grace

Lord’s Supper: What Does It Mean To Eat Unworthily?

/ Lee A. Robinson / Leave a comment

There is an aspect of the Lord’s Supper that I think needs some clarification. The part I am referring to is the idea of partaking of the Lord’s Supper “unworthily.” What exactly did Paul have in mind when he said, “whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord?” (1 Cor. 11:27). I have had people come to me with deep concern about whether they should partake of the Lord’s Supper on certain occasions, fearing that they would be partaking “unworthily,” because they had a struggle with some sin in their life. This is a legitimate concern. Who wants to engage in a holy ceremony in an unholy way, be “guilty of the body and blood of the Lord,” and “drink damnation upon himself!?” I think I can see at least a part of the reason why the average church goer feels this way…

Typically, the pastor stands before his congregation (I’m coming at this from a Baptist background, where the Lord’s Supper occurs once a month or so and fills up the good part of a whole service) and rightly encourages his parishioners to “examine” themselves to make sure their life is order before God and that they are “worthy” to partake. The pastor soberly recommends this, in obedience to the Scriptures, indicating that there may be or probably is at least someone in the room who will fail to do partake in a worthy manner. At the very least it indicates that everyone present may be tempted to eat unworthily, otherwise there’s no need for the admonition. The room is most likely filled with average people: not violent gang bangers or hardened criminals. There isn’t usually a catalog of what kinds of sins or behaviors would serve as a checklist as to whether someone is “worthy” or not. 

Then you put on top of this the consideration: “Well, actually, who is even worthy to eat with Jesus anyways!?” I know me, and I know that I am not worthy to sit at the table of Jesus. If anything I’d be the slave who washes the feet of the people who come to dine with Jesus. I’m reminded of Abigail when David sent to marry her, she “bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” If she felt this way about David, how much more she we feel unworthy to eat at his table like we’re an equal with him! 

So, put all of that together, and it’s understandable that you have people in the church who struggle with some kind of sin – short temper, lust, gossip, laziness, etc. – just like everyone in the church does, who fears that they might be bringing damnation upon themselves for eating the cracker and drinking the juice. 

Now, I’d like to offer what I think is the right perspective. 

First, the fact that someone is being sensitive to the Spirit and concerned that they might be displeasing the Lord is a MAJOR indication that they ARE worthy to dine with Jesus. What does the Lord require of us? “He hath shown thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8). “A broken and a contrite God will not despise” (Psalm 51). If you are coming to the table with humility and a repentant heart – regardless of what your besetting sin is – then you are coming in a worthy manner. The truly unworthy person who is not going to stress themselves out over whether they are following the Scriptures to a “t” or not. They will brashly take what they can get from God and the church. 

Secondly, on what basis are we relying to be worthy? Are we considering whether we have been “good enough” or not throughout the week? Do you feel like you’ll only be worthy if you overcome that pestering, besetting sin? Remember the Gospel!!! Our only worthiness to have any accessibility to God only comes through Christ – Christ alone! Not Christ and my goodness. We are welcomed into God’s favorable presence because of Christ. We are received as God’s children because we are born again by the Spirit of God. We are washed of our sins because of Christ. The only thing that makes us worthy to partake of the Lord’s Supper is Christ! In every way our access to Christ is conditional only by repentance and faith, but as long as we have that posture then we are worthy!!!

Thirdly, the context reveals to us specifically the “unworthy” behavior Paul had in mind. Verses 18 & 19 Paul chides the Corinthians for tolerating “divisions” and “heresies,” which both refer not to doctrinal impurity, but behavioral deficiency. One of the chief purposes of the Lord’s Supper is to highlight the unity that we have in Christ! We are “one body and one bread.” The broken body of Christ is the spiritual gluten (the Corinthians must have been a gluten free assembly – sorry, I had to) that holds very different people together in love. BUT, instead, the Corinthians decided to use this observance as a wonderful opportunity to display their selfishness and pride.

