Trust that you will often remind yourself of how the body works together.
!
Other than the fact that it will be informed by the Scriptures.
I want you to look at 1 Corinthians chapter 11, and I'm going to focus just for our time
before we come to the Lord's table on one particular verse, and more specifically, on
one part of that verse.
One of the things that characterizes…now listen to me carefully, if you would, please.
One of the things that characterizes the believer in his worship is that it is informed by the
Scriptures, and it is guided and governed by our attention to this particular book.
And that's one of the reasons that a characteristic of people who are genuine believers in the
Lord Jesus, they've got a Bible with them.
Do you know why we have a Bible?
Because God has spoken to us through this book, and He has given us all that we need
for life and godliness in this book.
And we hold on to it because we prize it, and we value it, and we want to know what God
has to say to us regarding Himself.
You know, our hearts and our minds are profoundly deceitful.
Would you agree with that?
I remember hearing Paul Tripp say it, and it was like, huh, boy, is that true.
I remember hearing Paul Tripp say that the biggest problem I have is me.
And he was referring in general terms because he was not speaking about Tim Knoyer.
He was just talking about the heart of man.
And I remember thinking, duh, I have a problem.
Thankfully, I also have a Savior.
And I also have the Spirit.
And I also have the Scriptures.
And I may rely upon the Scriptures and the Spirit of God to inform my thinking and to
lift my thinking away from the natural tendency of my heart to pervert all things towards idolatry
and draw me to see the supremacy and the glory of Christ.
And that's what I want us to do this morning.
As you look at this passage, we're going to be there in verse 24, and it says,
And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,
This is my body, which is for you.
This do in remembrance of me.
Before we actually get into the text itself, I want you to stop just for a moment and think with me
about some of the things that have to be pushed aside lest they end up influencing our thinking
and they take us where we shouldn't go.
I want you to understand for one thing, when we take this bread and this cup,
when we come to the Lord's table, we are not engaging in anything that adds spiritual merit to us.
If you look in the Bible and you look right there in the passage in 1 Corinthians,
it said, Do this in remembrance of me.
Why are we doing this?
Well, the Bible informs us that the reason we're doing it is to remember something.
We're not doing it to get extra credit.
How many of you remember in school when you got a bad grade,
if the teacher was exceptionally merciful, what would the teacher do?
You have an opportunity to take a little extra credit on the side and bring your grade up.
Am I right?
I want to dispel the false theology that would suggest that when we take the bread and we take the cup,
that we actually add some merit to the finished work of Christ.
That is a lie from hell.
Because the Scripture is explicit that Christ Jesus died for sin once for all.
I am not here to do anything to make bread anything different than bread,
or the cup any different than what it is.
It is merely here as a reminder to you of what Jesus has already done.
Now, do we need to be reminded?
What's the fact?
In fact, we need reminders all the time.
We need reminders every day.
One of the things that I have to confess in my own life,
I have been marked by or affected by lately.
I found myself several months ago as I was in my devotional life,
I found my reading, and I generally take an hour and a half in Bible reading and prayer,
and I remember I was kind of cranking through it,
and it just kind of dawned on me,
Hey, Tim, you're just doing this out of routine.
How many of you understand routine?
We're pretty good at routine.
And there I was just banging through the book,
and you know, you get on yourself, you get a schedule,
I'm going to read through the Bible in X number of months or whatever,
and what are you doing?
Anybody else know the frailty that comes with that?
You are all about the agenda and not so much about the book.
Am I right?
Can you do that with me?
That's not what we ought to be doing.
And I found myself thinking, Tim, where's your love for Jesus?
I had to stop and just say, this is not what it's all about.
At the heart of the Bible that I read is the glory of a personal relationship with the God of this universe
and a love for the Lord Jesus Christ who is the lover of my soul.
And so when I come to this table, this table serves to remind me of Jesus Christ
and the sweetness of my personal relationship with Him
and the supreme satisfaction I have in that relationship
and the confidence that someday I am going to see Him face to face.
And so when we walk away from here,
we ought to walk away, truthfully,
if we are dependent upon the Spirit of God and the Spirit of God dwells in us.
Now what do I mean by that?
