Christ’s Presence in His Supper
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
5/19/2019 PM
|
Text:
|
John 6;
Lord's Day 29
|
Psalters: |
349, 284, 109, 311 |
- Errant views.
- The church of Rome believes that Christ is physically present in the elements (transubstantiation).
- Martin Luther taught consubstantiation, i.e., that Christ is present by being “in, with, and around” the elements.
- Zwingli taught that the Lord’s Supper is only a feast of remembrance, nothing spiritual, so no presence of Christ in it.
- The Biblical and Reformed position is that Christ is present in the bread and wine spiritually.
- The physical pictures the spiritual. The real and right eating and drinking in the Lord’s Supper is spiritual.
- The spiritual life of the believer requires an outside supply of nourishment - it cannot sustain itself.
- The spiritual longing for Jesus is a hungering and thirsting after righteousness.
- The spiritual food is Jesus Christ, Who is the true meat and drink to life eternal.
- As a believer partakes by faith, he actually receives Jesus Christ; he lays hold on and receives Jesus to himself.
- The reasons for this view.
- The blessedness spiritual nourishment given.
- The believer is a spiritually weary pilgrim when comes to the Table; he is not thinking that he is good enough.
- The normal way the Lord gives spiritual rest is through the lively preaching of God’s Word about Christ and His death.
- Sometimes our faith needs more: a visible demonstration of how we can be and can remain believers.
- The spiritual life of Christ’s people, needs spiritual nourishment (Jesus the Bread and Water of life) to satisfy hungry and thirsty souls (faith which sees Jesus’ life and death).
- By the operation of His Spirit Jesus imparts Himself to the consciousness of the believer exercising faith.
- This is the blessing for every believer who partakes by faith.