SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
Members of Hope Reformed Church:
The Good Lord willing, this Sunday, December 1, 2024, we will celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. In order to prepare our hearts to receive this Holy Supper in a God-glorifying manner and for our spiritual benefit, please take time to read the form below and meditate upon the Scripture references listed, and examine your heart regarding this matter as to whether you truly believe God’s precious promise of forgiveness and righteousness in Jesus Christ.
A true examination of ourselves consists in these three parts:
1. Let everyone consider by himself his sins and accursedness apart from Jesus Christ, so that he may be displeased with himself and humble himself in the presence of God.
2. Let everyone examine his heart as to whether he truly believes this certain promise of God that all his sins are forgiven only for the sake of Jesus Christ.
3. Let everyone search his conscience whether he is determined to show his gratitude to God the Lord all the days of his life by walking uprightly before Him.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor S. Henry
THE LORD'S SUPPER
Beloved in the Lord Jesus: Listen to the words of the institution of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. “The Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”
The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Until His coming again it is to be observed as a continuing remembrance of the sacrifice of Himself in His death. The physical elements of bread and wine, representing the broken body and the shed blood of the Savior, are received by true believers as signs and seals of all the benefits of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. They signify and seal the remission of sins and nourishment and growth in Christ, and are a bond and pledge of the communion of believers with Him and with each other as members of His spiritual body, the Church. As signs and seals of the covenant of grace they not only declare that God is faithful and true to fulfill the promise of the covenant, but they also summon us to all the duties of the children of God, and call us to renewed consecration in gratitude for His salvation.
In order that we may celebrate the Lord’s Supper to our comfort, it is first necessary that we properly examine ourselves. A true examination of ourselves consists in these three parts: First, let everyone consider by himself his sins and accursedness apart from Jesus Christ, so that he may be displeased with himself and humble himself in the presence of God. Second, let everyone examine his heart as to whether he truly believes this certain promise of God that all his sins are forgiven only for the sake of Jesus Christ. Third, let everyone search his conscience whether he is determined to show his gratitude to God the Lord all the days of his life by walking uprightly before Him.
It is the solemn duty of the Minister of the Word to warn the uninstructed, the profane, the scandalous, and those who secretly and unrepentantly live in any sin, not to approach the holy table, where they would partake unworthily, not discerning the Lord’s body, and so eat and drink judgment to themselves. Nevertheless, this warning is not designed to keep the humble and contrite from the table of the Lord, as if the supper were for those who might be free from sin. On the contrary, we who are invited to the supper, come as guilty and polluted sinners who are without hope of eternal life apart from the grace of God in Christ. We confess our dependence for pardon and cleansing upon the perfect sacrifice of Christ; we base our hope of eternal life upon His perfect obedience and righteousness; and we humbly resolve to deny ourselves, crucify our old nature, and follow Christ as becomes those who bear His name.
—The RCUS Directory of Worship, pg. 33-35
Take time to read the following texts: Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34
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HE BORE OUR SINS
“…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
—1 Peter 2:24-25
IN OUR TEXT, the Apostle Peter teaches every believer that Jesus Christ “bore our sins in His own body on the tree.” On the cross, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” so that all who trust in Him would never have to utter that phrase. Jesus willingly suffered being forsaken by God so that all who trust in Him would never be forsaken by God. Jesus allowed the darkness of Hell to enclose Him because He refused to allow that darkness to enclose “the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand” (Psalm 95:7). Jesus is the Good Shepherd who drank the cup of God’s infinite, eternal wrath as a Substitute for His people so that we might be called the children of the living God! (1 John 3:1). The price for our redemption from the bondage of Satan, sin, and the wrath of God was the blood of the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, the only One who knew no sin, yet “He became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
THE SECOND MEMBER of the Godhead took upon Himself human nature so that He could be our Substitute and become a curse for us (Gal. 3:13), so that God’s wrath, which was rightly due to each of us, was applied to Jesus our Redeemer. Do you realize that Christ became a curse for a multitude of sinners from every tribe, tongue, and nation, which no man could number? It’s beyond our comprehension to understand the infinite price Jesus Christ paid for our redemption. Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Does your faith rest solely and completely upon Jesus Christ as your only Substitute before God? It’s only by trusting in the person and work of Jesus Christ that a sinner can enter a covenant of everlasting peace with the true and living God.
Tuesday Encouragement: November 26, 2024
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
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A WEAK CHRISTIAN'S SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER
My Father and My God,
Thank You for saving me from all my sin, guilt, misery, and the Hell that I have merited. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for living and dying in my place so that I might be granted everlasting life. Thank You for perfectly fulfilling the Covenant of Works in my place. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for dying on the cross to satisfy the justice of God against my sins. Thank You for turning away God's wrath from me by absorbing it all in Your own body and soul on the Cross. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being forsaken in my place so that I might never be forsaken by God. Lord Jesus, You were condemned in my place so that I might sing, "There is therefore no condemnation for those in Christ!"
Holy Spirit, thank You for infusing true faith into my soul by Your Word and Power. Thank you for enabling me to believe the Gospel and trust Jesus as my Redeemer! Thank You, Father, for Your forgiveness of my sins! Thank You that when I confess my sins to You that You are faithful and just to forgive and cleanse from unrighteousness. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your kindness, mercy, grace, love, and compassion to such a weak, sinful, frail, and fragile vessel as I.
Sovereign God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, I do love You because You first loved me. You have implanted Your love in my heart. Yet, my love for You and for others is not what it ought to be. I daily fail to love You with my whole heart! I fail miserably! Daily I have sinful thoughts, words, and actions! Of myself, I am unworthy to stand in Your presence and unworthy of the least of Your blessings and truth. But praise Jesus that He never failed to love You, O Father, with His whole heart, soul, mind, and strength on my behalf and that of all His people.
And so, by faith in Jesus, which brings me into union with Him and all His merits and benefits, I stand before You covered and clothed in the righteousness of Christ. What Amazing grace of Jesus that saved a wretch like me! O God, increase my love for You! I once was lost but Jesus found me, I was blind but Jesus gave me sight! Oh, how I love Jesus!
Heavenly Father, I need Your constant forgiveness as I have not
reflected Your glory as I ought! I need Your continual abiding presence and Your face shining upon me lest I slip into despair, discouragement, or depression. I feel myself weak and sinful and that I need You every moment of every day! Strengthen and increase my faith! "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!" Revive me again, O Lord, to serve You with zeal and vigor all the days of my life. Humble me when I walk in obedience, discipline me as Your child when I disobey.
Bless the worship of Your people this Lord's Day. Bless the preaching of Your Word so that Christ increases and the preacher decreases! Bring honor, glory, and praise to Yourself through the proclamation of Your Word. Regenerate sinners, sanctify saints, all for the glory of the great Redeemer, Jesus Christ. In this, Heavenly Father, You are well pleased. For when the Son is honored the Father is honored as well.
I ask all these things in Jesus' name!
Amen!
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