There wouldn't be anything wrong with you who know Christ this morning saying,
Hey, listen, I know that my heart is inclined towards being a little cold and indifferent
towards spiritual things and the glory of the Lord Jesus.
I need your help this morning to help me connect with the sweetness of Scripture
that my affection for Christ is increased.
Is that a fair prayer?
Can you say that with your eyes open?
Yeah, okay, it's all right.
And so we're praying, Lord, I want to grow in my love for you
and I want the bread and the cup to be something that helps me with that.
Well, it doesn't happen automatically.
It happens as we, through the power of the Spirit of God,
think carefully about what the Bible teaches.
And so we're looking at a passage here
and Jesus makes a very interesting statement.
He says,
This bread,
He says,
This is my body.
Now, in some of your translations,
you have,
which is broken for you,
okay?
And I want to tell you in the,
and I don't want to get caught up in all the details of the Greek and manuscripts, etc.
But for two reasons,
I don't believe the accurate translation is broken for you
because, number one,
it's not in the earliest manuscripts,
but secondly, more importantly,
it tells us in the Scriptures prophetically
that not a, what?
Bone of Jesus would be broken.
This is my body,
which is for you.
And so I want us to,
I want us to think
about what Jesus meant.
Number one,
Jesus was speaking about His incarnation.
And I want you to think with me
just for a moment
about His pre-incarnate glory
and the joy and the delight
that He enjoyed
in the presence of His Father
in the glory of eternity
where He was worshipped
and adored.
I appreciate
the passage that was read from Philippians,
and so I want you to turn there,
if you would at this time,
from Philippians chapter 2
as the apostle
is reminding us
of both the humiliation
but also of the incarnation
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And as we think
about this text,
we understand that
in His birth and incarnation,
what Jesus did
was take on human flesh.
Look at Philippians chapter 2.
It says,
Have this mind in yourselves,
among yourselves,
which is yours in Christ Jesus,
who though He was
in the form of God,
did not count equality with God
a thing to be grasped.
What's that saying?
It's saying, in essence,
that Jesus had
and has the right
to see Himself
entirely
as equal with the Father.
He is
the second person
of the triune Godhead.
And it wasn't
a stretch
or a grasping
to possess something
that was not rightfully His
for Him to say,
I recognize my deity
and the glory
of who I am.
Just an objective fact.
And He says here,
He wasn't just trying
to hold on to something
that wasn't His.
It was His by fact.
But being willing,
as it says there,
He made Himself
nothing,
taking the form
of a servant
being born
in the likeness
of man.
I don't know
whether you
have thought about
just how
unbelievable
that truth is.
I found myself
last week
as I was meditating
upon
this passage
to track,
my mind was going off
in a little parallel track
of the many different
both ands
in the Bible.
You know what I mean
by both ands?
Where the Bible
forces us to think about
more than one thought
at the same time.
And is that a little confusing?
What's the answer to us?
Yeah, it is.
How can God,
the Son,
be absolutely
100% divine
and also
100% human?
We deal better
with what?
Either ors.
Isn't that right?
Except when we're doing
rolling stops.
I got you,
didn't I?
Okay.
We're in the
either or camp.
It's light or dark.
When is it really dark?
No.
In the Bible,
there are lots of
both ands.
And that's what we're
dealing with here.
It says that he
took upon himself
the form of a servant
being born in the likeness
of man.
And I want you to understand
that in the incarnation,
what Jesus did
was take upon himself
human flesh,
not because it was
to his advantage,
but he did it
because of us.
Remember it says,
this is my body
for you.
I,
Jesus is saying,
became
human flesh
for your
sake.
And so this morning
as you take
that bread,
one of the things
that I would appeal
to you
to think about
is that the Lord
Jesus Christ
has for all
eternity
taken upon himself
the flesh
of mankind
and he did it
for you.
I wonder
whether or not
on occasion
you feel
that your flesh
is not very
wonderful,
valuable,
significant.
Let me tell you
something.
Hello.
As we get older
we begin
becoming
more and more
painfully aware
of the fact
that the flesh
we have
is not all
that we wish
it were.
How many of you
understand what
I just said?
I was pondering
the fact
that I think
the prime
of life
physiologically
is probably
between about
20 and
28 or 30.