One faction in the church would get the scoop on when and where the “love feast” would occur. They would show up to the party early, eat all the food and get drunk on the wine before everyone else showed up. This is even more egregious when you think that their society didn’t have a welfare system like we do, there was a much more sharp contrast between the poor and higher social classes. This communal meal was probably a highlight for many people – a true feast – and for others who were poor it may actually have been the only meal that they would have eaten that day. Paul then enters into the narrative of when the Lord instituted the Lord’s Supper: the sweet, serene setting where the Lord washed his disciples feet and then sat surrounded by his disciples. This was the night before his passion. He would be “broken” for them and shed his blood for them. Every time in the future they would gather to remember their Lord they would remember that night. They would recall with vivid memory the day following as well – his love, his blood, his cries, his agony, for them, for them all. 

Now, imagine people trying to use this memorial as an opportunity for the flesh. I can see any one of the apostles busting into that assembly with fire in their eyes, “Do you have any idea what you are doing!!! I was there when he washed my feet! When he suffered on that cross! He died for us! And you have the nerve to shame your brethren, steal all the food, get drunk on the wine, and arrogantly divide into factions amongst one another!!! And instead of being remorseful you glory in your sins and double down in your pride! The Lord is going to bring judgment on you for taking his name in vain!” This is what I see going on here in Corinth, and how I imagine Paul speaking to them. 

So, what does it mean to eat and drink “unworthily?” I think we have a strong case to argue that an unworthy participant is someone who is proud in their sins, who has no humility or repentance over their sins; someone who doesn’t have a desire for unity and has no problem being at odds with others in the church and who will use others in the church for their own gain. If that’s you, then yes, do not assume that Jesus wants to eat a meal with you, because he doesn’t. He wants you to put down your gift at the altar and go be reconciled with your brother first. God will not be mocked – mess with his church and you’ll pay. 

However, if you are a Christian struggling with your sin, and even being often overcome with it to one degree or another, but you hate your sin and confess it to God, let these promises wash over you, my dear brother or sister, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin…If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7,9). As soon as you confess your sins you are instantaneously and fully forgiven by your loving, heavenly Father. He says, “Don’t be afraid. I’ve already forgiven you. Come and dine.” The blood of Jesus is your worthiness to come to his table. 
Now, all of that being said, when you do approach the Table, you should examine yourself. It is a wonderful moment – probably the best moment – for God’s people to do some introspection, and allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart. Every Christian should leave the Lord’s Supper with joy in their hearts because they were all encouraged specifically to “do business” with their God. There is a need to reason with Christians to realize how devastating sin is and there are times to highlight the urgency of repenting of it. But I have sensed the need to give my brothers and sisters relief on this particular issue. If you’re a church leader, maybe consider covering this with your congregation at some point. God bless you in your walk with God and may your next experience at the Lord’s Supper be extra special!!!

The Grace of God You Need.

/ Lee A. Robinson / Leave a comment

The grace of God is multifaceted but we will just focus on one face. Simply put, God’s grace are gifts we receive from God: spiritual gifts that enable us to possess certain God-like qualities. For example, the ability to remain calm and unirritated in the face of difficult people and to respond with kindness and genuine compassion is a gift from God. This kind of response is not natural to any human heart. I don’t know if I need to spend much time trying to prove this, but it really is. Just think of how rare that type of response is among our fellow humans. A few people do naturally have higher levels of endurance, but are not our innate strengths gifts from God as well? Truly, any good character quality or action does not naturally arise from our human heart, but is a divine enablement: an undeserved gift from God. If we are to become more and more like God and effectively do his will, we need as many gifts as we possibly can get! The first step, of course – as always – is to realize and admit that we are in deep need of his grace. Secondly, we must earnestly seek for his grace moment by moment. 

