Abounding Grace: Belonging, Proclaim the Lord's Death

This week we will continue to consider how the Lord’s Table communicates that we belong to God. If you have ever watched The Office, in one episode the character Michael Scott is deep in debt. He learns that he can be freed from his debt by declaring bankruptcy. So, in classic form, Michael walks in the Dunder Mifflin office and says, “I declare bankruptcy.” What happens? Well, nothing because as he learns, declaring something doesn’t make it a reality.

In our text, 1 Corinthians 11:26, the Apostle Paul urges regular participation in the Lord’s Table as a declaration of the Lord’s death. Partaking of the meal doesn’t create a reality, it declares a reality. Proclaiming the Lord’s death reminds us of why we have a seat at God’s family meal. Put simply, we sit at the Lord’s Table in fellowship with God because Jesus took our judgment upon himself. The bread and wine symbolize God’s pledge to forgive our sins through Jesus’ sacrifice.  

Our souls need to see, touch, and hear this reality regularly (some would argue weekly). Our place at God’s table has nothing to do with us. Our righteous choices, our sacrifices, our good works, even our devotional intimacy (piety), while meaningful, are not the basis for our seat at the table. It is all of Christ. God sent his Son to redeem us through his obedience unto death, raising him in life, so that we might have a right to his table.

Join us Sunday as we consider this reality and declare together, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,” 1 Corinthians 15:3,4.