3. The third integral component of true Christian fellowship is to bring an offering and
come before His courts.
It is very important to
note that, to bring an offering and come before His courts is the most
important reason for having a holy convocation on the days which the Lord has
ordained as we have been duly instructed saying; “These are the feasts of the
LORD which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an
offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering and a grain
offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day.”
One should know that,
since the reformation the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the form of the
bread and wine replaced all animal sacrifices with their food and drink
offerings. And this offering is of such great importance that it is besides or
in addition to observing the Sabbaths of the LORD, besides our gifts, besides
all our vows, and besides all our freewill offerings which we give to the LORD”
(Leviticus 23:37-38).
This offering is the
gateway or access to the Father as illustrated by Jesus Christ who said; “I am
the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
The way to the Father is through the body of Jesus Christ represented by the
bread, the truth is through Jesus Christ the Word of God as our High Priest
interceding on our behalf and the life is through the blood of Jesus Christ
represented by the wine.
The apostle Paul echoed
a similar sentiment when he wrote; “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to
enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He
consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High
Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our
bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-22).
Unfortunately, most
believers have not been able to grasp the significance of this ritual some
disgracing it as “a piece of bread” despite the Lord’s command which states; “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).
We should also consider
the fact that the food for the Lord’s offerings is the medium by which the
members of the body of Christ (the church) are integrated and becomes one as we
have been duly instructed saying; “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I
speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing
which we bless, is it not the communion (fellowship) of the blood of Christ?
The bread which we break, is it not the communion (fellowship) of the body of
Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of
that one bread” (1Corinthians 10:14-17).
This offering is of
such great importance that without it one is unable to fulfill the fourth
integral aspect of observing the Sabbaths.
To be continued
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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