Christian, you need the Gospel. Do you think you are okay today? Are you all set? In what ways, specifically, are you not like Jesus? Are you kind to every person you can come into contact with? Are you more focused on yourself instead of the needs of others – your wife, your kids, your neighbor or coworkers? Are you deeply concerned about those around you who don’t know Christ? Are you ashamed of the Gospel? How often do you cross paths with people and not give glory to God or preach his Gospel? Do you carry a spirit of gratitude and contentment or are you weighed down with depression, anxiety, complaints and murmuring? Are you self-disciplined in your appetites and activities? What is your singular focus in life – is it heavenly things or earthly things? Are you bitter towards anyone? Are you harboring resentment towards anyone or for something that happened in the past? Are you angry with God or in awe of him? Are you watching things on the internet you shouldn’t be? Do you have any besetting sin? How are you falling short of the glory and goodness of God? If you’re not sure about your weakness, then maybe your struggle is with pride? Ask the people that know you the best, “What is my weakness?”

When you first came to God for salvation you had nothing to offer him except your sin. Nothing has changed in this regard. You still have nothing of value to offer God to earn his favor except your repentance. Once you realize this just simply tell him how busted up you are. Name your sin and the gift that you need. “God, I don’t deserve it, but I need patience. I need love. I need boldness. I need a spiritual mindset. I need kindness. I need joy and contentment. I need the right priorities . . . and God, you are the only one who can give me these abilities, because Jesus died for my inadequacies so that those parts of me might die and only Jesus rose from the dead, being the only one able to create in me these fresh, beautiful, powerful, Godlike qualities.”

In asking for such precious gifts, you must ask for the right reason. James 4:3, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” We’re not fooling God. He knows our true motivation. It must be pure. These gifts are not for our glory or pleasure, they are for the glory and pleasure of God, that his will would be done in the earth. Sure, when we do his will, most often we find ourselves with peace, contentment and joy, but our main desire must be that we please him and serve others well. So, when you begin to experience your relationships being handled in a supernaturally different way, verbally give God praise right then and there and then afterwards as many times as you have opportunity. When you achieve success through God’s grace in the areas that you failed repeatedly for years and years and years give God joyful praise and thanksgiving.

Thankfully, James also tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you (James 1:5).” No one is more ready and prepared to give you a gift than God. We can go to him boldly, as the scriptures say, in prayer. Any grace that you ask for is certainly praying according to the will of God, which gives us confidence that he will grant that request. What are you waiting for? Go now and receive from our heavenly father the good things you need to be more like him in the earth that you live in. 

Why did God set things up this way? Doesn’t it seem like a strange operation – we have to come to God to receive the ability to live in a way that is truly righteous? Why can’t we just do it on our own? Well, first of all, we can’t. It’s that simple. Furthermore, if we could, who would get the glory and praise? O, you know we definitely would take as much of it as possible! The reality is that there is only One Man who is worthy of it all – the Lord Jesus Christ. All things considered, is yucky when man receives high praise, because we all know that no man is an island, and every man has great faults that others don’t know about. However, it is soo fitting that Jesus receives all and the highest praise. He is the Almighty One (Heaven’s eternal adoration) who willingly and humbly left heaven in great condescension; who took off the garment of infinity and wrapped himself in restrictive human flesh; who suffered and died the most horrific, shameful, brutal, unrighteous, substitutionary death ever; who, by his own power and virtue, raised himself from the dead and was exalted back to the highest throne! What have we done that can even begin to compare?

May the Lord receive his fitting glory from you today. What an honor, that our sins would expose his generosity and power, which as a result we benefit from!!!

The Wonderful Truth of Election

/ Lee A. Robinson / 13 Comments

Every teaching of the Bible is aimed at both the mind and the heart. Doctrine is meant to be contemplated and felt; to be discussed and also lived. Some subjects more than others quickly become intellectually heavy, abstruse and technical (and debatable). One such doctrine is the doctrine of Election. This is unfortunate, because it’s typical appearance in Scripture is couched between the warm pillows of hope and comfort. Election seems to pop up in the writers mind when he is deeply excited to encourage and strengthen the believer. So my goal here is to just take a few moments to revel in what the reality of election means for the believer…  

If you are a genuine believer and follower of Christ, the Bible is crystal clear that you have been chosen by God to be one of his very own: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved (greatly loved) of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation…” Your destiny has always been to belong to God, to know Jesus, follow him, represent him and to ultimately be raised from the dead and be given a glorified body like him. Praise God – what a destiny! You are one of those children of the promise (like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel) the Scriptures talk about!    

