September, 1942 THE K I NG ’S BUS I NESS NOTES on Christian Endeavor
347
Him, and theft had sealed that parch-, ment with His own precious blood (Heb. 9:12). In our consideration of the Old Testament sacrifices, we dis cover that at their best they could but bring to remembrance past sins and failings—they could never do away £with them. But what those sacrifices were unable to do, the blood of Jesus Christ has done once for all (Heb. 9:19-28; 2:9; Rev, 1:5, last-clause). They of old looked- back toward past sin; we by grace look up to Him who shed His blood on Calvary’s cross: "This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” ' 3. Promise of His Return (v. 26). , v And, finally, from verse 26, we see that the Lord Jesus Christ pledges to the children of God His coming again in order that ours might be not only the joy of knowing deliverance from .the penalty of sin, but also the glori ous hope of one day being delivered from the very presence of sin: “Ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.” III. OUR. INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN RE SPONSIBILITY (vs. 27-29). From the foregoing verses, we read- Jily. recognize the fact that the Lord’s Supper was never intended for the unsaved. It was planned by our Lord to be a time of peculiar fellowship be tween Himself and His children: We notice further, however, that lifiked with its observance is a tre mendous warning giveft in verses 28 and 29. As a result of it many of God’s children have stayed away from His table lest they be guilty of par taking “unworthily” (R. V., “in an un-, worthy manner”). It may be uncon fessed sin in their lives that causes them to hesitate; Perchance they are not at peace with some fellow be liever, or the fellowship between them and the Saviour has been severed in yet. another way. Certainly we would not' urge thern to partake under such conditions but would instead praise God for the fact that thé Holy Spirit has been permitted to cast His holy light upon that, hindëring sin. I want to emphasize one further point in closing. When the Lord Jesus instituted the Supper, He gave these words, as a command, “Take,, eat.” In other , words, , it is the Christian’s re sponsibility to partake, but that not without first .of all carefully examin ing himself. This self-examination is not that he, as a result Of that exam ination, might stay, away from the Cojhmunion, but that he might par take worthily and not to his own con demnation. It is a sa’cred sacrament and therefore not to be looked upon lightly, but reverently. None pf us is ever in limself “worthy” to have fel lowship with the Lord Jesus, but when every known sin is confessed gnd the heart is yielded to the Saviour, we can and should partake to Christ’s glory and to our edification.
Th e W r i t e r s
October 4— WILBERT A. REGIER
Mr. Regier (B. Th. ’38), is pastor of the Immanuel Men- nonite Church, Los Angeles, Calif. He has served as pastor counselor' for the Southern "Division of the Los Angeles County Christian Endeavor Union. - Mrs. Neighbour is editor of the Christian Service Quarterly^ a publication for yoOng people, and has served as a speaker at young people’s conferences and Bible conferences in many parts of the world, having traveled widely in missionary lands.’ Serving as pastor’of the Seaside Baptist Church in Long Beach, Calif., Mr. Fussell (B. Th, ’40 at Biola) is also con tinuing his college work and has been assisting with the Bible Discussion Club of the Long Beach Junior College.
October 11— MRg. R. E. NEIGHBOUR
October 18 and 25— GENE W. FUSSELL
OCTOBER 4, 1942 WHEN CHRISTIANS PARTAKE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
to the full knowledge of our blessed Lord. But in spite of that fact, He instituted this rite as a' lasting pledge of His amazing love to His followers, who through faith in His coming death and resurrection should come to taste the glories of His grace. Therefore,' let us never forget that it was one of His final words ere He went forth to suffer the most cruel death ever meted out by man,, and He instituted this Supper that we, might ¿vCr be re minded of what He did for us on Mount Calvary. IL ITS SIGNIFICANCE (vs. 24-26). 1. Broken Bread (v. 24). He gave thanks—yes, even in View of the coming suffering that He was to endure at the hands of those whom He had come to save. “When he had given thanks”—t h e n He broke the bread, saying: “This is my body, which is for you” ;(y. 24, R.V.). His body had to be broken in order that it might be distributed among us, that all might have the privilege to partake by faith. It was for this reason that the Psalm ist so invitingly said: “0 taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Psa. 34:8). And thus it is that we can: have no part of Him nor are we to partake of the Lord’s Supper until we first partake of Him in faith, and accept Him as our Saviour. 2. Pbured-out Blood (v. 25).' “This'cup is the new testament in my blood.” It was as though the .Lord Jesus had taken a parchment deed oh which He had written all the blessings that should be ours now and here after, blessings to be found only in
1 C orinthians i 1:23-29 t By Wilbert A. Regier Introduction
The subject of this week's lesson is a very important one, and every one who professes the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ should in a spe cial way recognize the ground on which he stands to be holy ground. Let us quietly ask the Holy' Spirit to prepare our hearts and minds in order that our consideration of this topic shall truly serve to our spiritual profit. For Those Who Have Topics I. ITS INSTITUTION (y. 23).. We attach much value to the clos ing words, and final deeds of one whose lips have been closed in death, particularly so. if those words are in the form of a command. This should, even in a greater sense,’be trtre of us in reference t o ‘the»Lord Jesus Christ, for I want us to notice the time ele ment in connection with the Lord’s Supper. “The Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread.” First of all, the Lord’s Supper was not an afterthought of man in which he sought to set up a memorial to the. Lord Jesus Christ. No! the Lord Jesusj Himself was responsible for its insti tution, and ’that on the very night in which He w a s betrayed. In other words, thq traitor was at the table during the inception of this custom,-
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