“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Mt. 26:28). When Jesus gave us this meal, He invited us to see in it the forgiveness of our sins. But Christ did not die merely so that you would carry on in your sins but always have a get-out-of-jail-free card. Jesus died so that your sins might be eradicated. When Jesus healed the lame man, He said, “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house” (Mt. 9:8-7).
This means that the forgiveness of Christ does not leave you in your sin. If you come to church and say the words please forgive me, and then walk out of here and carry on in exactly the same manner, you were not forgiven. And the reason is that you did not really want to be forgiven. This doesn’t mean that you can never commit the same sin twice. When you have been truly forgiven, you certainly can stumble into the same sin again, but it will be after a period of freedom, or it will be through a different line of attack. But many Christians play games with God. They say the words, but they do not really mean them. They want fake forgiveness not real repentance.
But your forgiveness was purchased by the sufferings of Christ. He paid for your sins. He was mocked, scourged, spat on, and a crown of thorns was hammered onto His head, so that your sin might be crucified in Him and you might take up your bed and walk away in holiness.
That is what is on offer here. If you think about how deep a grip some sins seem to have on you, you should realize that Christian repentance is not possible for us to do on our own. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil” (Jer. 13:23). But that is what is on offer here – not mechanically, not superstitiously, but truly and spiritually, by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Do you want to change? Then come, eat and drink, asking Jesus for the power to change. Do you want the power to walk in obedience? He is the One with the power to say, take up your bed and walk.
So, come in faith, and come and welcome to Jesus Christ.
Photo by Steven Coffey on Unsplash
elizabeth says
Do you want to change? Then come, eat and drink, asking Jesus for the power to change. Do you want the power to walk in obedience? He is the One with the power to say, take up your bed and walk.
So, come in faith, and come and welcome to Jesus Christ.
exactly!!!