Before the earth was created God freely settled this decision that your destiny would be to become one of his chosen children: Ephesians 1:4-5, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated (pre-determined, foreordained) us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” You are a child of God! Your Father is the King of all the kings and Lord of all the lords. He is the supreme ruler of all things! The faithful love of a good father is secured towards you forever! Romans 8:33-34, “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” No one and nothing will ever separate you from his love! 

Thankfully, God’s selection of you was not based on anything meritorious that he foresaw in you: 2 Timothy 1:9, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” Deuteronomy 7:6-8, “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you…” Romans 9:11, “(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)” Among of all humanity that would be created, why did God set his love upon you to make you his very own child? We are told – mysteriously, but simply so – that the reason why God set his love upon you is because he loved you (Deuteronomy 7:8)! Also, because he has a special purpose in your life to showcase his mercy (2 Timothy 1:9)! All of this is completely undeserved. Yes, the fate of grace has fallen upon us. Thank you, Father. You deserve every ounce of praise and love from us! 

Election isn’t referring to the fact that God saves those who believe in him. God does save those who believe in him, but election is focused on what lies underneath our decision to believe (or the realities that precede our conversion). The ultimate reason behind why you developed a fear of God, was convicted of your sins, realized who Jesus was, understood the Gospel, and called upon Chist for salvation, was that you were chosen by God to have your eyes open to all of these things: Acts 13:48, “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained (appointed) to eternal life believed.” Everyone that day heard the same Gospel preaching by Paul. Why did some believe – because they were appointed to believe. It was their destiny.  

In John 10:26-28 Jesus said, “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” Everyone heard Jesus (the good shepherd) speak. Some yielded to his voice and some did not. Why? Because some were his sheep and others were not. I used to think that what made someone one of God’s sheep was that they believed in him. Sort of like faith being the door to the sheepfold. It seems to make sense, right? But I came to realize that the Lord classifies people as his sheep before they believe: John 10:16, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” Jesus had sheep that had not yet believed. They were still out wandering lost in the mountains somewhere. This passage in John 10 is revealing to us why the elect believe: because they are sheep. Only the sheep hear the voice of shepherd and come. You heard his voice and came to him when he called you because he had already chosen you as one of his sheep in eternity past. You love him. Why? Because he first loved you (1 John 4:19).  

We did not do anything to be elected by God. He did not stand on the precipice of eternity and scout through the corridors of time for all the faithful people and then stamp his seal on them. He foresaw all people as fallen, corrupted, degenerated sons and daughters of Adam. God’s justice, righteousness and good wrath was pleased to reserve many for judgment, but his goodness, kindness, grace, longsuffering, mercy and love yearned to make His-story a rescue mission. So he chose many to be redeemed through the precious work of Christ, in history. Why we were numbered among the sons and daughters of mercy is beyond our comprehension. But it is true, and it has come to pass. Hallelujah!   

How precious is all of this! Think about how differently your destiny could have been! God could have chosen you to just be an ant, but he made you a living, breathing, thinking, feeling, worshiping creature. But even then, God could have allowed you to run headlong into deserved everlasting destruction, but he didn’t. He chose you. He wanted you. 

