For Points To Remember - Part 2 of 2
III. THE LORD’S SUPPER
“As we receive the bread and wine symbolizing Christ’s broken body and spilled blood, we in imagination join in the scene of Communion in the upper chamber. We seem to be passing through the garden consecrated by the agony of Him who bore the sins of the world. We witness the struggle by which our reconciliation with God was obtained. Christ is set forth crucified among us” (Ellen G. White, Counsels for the Church, 301).
1. The Origin of the Lord’s Supper
(1) Inaugurated by Jesus (Matt. 26:19-30).
(2) The counsel to “remember” the cost of salvation (1 Cor. 15:2-4).
(3) The Passover foreshadowed Christ’s death (Ex. 12:14; cf. 1 Cor. 5:7).
(4) The Passover was commemorative and typical (1 Pet. 1:9-11).
(a) Commemorative: pointed back to Israel’s deliverance from bondage.
(b) Typical: pointed forward to Christ’s deliverance of man’s sin (Luke 22:19).
(5) The Passover was celebrated on the evening of Israel’s deliverance.
The Lord’s Supper celebrated on the evening before Christ’s death.
2. The Elements of the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 26:26-28).
(1) Unleavened bread: “leaven” symbolizes sin which is put away by those who receive Christ. He is the “bread of life” (John 6:35, 48) in Whom was no sin.
(2) Unfermented wine: symbolizes the blood of Christ (John 6:53, 54, 65). When man partakes he shares His sufferings (Mark 10:39; 13:9; 12, 13).
3. The Significance of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:26, 29).
Note: There is no literal bodily presence of Christ in the sacraments (Heb. 10:10).
(1) It is a commemoration of the past—“the Lord’s Death.”
(2) It is a proclamation to the present—“as often as.”
(3) It is a prediction of the future—“till He comes” (Matt. 26:29).
“And thus that dark betrayal night with the last advent we unite by one bright chain of loving rite until He come!” –Anonymous.
4. The Preparation for the Lord’s Supper (John 13:1-17).
(1) Self-examination is to precede this celebration (1 Cor. 11:26).
(2) The sins of selfishness and pride characterize the last days (2 Tim. 3:2).
(3) Christ denounced these sins (Matt. 23:8-12; cf. Luke 22:24-26).
(4) Humility is the test of discipleship (John 13:34, 35).
(a) Hindrances to humility (1 Pet. 5:5).
(b) The nature of humility—meekness and lowliness (Matt. 5:5; James 3:13).
(c) The practical manifestation of humility (John 13:3-5).
(5) Appropriately, Christians will follow Jesus’ example (John 13:14, 15).
(6) Foot-washing is a symbol of a higher cleansing (John 15:3; Titus 3:5).
(7) The key to happiness (John 13:17; cf. Gal. 5:13).
“This ordinance is Christ’s appointed preparation for the sacramental
service. While pride, variance, and strife for supremacy are cherished,
the heart cannot enter into fellowship with Christ. We are not prepared to
receive the communion of His body and blood” (Ellen G. White, The Desire
of Ages, 650).
IV. THE UNPARDONABLE SIN
“One sinful desire, persistently cherished, will eventually neutralize all the power of the Gospel” (Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, 38).
There are 3 ways that human destiny can be sealed for eternity:
(1) Death:
(a) There is no second chance after death (Is. 38:18; Ex. 33:7-9, 14-16).
(b)Death is followed by judgment (Heb. 9:28).
(2) The Close of Human Probation (Rev. 22:11, 12; cf. Heb. 2:1-3):
(a) Jesus intercedes on man’s behalf now (Heb. 4:14-16).
(b)At that time Jesus will no longer be man’s mediator (Rev. 15:5, 8; cf. 8:1).
(c) The tragedy of the shut door (Luke 13:24-28).
(3) The Unpardonable sin:
(a) John warned of a “sin unto death” which forfeits eternal life (1 John 5:16).
“It is a state of soul in which faith, love and hope, in short, the new life, is extinguished. The chief commandment is faith and love. Therefore, the chief sin is that by which faith and love are destroyed.”—Bengal
(b) David prayed to be innocent of this sin (Ps. 19:13).
(c) God’s mercy has its limits (Gen. 6:3).
(d) The unpardonable sin is sin unconfessed (1 John 1:9).
(e) Jesus warned of this sin (Matt. 12:31-32).
1. The Relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Unpardonable Sin
(1) The Holy Spirit convicts of sin (John 16:8, 9).
(2) The Holy Spirit creates the new birth (John 3:5).
(3) The Holy Spirit intercedes for man (Rom. 8:26).
(4) The Holy Spirit seals human destiny (Eph. 4:30).
The unpardonable sin is a rejection of the Holy Spirit’s work without which man has no access to Christ. To resist the Holy Spirit is to reject Jesus and thus preclude salvation.
(1) His work can be resisted (1 Thess. 5:19; Heb. 10:26).
(2) Resistance leads to a calloused conscience (1 Tim. 4:1, 2).
2. Manifest examples of those who committed the Unpardonable Sin
(1) Open defiance to God, His Word, and His servants (Dan. 5:23-31).
(2) Broken promises made to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-10).
(3) The sacrilege of claiming things that do not rightfully belong to us (Josh. 7:24-26).
(4) Betraying Christ (Luke 22:48).
(5) Self-glorification (Acts 12:22, 23).
(6) Undermining confidence in leadership ordained of God (1 Cor. 10:6-11).
(7) The persistent rejection of revealed truth (Matt. 13:15; cf. John 9:41).
3. The Way to Avoid Committing the Unpardonable Sin
(1) Accept the provisions of grace (Is. 55:6, 7; Heb. 3:7).
(2) Obey the requirements of God (Matt. 7:21; Rev. 22:14; cf. John 12:35; Gal. 5:16).
(3) Believe that God desires the salvation of all mankind (2 Pet. 3:9).
“Mercy is like the rainbow which God hath set in the clouds; it never shines
after it is night. If we refuse mercy here, we shall have justice in eternity.”—
Jeremy Taylor
Rex D. Edwards is a former vice president for religious studies, Griggs University