Communion After Christmas
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· 1 viewCommunion sermon with Christmas flair
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Sunbury GMC 12/27/2023
A couple days ago was Christmas day. Today we celebrate communion in remebrance of the sacrifice of Jesus. Christmas began the story that cullminates in the death, resurection, and ascention of Jesus Christ. Tonight let us consider 3 questions along the lines of Christmas and communion. 1. Why did Jesus Come? 2. How did He accomplish His purpose? and 3rd. and finally How do we remember His work?
Why did Jesus Come
Why did Jesus Come
I know that this time of year we have talked about the reason for the season until you may be sick of hearing it. While this is a communion message I want to focus in on it one more time this year. It is all about Jesus coming to earth, but why did he come? Why did God send His son to earth? Matthew 1:21 says “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
Last week Pastor Ryan talked about the names of Jesus, and Jesus itself means savior. We need saving and Jesus is that savior.
What do we need saved from? We talk so much of Jesus saving us from eternal separation from Him, from eternal death and punishment in hell. That certainly is one thing that Jesus saves us from, but that is not the main focus of His saving acording to scripture. He has a greater purpose, a higher salvation that just a saving from just punishment for us. Notice with me the words here in Matthew 1:21, “he shall save his people FROM their sin” (Emphasis added) It is not salvation from punishment that is here promised, though that is certainly delivered, it is savation from sin. Jesus came to offer forgiveness most assuredly. Without this unmerited forgiveness that we could never hope to earn we would be hopeless wreck, but it is a greater salvation that we recieve than simple forgeiveness. It is entire transformation! Matthew Henry puts it this way. “for those whom Christ saves, he saves from their sins; from the guilt of sin by the merit of his death, and from the power of sin by the Spirit of his grace. In saving them from sin, he saves them from wrath and the curse, and all misery, here and hereafter. Christ came to save his people, not in their sins, but from their sins; and so to redeem them from among men, to himself, who is separate from sinners.”
How Does He Accomplish This Great Salvation?
How Does He Accomplish This Great Salvation?
It is a familiar story to us, and yet it remains for those who have experienced the love communicate through this story our favorite to hear again and again! God, to save the unworthy creature from evil and just punishment, so save us from our sins and the nature of sin, sent His only begotten son that whosever beliveth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life. You and I were evil sinners, worthy of death and punishment for the sins that we had committed. But God, who is rich in mercy, commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were Yet sinners Christ died for us. Jesus lived among us for years, he taught and ministered to multitudes, he trained 12, and He knowingly gave himself up to be crucified. He was crucified, in the eyes of the religious for claiming to be God, in the eyes of the political for trumped up charges of insurrection, and in the eyes of God His innocent Son was killed for the sins of you and I. God Himself came to earth to die for you and I. On the third day he rose from the grave. Many debate where he spent that time, but He had not yet ascended to the father. We know that during those days Jesus broke the power of death, hell and the grave affording a way of salvation for you and I. 40 days later he ascended into heaven with the words “Wait for the promise of the Father.” He had told them that he must go away so that he could send the comforter, the Holy Spirit in His place so that we could be purified from the nature of sin and empowered to live for him in obedience and ministry. This is the great salvation that our great Savior accomplished on our behalf.
How Do We Remember His Sacrifice?
How Do We Remember His Sacrifice?
This brings us to our third and final point tonight. How do we commemorate and keep ever in our minds God’s redemptive sacrifice for you and I? Luke 22:14–20 records the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. Contained within this passage are the instructions of how to commemorate the work done for us by Jesus. “And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
As we partake of the rememberance of the Last Supper of our Lord let us solemnly remember His sacrifice and let us with honest and open hearts ask ourselves not if we are worthy, for we can never be truly worthy by mans estimation, but if God deems us worthy. All he asks of us is repentance for the sins we have commited, faith in his sacrifice and his faithfulness to accomplish the forgiveness and new life he has promised, and a life of obedience to His blessed voice. If you have not trusted in Christ, or if you have strayed from the path of obedience do not wait my friend, today is the day of salvation, now is the appointed time to find peace with God. (turn service over to Pastor Ryan)