Speaker: Mike Filippi
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We take a full service to look deeply into the meaning, history and depth of the Lord's Supper. This is a wonderful and powerful service where God moves among us and upon us in a deep and profound way. We tie communion in with Adam and Eve, Passover, the Cross, the Last Supper and the Communion dinner we find in the Gospels and in 1st Corinthians 11.
We look at 25 verses that tell us who we are in Christ and what communion is and why we do it. I hope it allows you to see this wonderful practice with new eyes and deeper understanding and appreciation.
Romans 5:8 "...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
At the cross the veil in the temple was ripped in two in the Holy place granting us entrance and access to the Holy of Holies (Matthew 27:51). By His GRACE.
Passover was an early preview of the Cross and God's amazing grace. The blood of the lamb on the door post(Exodus 12:13-28) kept the death angle away and now the blood of Christ covers us (Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 10:19; 1John 1:7) and keeps death away, even though the enemy roams around seeking who he can devour. In Christ we are "un-devourable" (1 Peter 5:8).
In Christ, we are set free from sin, death and bondage (Romans 8:1-2) just as the children of Israel were released from Pharaoh's hand free to leave the land of bondage to enter the land of promise and blessing.
We can now enter the Holy of Holies (Matthew 27:51) and experience the mercy of God by His grace (Hebrews 10:19-22). Mercy covers the Law (James 2:13; as seen in the Arch of the Covenant.
We can now celebrate communion and the fact that our sin is separated from us as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12). Romans 8:33-34 tells us that it is God who justifies us by Christ's death, burial and resurrection and now he intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father. Who can condemn us? No one (Romans 8:1)
We are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) the old has gone away. So I will continue to remind you of what you already know - over and over and over! (2 Peter 1:12-18)
During communion we are to search our hearts to be sure that we are remembering Jesus and the Body of Christ - the Church - and to be sure that we are, in fact, IN CHRIST. Otherwise we are at great risk of being condemned with the world and may end up weak, sick or even dead, without Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:27-32)
Therefore walk out your new identity. Live in keeping with who you really are. (Philippians 2:12-13) Unless you are just faking it and being "religious". (Matthew 7:21-23)
Have you let Jesus into your life, your heart. Have you received Him and trusted in His word and His love? (John 1:12-13; 3:16)
Without Jesus in your life you are just religious, without the Holy Spirit and without transformational power (Romans 8:9). Good luck with that. It's a heartbreaking dead end that leaves you miserable, broken and empty. Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. (Acts 16:31; John 1:12)