritual administration requires that the Lord’s Table be guarded.
- Spiritual partaking requires the exercise of active faith.
- Proper receiving and eating of the elements requires a soul seeking and finding forgiveness in Jesus.
- Sincere faith has godly sorrow for sinning against the holy God (not questioning whether deep enough).
- Sincere faith trusts the suffering and death of Jesus to have fully covered all our sins and sinfulness (Heb. 7:27).
- Sincere faith includes the grateful resolution to live to His glory and to love my brothers in Christ.
- There are three kinds of improper partakers, who ought to keep themselves from the Table.
- When we sincerely partake by faith, then blessings result for the believers and for the church.
- The Supper gives assurance that full salvation is given to those who believe.
- Our faith is stimulated to greater hunger and thirst after Christ.
- Through the exercise of our faith the spiritual life of the church and of individual believers is strengthened in our love of God.
- Proper receiving and eating of the elements requires a soul seeking and finding forgiveness in Jesus.