After that
it just begins
to metastasize
or I shouldn't
say metastasize
but it begins
to kind of
go downhill
and I don't
care how hard
you work at it
it is all
marked by more
increased difficulty
and pain
and suffering
etc.
And if you're
really wondering
how it plays
out
all you have
to do
is read
Ecclesiastes
chapter
what?
12.
And yet
Jesus
took upon
himself
flesh
for our
sake.
I want you
to recognize
secondly
that when
Jesus said
this is
my body
he was also
speaking about
his crucifixion.
Not only
did Jesus
take upon
himself
human flesh
and that
human flesh
remains to
this day
when we
see him
in heaven
we are
going to
see him
with our
eyes
and we
will know
that he
is who
he is
by virtue
of his
human form
not just
an apparition
or a
vague shape
but the
reality
of his
form.
Remember
after the
resurrection
Jesus said
to Thomas
what?
Behold
my hands
and my
feet.
Go ahead
put your
hand
in that
place.
Remember
he took
something to
eat
and he
says hey
I'm flesh
and blood
because you're
seeing me
eat.
can you
imagine
just a
little piece
of chewed
fish
going down
no
he ate
flesh
and I
want you
to understand
when we
think about
Jesus
and we
think about
the reality
of his
body
we're
thinking
not only
of the
incarnation
but also
of his
crucifixion.
He died
for us.
It was
his body
that suffered
the terrible
abuse of the
Roman soldiers.
It was
his body
that suffered
the torture
of crucifixion.
I want you
to look at
a couple
different passages
in relationship
to this
to clearly
fix in
your mind
what happened
to his
body and
its significance.
Turn in
the book
of Hebrews
chapter 10
and incidentally
as you're
going to
Hebrews
I want you
to understand
that the
book of
Hebrews
is
listen to
me
carefully
it is
predominantly
a
Christocentric
book.
It's all
about Jesus
and what
it does.
Hebrews
I think
is kind
of a
summarized
Old Testament.
Now what
do I mean
by summarized?
It's cliff
notes on
the Old
Testament.
Now some
of you here
know cliff
notes better
than you
should.
What I
mean by
that is
that the
book of
Hebrews
just gives
us this
grand
overview
of the
glory of
the Lord
Jesus
Christ.
And I
want you
to look
at several
different passages
where the
issue of
Christ's
sacrifice
for us
comes to
light.
Hebrews
chapter 10
verse 5
through 7
Consequently
when Christ
came into
the world
he said
sacrifices
and offerings
you have
not desired
but a
body
have you
prepared
for me
in burnt
offerings
and sin
offerings
you have
taken
no
pleasure.
Now was
God
overly
impressed
when the
Old Testament
saint
brought a
goat
or a
sheep
or a
bull
or something
like that
and offered
it for
a sin
sacrifice
no
that
sacrifice
was accepted
on the
basis
of Christ
someday
coming
and being
the perfect
sacrifice
and Hebrews
reminds us
of that
it says
there in
verse 7
then I
said
behold
I have
come
to do
your
will
O
God
for
it
as
it
is
written
of me
in the
scroll
of the
book
when he
said
above
you have
neither
desired
nor
taken
pleasure
in
sacrifices
and
offerings
and
burnt
offerings
and
sin
offerings
these
are
offered
according
to
the
law
then if
you
will
move
ahead
there
to
verse
10
through
14
and
by
that
will
we
have
been
sanctified
through
the
offering
of
the
body
of
Jesus
Christ
once
for
all
now
how
many
of
you
value
actual
words
in the
Bible
they
mean
something
to
you
what
does
once
for
all
mean
help
me
here
what
does
once
for
all
mean
twice
again
what
you
might
do
is
actually
underline
the
words
once
for
all
in
your
Bible
so
you
understand
that
the
sacrifice
of
Christ
only
happened
once
you
read
what
it
says
there
and
every
priest
stands
daily
at
his
service
offering
repeatedly
the same
sacrifice
which
can
never
take
away
sins
the
Old
Testament
priest
every
day
he
would
offer
a
sacrifice
and
that
sacrifice
essentially
really
did not
have any
salvific
basis
or benefit
in other
words
it didn't
actually
in itself
accomplish
anything
what it
did
was it
reflected
to the
day
that
someday
God
would
provide
the
perfect
sacrifice
namely
his
own
son
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
who
would
die
for
our
sins
and
how
many
times
would
he
die
for
our
sins
what's
the
answer
once
for
all
but
when
Christ
had
offered
for
all
times
a
single
sacrifice
by the
way
why
do
you
think
it's
repeated
like
this
over
and
over
again
any
idea
when
God
repeats
something
close
together
he's
probably
trying
to get
our
attention
would
you
agree
!
that
how
many
of
you
have
ever
dealt
with
your
children
you
really
wanted
to
make
a
point
don't
play
in
the
street
really
I'm
telling
you
do
not
play
in
the
street
in
fact
if
you
could
go
off
and
you
will
make
this
point
very
clear
and
we
find
there
first
of
all
once
for
all
in
verse
10
and
then
we
find
there
again
it
reminds
us
in
verse
12
offered
for
all
times
a
single
sacrifice
for
sins
he
sat
down
at
the
right
hand
of
God
waiting
for
that
time
until
his
enemies
should
be
made
a
footstool
for
his
feet
for
by
a
what's
the
next
word
look
at
it
a
single
offering
he
has
perfected
for
all
times
those
who
are
being
sanctified
everybody
smile
at me
so
you
follow
this
hey
are
you
actually
going
to
get
better
as
you
get
older
in
Jesus
what's
the
answer
from
that
passage
I'm
as
good
as
it
gets
now
that's
a
little
frustrating
when I
know
me
privately
right
but
what
does
it
say
let's
read
the
passage
so
we
don't
miss
it
okay
for
by
a
single
offering
he
has
perfected
for
all
times
those
who
are
being
sanctified
when
we
come
to
faith
we
receive
the
righteousness
of
God
placed
on
our
account
and
that
righteousness
is
all
that
we
ever
will
need
am I
right
are
we
as
good
as
we
will
get
once
we
are
in
Christ
Jesus
the
answer
from
that
text
is
yes
he
has
done
his
work
and
we
have
been
blessed
by
that
I
want
you
to
look
now
at
another
passage
in
relationship
to
this
matter
of
his
crucifixion
and
you're
in
the
book
of
Hebrews
turn
back
just
a
little
bit
to
Hebrews
chapter
2
verse
14
through
16
Hebrews
chapter
2
now
by
the
way
don't
you
like
being
able
to
turn
in
your
Bible
and
actually
see
where
it
is
for
yourself
do
you
follow
that
it's
not
up
here
you
know
I'm
going
to
tell
you
something
that
I
read
today
on
the
newspaper
it's
in
the
Bible
right
or
there
were
men
500
years
ago
that
thought
no
it's
in
the
Bible
and
so
you
look
here
it
says
!
who's
the
children
who
are
the
children
you
me
we're
flesh
and
blood
are
we
not
since
therefore
the
children
share
in
flesh
and
blood
he
himself
likewise
partook
of
the
same
things
what's
that
a
reference
to
his
incarnation
right
partook
of the
same
things
that
through
death
he
might
destroy
the
one
who
has
the
power
of
death
that
is
the
devil
and
deliver
all
those
who
through
fear
of
death
were
subject
to
lifelong
slavery
for
surely
it
is
not
angels
that
he
helps
but
he
helps
the
offspring
of
Abraham
I want
you to
recognize
this
morning
as you
think
about
what
Jesus
has
done
for
you
I
want
you
to
understand
that
when
he
made
that
statement
there
that
was
passed
on
to
Paul
and
Paul
gave
to
the
church
at
Corinth
and
we
take
my
body
you're
thinking
about
the
fact
that
Jesus
Christ
became
flesh
for
you
you're
also
thinking
about
the
fact
that
Jesus
Christ
died
for
you
his
body
sacrificed
for
your
sins
and
in
your
place
and
so
when
we
take
the
bread
we're
thinking
about
the
fact
that
not
only
was
Jesus
incarnate
in
the
flesh
but
also
that
Jesus
died
in
my
place
one
of
the
things
that
I
have
often
said
when
I
am
at
a
funeral
for
a
person
who
is
a
believer
