Last evening we were in conversation with a group of Christians. The subject was “If Jesus died for only a few how do we know, objectively, he died for me?” A following question was asked similar to this; “Where do we find the Gospel so personalized and what importance is it?”
1 Timothy 1:12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. ESV
We see here the personal confession of his sins by St Paul. These were not sins of Timothy, Barnabas, Peter or any other person alive during his life. These transgressions of the clear law of God were Saul of Tarsus’ and his personally. So with personal sins laid to his charge he needed a personal payment laid to his account. Every sin we commit is personally chargeable to our account and we too need a personal payment laid to our account as well. If we refuse this payment then our only ending is to suffer in this life under the wrath of God and eternal separation from the source of all good and light.
1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. ESV
The above words are familiar to all Christians. Another participant, Bruce, continued to quote these words as assurance of personal payment for each person’s sin. This served to drive these words home to this relatively new Lutheran although I know them so well. What a wonderful gift to have the fruits of the cross of Jesus delivered to each of us personally. How much more personal can you get than a piece of bread in your mouth and a sip of wine in your belly? That is Jesus delivering these gifts for you for your sins.
In the name of Jesus. Amen. †
7 comments:
Sounds like a Gospel centered conversation! The "for me" of Jesus.
Those that hold that Christ died only for some must look within for evidence that they are among the died-for. Experience has shown that they have pre-manufactured explanations for most of the scriptures that proclaim His death for all. When those passages are quoted, they resort to their tried and true arguments.
It occured to me that they have never considered the Lord's Supper as evidence of Christ promising his death, resurrection, body, blood, and forgiveness personally to the partaker. The words of Christ cry "for you, for many, as often as you" down through the ages to the very days in which we live. It is factual, objective, based on His death and resurrection, and finally it is his promise of the gospel. He cannot lie, and this is our assurance that he did it for us. No looking within, no wondering if we could be deceiving ourselves. