Taking Part In The Lord's Table - Zac Poonen
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Summary
The sermon discusses the Lord's Supper, emphasizing that participating in it requires understanding the spiritual meaning of the bread and cup. The speaker stresses that the New Covenant, symbolized by Christ's blood, requires a commitment to overcome sin, not merely acknowledging past failures. A key warning is given regarding taking part in the meal in an 'unworthy manner,' which the speaker contrasts with accidental sin, pointing to Judas Iscariot as an example of deliberate betrayal.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
What does it mean to remember Jesus at the Lord's table?Paul received a spiritual revelation of the last supper directly from the Lord, emphasizing that when we break bread, we come together to consciously remember Jesus and receive from him.1 Corinthians 11:23
The new covenant and our attitude toward sinUnlike the old covenant where animal sacrifices left people with an attitude of recurring defeat in sin, the new covenant gives believers a new attitude and power to overcome.
Three vital accomplishments of the crossWhen we come to the Lord's table, we must remember three things Jesus did on the cross: he died for the forgiveness of our sins, crucified our old man so we are no longer slaves to sin, and defeated Satan.
What does it mean to eat and drink in an unworthy manner?Paul issues a warning about taking part in the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner, which makes a person guilty of the body and blood of the Lord just like the soldiers who crucified him.
Judas Iscariot versus PeterWhile all believers are unworthy, taking part unworthily is illustrated by Judas's planned betrayal rather than Peter's accidental fall out of fear and weakness.
The guilt of deliberate and planned sinThere is a major difference between accidentally slipping up in a moment of pressure and harboring deliberate, unrepentant sin while still taking part in the breaking of bread.
Why everyone must examine himselfBecause elders cannot know private lives, each believer is commanded to honestly judge and examine themselves before eating the bread and drinking the cup.
Discerning the local body of ChristFailing to judge ourselves rightly brings judgment, not only regarding Christ's physical body on the cross, but also regarding our commitment to the spiritual body of believers sitting around us.
Physical weakness and discipline from the LordIn the Corinthian church, many were weak, sick, or died because they took the breaking of bread lightly, showing that God's discipline acts to save us from being condemned with the world.