and
here
is
this
person
who
is
their
spirit
has
gone
to be
with
the
Lord
Jesus
and
what
remains
is
just
this
body
that
is
going
to
be
resurrected
at
the
resurrection
of
the
dead
great
fact
the
body
will
actually
come
out
and
be
restored
isn't
that
going
to
be
great
I
think
I
that
Jesus
was
willing
to
become
flesh
and
to
die
in
my
place
and
his
death
means
that
my
death
is
not
like
it
could
have
been
at
the
funeral
I
will
say
for
those
who
are
believers
Jesus
died
his
or
her
death
do
you
know
what
that
means
the
eternal
consequence
and
terror
that
comes
to
the
unbeliever
with
death
has
been
cared
for
on
the
cross
and
Jesus
died
in
my
place
and
in
that
other
person's
place
who's
now
with
Christ
I
want you
to think
of a
third
thing
that
Jesus
meant
when
he
said
this
is
my
body
he
was
referring
also
to
his
resurrection
he
was
speaking
of
his
resurrection
when
Jesus
took
on
human
flesh
and
remains
human
flesh
and
when
Jesus
offered
his
body
for
our
sins
there
is
something
that
happened
following
that
in
that
he
rose
again
from
the
dead
we
celebrate
resurrection
Sunday
when we
just
absolutely
have a
blast
recognizing
the
fact
that
Christ
Jesus
is
not
in
the
grave
he
is
risen
from
the
dead
and
his
resurrection
means
a lot
to
us
death
and
corruption
are
a
horrible
fact
that
remind
us
that
sin
has
come
into
the
world
isn't
that
true
all
you
have
to
do
is
you
have
to
go
and
see
what
has
happened
as
individuals
are
dying
and
you
can
remind
yourself
this
is
happening
because
of
sin
and
yet
we
take
comfort
in
the
fact
that
after
death
for
the
believer
there
is
a
resurrection
to
life
he
rose
again
and
his
resurrection
has
wonderful
implications
for us
who know
the
Lord
Jesus
turn in
your
Bible
you
are
there
in
Hebrews
but
I
want
you
to
go
back
now
if
you
will
the
first
Corinthians
chapter
15
first
Corinthians
chapter
15
if
you
look
at
1
Corinthians
chapter
15
picking
up
there
in
verse
20
it
says
but
in
fact
Jesus
has
raised
from
the
dead
the
first
fruits
of
those
who
fallen
asleep
for
as
by
a
man
came
death
by
a
man
also
come
has
come
also
the
resurrection
of
the
dead
for
as
in
Adam
all
die
are
we
going
to
die
if
Christ
Jesus
does
not
return
first
in
the
rapture
then
I
guess
the
fact
of
the
matter
is
that
every
one
of
us
here
are
eventually
going
to
die
and
here's
what
it
says
look
at
the
passage
it
says
for
as
in
Adam
all
die
so
also
in
Christ
shall
all
be
made
alive
but
each
in
his
own
order
Christ
the
first
fruits
then
at
his
coming
those
who
belong
to
Christ
is
that
a
comfort
and
encouragement
absolutely
here's
what it
is
telling
us
that
because
Jesus
Christ
took
upon
himself
flesh
remember
this
is
my
what
body
this
is
my
body
we
know
that
we
also
can
look
forward
to
the
resurrection
from
the
dead
and
that
resurrection
will be
to
glory
and
to
perfection
and
to
holiness
and
to
the
presence
of
God
the
Father
and
the
Son
we're
going
to
enjoy
eternity
forever
in
the
flesh
not
as
some
kind
of
little
spirits
drifting
around
bumping
oh
well
you're
Tim
Power
I
remember
you
from
the
past
no
!
