Proclaiming the Lord’s
death
With
reference to the institution of the New Covenant which the apostle Paul said
that he received from the Lord he made a very clear, interesting and profound statement
by saying; “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim
the Lord's death till He comes” (1Corinthians 11:26).
Unfortunately
however, the majority of professing believers have not been able to grasp the
profoundness and magnitude of this statement which reminds me of a statement
made by the apostle Paul which reads; “They profess to know God, but in works
they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good
work” (Titus 1:16).
Although
it is categorically stated;, “For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone
should boast.”
Nevertheless,
we have also been instructed saying; “For we are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk
in them” (Ephesians 2:9-10).
We
need also to remind ourselves of the fact that, in the final analysis the Son
of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will
reward each according to his works” (Matthew
16:27).
Even at the great white throne judgment when
the sea, death and the grave will give up the dead who were in them, they also
will be judge each one according to their works (Revelation 20:13).
Therefore,
works are extremely important even when we claim to have faith, for this is
what we have been instructed saying; “But do you want to know, O foolish man,
that faith without works is dead?...For as the body without the spirit is dead,
so faith without works is dead also” (James 2: 20, 26).
Since
we have been duly instructed to proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes my
humble question is, are we proclaiming it? And if we do, how and how often do
we do it and what is the rationale or significance for doing it?
The
how to proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes should not be difficult for
anyone to know and understand because it is stated clearly that it is by eating
the bread and drinking the wine which represents the body and blood of Jesus
Christ that we proclaim His death.
How
often has become very controversial among different sects and denominations
which should not be because, the Lord has ordained specific times for His
people to offer to Him the food for His offerings and this is what He says: “Command
the children of Israel, and say to them, 'My offering, My food for My offerings
made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you shall be careful to offer to Me at
their appointed time” (Numbers 28:2).
This
sweet smelling aroma which we are to be careful to offer to the Lord at their
appointed time in our New Testament dispensation is the body and blood of Jesus
Christ and so, we have been duly admonished saying; “Therefore be imitators of
God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given
Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma
(Ephesians 5:1-2).
We
should also take into consideration the fact that, as believers we are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that we
may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His
marvelous light; and our main duty as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood a
holy nation and God’s chosen people is to offer to the Lord the food for His
offerings at their appointed time. Because
the most important criterion of this important group of people is that; “They
shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God, for they
offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire (zeal), and the bread of their God;
therefore they shall be holy” (Leviticus 21:6).
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
To be continued
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