Class Notes: 1/2/2011

The Celebration of the Lord's Table; The Integrity of God cont....

It is always appropriate to celebrate our Lord through the Lords' table, but since we recently we celebrated God sending his Son and his Son humbling himself to actually become a human being and come into the devil's world to redeem mankind it seems to have even greater significance.

When we celebrate the ritual of the Lord's table that is part of the mystery doctrine of the church that was inaugurated by TLJC as the only ritual of Church Age as part of the new covenant to the Church the evening before his crucifixion we are expressing our reciprocal love for Him. Luke 22:19,

By suffering the death of the cross he was obedient to the Father's plan Phil 2:8; that resulted in his humanity being exalted above every created being, such that, every created being will ultimately bow down to him. Phil 2:9-10;

He completely and perfectly fulfilled the directive will of the Father by unilaterally providing a way of salvation for all men. Rom 5:8; as the "lamb slain from the foundation of the world" Rev 13:8; KJV John 1:29;

While we were enemies of God, God demonstrated his love for us by giving his uniquely born Son "monogenes" who entered the world through the virgin birth. John 3:16

As a result, God is free to reconcile mankind from their fallen state of depravity without compromising his perfect righteousness and justice because TLJC willingly laid down his life for us as our substitute. John 15:13; 1John 3:16

This is why believing in TLJC is the only way to a relationship with God John 14:6, salvation Acts 4:12 and eternal life John 3:16;

Anyone can appropriate this Grace gift of salvation which is secured by the Power of God John 10:26-29; simply by believing in TLJC 1Cor 15:3-4 in the same way that Paul and Silas instructed the Philippian Jailer who asked "what Must I do to be saved?"

Their response recorded In Acts 16:31

Anyone, any time, anywhere can become saved in a moment in time simply by believing in TLJC privately in their thoughts only.

TLJC left his friends, the members of The Royal Family of God, this one and only ritual in the church age The Lord's table which we are mandated to observe in remembrance of Him.

The mandate is found in 1Cor 11:24; in the second person plural present active imperative of the Greek word " poieo" that where Paul references TLJC's own instruction found in Luke 22:19-20;

An expanded translation of 1Cor 11:24 taking into consideration the tense mood and voice of "poieo" would be " Keep on doing this in remembrance of me"

As a result of this mandate, the Lord's Table is one and only ritual of the Church Age and it is a test of our capacity to concentrate on our Lord Jesus Christ through the Bible Doctrine that is resident in our soul as we partake of the elements that represent his work on our behalf.

We have these instructions for partaking of the Lord's table from the Apostle Paul starting in verse 26 of 1Cor 11.

1Cor 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.
30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.
31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.

We understand from this that we are to evaluate ourselves in the light of the word, privately in our thinking, in the privacy of our priesthood, and when we find we are outside of the word, we apply the first problem solving device, and simply acknowledge the sin as described in 1 John 1:9;

If we acknowledge our sins he is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Having examined ourselves, and taken appropriate action, We are then instructed to partake of the elements, the bread and the cup.

The bread which represents his body in which he bore the sins and the judgment for our sins and the sins of the whole world, past present and future.

1Cor 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;
1Cor 11:24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.

eat the bread

The cup which represents his substitutionary spiritual death on the cross which purchased the freedom from spiritual death and eternal condemnation of everyone who believes in him.

1Cor 11:25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper saying This cup is the new covenant in my Blood do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.

drink cup

In our study of the doctrine of the integrity of God when we left off we were discussing the principle that Grace is and has to be the policy of God toward mankind.

We saw that this policy is stated in 2Cor 13:14; "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ...", grace is a part of the nomenclature of harmonious rapport with God as the principle for the spiritual life of the Church Age. Titus 2:11-12;

Grace belongs to both the deity of Christ as a divine attribute and to the humanity of Christ as the pioneer and perfecter of the spiritual life. Heb 12:2;

Grace is identified with God as a part of the integrity of God; Rom 5:15; 1Cor 1:4; 1Cor 15:10; 2Cor 6:1; 2Cor 8:1; Eph 3:2;7.

God's policy of Grace has existed from eternity past because the Jesus' work on the cross was always in view. Rev 13:8; KJV

The part of the Divine essence and integrity of God that is called "Holiness" is composed of perfect righteousness and justice and love. Perfect righteousness is the principle of integrity and justice is the function.

All of God's grace is based on His integrity. God's perfect righteousness is the foundation and the support for the function of the grace of God. There is no function of grace that violates the integrity of God or contradicts the righteousness of God.

This means that God's policy of grace that is extended through his love never changes. It is always fixed in his perfect righteousness and justice.

Salvation by grace through faith alone in TLJC alone is based on the function of the righteousness and justice of God in judging our sins in Christ on the Cross. 2Cor 5:21;

The spiritual life of grace is made possible because the righteousness and justice of God in being faithful to forgive our sins and purify us from wrong doing. 1John 1:9;

Psa 111:1-4;7-8;10 describe the integrity of God. "Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; In the company of the upright and in the assembly.

v2 Great the works of the Lord; Studied by all who have pleasure in them.

v3 Majesty and honor His work; And His righteousness endures forever.

v4 A memorial He has made to His wonderful works; The Lord is gracious and compassionate."

Psa 111:7-8; "The works of His hands are truth and justice; All His precepts are sure. They are consecrated forever and ever; They are performed in truth and integrity."

Psa 111:10; "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever."

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