The Lord's Supper as a Means of Grace (4)

Driving home: In answer to the question how shall we come to the Lord's table, the central issue is this. We should come with a fully framed conviction that we are not coming in an unworthy manner.

Martin uses the analogy of an old balance scale to illustrate that our estimation of the Lord's Supper's worth should balance with God's estimation, rather than being so light as to be unworthy.

And it is, it is our responsibility to see to it that our position of heart keys prior to and at the table do not indicate that we place a lesser value upon the Supper than the Lord places upon it. If we may use the illustration of an old balance scale, simple supper of remembrance, a value. And he says, when you come to the table, you ought to aim having a biblically framed conviction that you are giving the same worth to the significance of that table that God has given to it so that your worth and God's estimation of it of its worth balance. And we do not God's estimation throwing yours up ...

10:11 - 11:33 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It is to be remembered. Therefore, that the word here used is, an adverb and not an adjective and has reference to the manner of observing the ordinance and not to our personal qualifications or fitness.

Martin quotes Albert Barnes' commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:27 to clarify the meaning of 'unworthily,' emphasizing it refers to the manner of observance rather than personal fitness, which has often caused distress to Christians.

I found the remarks of Albert Barnes most helpful commenting on the term whosoever. I'm sorry. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner or unworthily Barnes comments. Perhaps there is no expression in the, in the Bible that has given more trouble to weak and feeble Christians than this.

11:34 - 11:58 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Well, the answer of this passage is you can be certain of that if you take due consideration of two categories of concern.

He provides an example of a physically hungry man at the table, whose mind would be preoccupied with physical hunger, making it impossible to focus on Christ's body and blood, illustrating how circumstantial elements can hinder worthy participation.

So here's a man that when the bread is being passed, he is so physically hungry. He's salivating just to get a little snack to ease his hunger pains. How can you be thinking of Christ's body given for sinners in Christ's blood shed for sinners? When your stomach is growling and a piece of bread is going by, it's going to help relieve your physical hunger.

21:04 - 21:28 Read in full sermon

Driving home: We come expecting some mystical or emotional hints. Whereas sure puts the emphasis upon worthily with two distinct intellectual exercises.

He uses the analogy of testing metals to find true gold from false gold to explain the scrutiny involved in the self-examination (docimazo) required before partaking.

In contrast to drinking and eating in an unworthy manner, thereby being guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. If we would avoid that, here's the opposite. But let a man put himself to the test and find himself approved. It's what a man would do when he's testing metals to find out false gold from true gold.

29:25 - 29:58 Read in full sermon

Driving home: We come expecting some mystical or emotional hints. Whereas sure puts the emphasis upon worthily with two distinct intellectual exercises.

He asks if children can discriminate between different types of apples to illustrate the intellectual exercise of 'discriminating' or 'discerning' (diacrino) required at the Lord's table.

It's an intellectual exercise. Can you discriminate children between a bowl of pears and a bowl of apples? Between wine sap apples and big reds? Delicious?

30:35 - 30:54 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin expounds on the first intellectual exercise: self-examination (docimazo). He clarifies that this examination is not about one's perfect love or service to Christ, but…

Martin quotes Matthew Henry's commentary to reinforce his interpretation of self-examination, showing that it is about understanding the sacred intention of the ordinance and one's disposition for it, not personal perfection.

And declaring Christ crucified is the source. And the great heartbeat of his religious life. Listen to Matthew Henry. This is not my novel opinion.

34:23 - 34:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Engage in the intellectual exercise of making sure you perceive the Supper to be what God intended it to be.

He uses the metaphor of the 'cesspool of your own heart' to contrast the focus of self-examination at the Lord's table, which should terminate on Christ, not on one's own sinfulness, though acknowledging it.

And not on us. Because it's a table to remember him. You've got all kinds of places to remember. The cesspool of your own heart.

36:13 - 36:25 Read in full sermon