1 Peter 2:9-10, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” You are not a believer today because karma is rewarding you for being noble in a past life. The fortune of good luck has not just happened to fall on you. You’re not a child of God because you were a Pastor’s child, grew up in a Christian home or went to a Christian school. You’re not a Christian because you were raised in western culture. You didn’t repent of your sins because you have a softer heart than others or because you are just naturally more good than others. You don’t understand and believe the Gospel because you have a high I.Q. There is nothing about you that is the ultimate cause for why you believed. Your faith is a gift from God. Philippians 1:29 “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” The same saving faith that was given you to start believing in Christ is the same faith that will continue to be given you forever. Jesus is the author and the finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12). God promises to never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13). God’s everlasting kingdom is your home. He has many mansions and there is a room prepared for you (John 14). 

God has promised you “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:4-5). Do you think of this enough, how your life is going to end??? No matter the difficulties, struggles, tragedies of life – it is all going to end soon and glory will be born and you will be enveloped by it. Amen! 

God doesn’t make mistakes. He doesn’t recall any of his elections, and praise God he doesn’t miscount them either! Believer, friend, brother: rejoice today rest in his unfailing love for you. Confess your sins. Renew your commitment to him. Strive to imitate the apostle Paul and work hard in God’s harvest field so the other elect children of God will come to know him as well: 2 Timothy 2:10 “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

It doesn’t matter what you have done.

/ Lee A. Robinson / Leave a comment

It doesn’t matter what you have done.

It’s all wiped clean in the blood of the Son.

He bore the wrath, the guilt, the shame 

So we could bear the grace, the crown… His name.

Man will always find a way to judge you

But GOD will always find a way to love you. 

Men will condemn you as a failure, a traitor, a liar. 

But He knows your true heart, thoughts, and desire.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, the wise man said. 

I guess he learned this truth before he laid to rest his head. 

Your sin does matter, so repent and continue no more! 

But focus on his mercy & grace, which is far greater for sure! 

You may have concluded God will never use you again

But Remember in the scripture the failures of great men:

An adulterer, a murderer and a liar king 

One of God’s choicest to God’s Name did sing.

An arrogant man, who publicly denied the Lord! 

Yet was told to “feed my sheep” and was fully restored.  

Be humbled and learn, but from your ashes arise

With confidence and joy lift up your eyes

See his smile, feel his touch, follow the voice from above.  

You’re saved, restored, you’re called and you’re loved. 

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GRACE REIGNS

/ Lee A. Robinson / Leave a comment

Romans 5:19-21

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

From the time of the first man (Adam) sin and death has reigned among men. Sin and death are likened to a unified dominant king controlling men and their destinies. It’s almost as if we had no choice: we were made sinners by the disobedience of Adam. We were all born sinners into a kingdom of sin. Sin was natural and normal to us. There is such a power in the world, a universal law, that excuses and encourages sin. Sin reigned, and sin finishes its work by ultimately slaying the subjects of its kingdom. We are slaves, low born, disadvantaged, destined for this. 

But there came a new King into the world. One who evaded the natural way of conception through virgin birth. He was born righteous and pure into the world of sin. As the God-Man he triumphed over every temptation to sin. Ultimately he was lifted up, to receive in his body God’s judgment wrought by King Sin and Death, so as to set free those who were all their lives subject to his reign. He defeated Sin and Death and established a new kingdom.
In contrast to the former kingdom, the kingdom of Jesus is characterized by GRACE – favor, benevolence, help, beauty, gift-giving, kindness, compassion, etc. Through the new birth, our nature is changed – we are now naturally righteous and pure. We are also ushered into a new realm of living that is dominated and permeated with these qualities of grace. GRACE REIGNS in the life of a Christian. We are born as spiritual free men: privileged, high class, advantaged. We were made saints by the obedience of someone else – that’s very good news. Our lives are under the control, ownership and supervision of God’s Grace. Grace reigns. I am not the king of my life – Grace is, and because my King is so gracious I can find great comfort in knowing that he will defend me against every enemy in my life, including myself. The King of Sin and Death delighted in deceiving and destroying, but the King of Grace delights in teaching, encouraging, forgiving, restoring, redeeming and resurrecting. Grace is greater than all of my sin and will prevail. All hail King Grace!