we're
going
to
be
in
the
flesh
that's
going
to
be
good
right
I'm
looking
forward
to
that
by
the
way
that's
no
I
won't
say
that
I
will
now
that
I
said
it
I
wouldn't
say
it
that's
the
reason
I
went
fishing
when
you
gave
me
25
years
I
said
you
know
in
the
glory
of
eternity
I
don't
think
we're
going
to
be
eating
meat
so
better
do
it
now
and
we're
not
going
to
be
eating
fish
so
better
do
it
now
so
I
went
to
Alaska
and
fished
people
said
don't
you
want
to
go
to
Jerusalem
I
said
no
I'll
be
there
later
you
got
that
it's
alright
I
want
you
to
understand
that
he
is
the
first
fruits
Jesus
is
the
first
fruits
of
the
resurrection
and
he's
the
guarantee
of
our
own
resurrection
I
look
forward
to
I
gotta
tell
you
I
look
at
what
it
says
in
first
Corinthians
chapter
15
I'm
going
to
just
summarize
the
end
of
it
you
can't
get
there
from
here
without
going
through
death
or
the
rapture
and
the
fact
that
we
can
go
from
here
to
there
means
that
our
anxiety
and
our
uncertainty
in
death
and
the
grave
is
not
an
impediment
or
a terror
to
us
isn't
that
right
how
do
believers
die
for
one
thing
they
die
like
everybody
else
their
heart
stops
beating
they
stop
breathing
and
life
ceases
but
there's
a
different
way
that
believers
die
believers
die
with
confidence
in
what
comes
after
why
because
they
know
that
death
is
not
the
end
in
fact
death
is
introduction
to a
better
place
I like
living
but I
am ready
to die
do you
know
why
because
Jesus
came to
this earth
and took
on human
flesh
died in
my place
and has
risen from
the dead
and this
morning as I
take the bread
with you
and as I
take the cup
I will
remind myself
he made
this statement
this is my
body
which is
for you
and I
want you
to do
it the
same
going to
ask the
deacons to
come as
we come
to the
Lord's
table
and as
our deacons
come I
want to
encourage you
just for a
moment this
morning
to quietly
where you
sit
think about
what the
scripture says
when it
says that
we are
not to
take
the
Lord's
table
in an
unworthy
manner
that
statement
is a
reflection
on
several
things
that I
want you
to ponder
number
one
if you
are here
this morning
and do
not know
Jesus
Christ
as your
savior
when
you have
the bread
and the
cup
passed
it would
be a
proper
thing
to say
you know
what
I really
don't
believe
that
Jesus
died
for
me
and
so
going
through
the
motions
would
be
disrespectful
of his
sacrifice
let the
cup
pass
if you're
here as a
believer
and the
spirit of
God
is convicting
you that
there is
unconfessed
sin
in your
heart
then I
would
plead
with you
according
to the
scriptures
that you
confess
and forsake
that
that you
with
humility
may take
this reminder
of what
Jesus
has done
for you
third
if you
are here
and you
have never
come to
faith
and this
morning
the spirit
of God
is convicting
you
this morning
is the
hour
the time
the moment
to cry
out and say
Jesus
I confess
that I'm a
sinner
justly condemned
before a
holy God
but Jesus
died for
me
and I
believe
that you
are the
only hope
I have
and I
trust in
what you've
done
then what I
would do
is take
the bread
and I
take the
cup
and I
for the
first time
this
morning
say
Jesus
is the
one I
trust in
let's
take a
moment
and pray
and ask
God to
give us
a humble
and an
honorable
spirit
before him
as we
take
these
elements
Father God
we are
thankful
for the
instruction
of
scripture
that
remind us
that Christ
Jesus
came into
the world
to save
sinners
and this
morning
as we
take this
bread
and we
take this
cup
we remind
ourselves
by this
action
by this
memorial
of what
Jesus
has already
done
we're not
adding
anything
we're just
remembering
what he's
done
and our
prayer is
this
is that
we who
are
believers
would
would take
this bread
and take
this cup
with a
profound
sense
of
thanksgiving
for the
finished
work
of
Christ
with a
deep
and growing
affection
for the
one that
someday we
are going
to see
and our
hearts
and souls
will be
satisfied
beyond our
imagination
Lord if
there's
a believer
here this
morning that
is being
convicted by
the spirit
of God
I would
plead with
you that
you would
also draw
them to
confess and
forsake that
sin that
they may
take this
cup this
bread in
a manner
that really
reflects their
faith in
your finished
work and we
ask this in
Jesus name
amen
to
you
to
you
to
you
!
you
to
!
you
to
you
to
you
to
you
to
!
you
to
you
to
you
to
you
!
you
to
you
to
you
to
!
You
To
!
To
!
To
!
To
!
C
!
! C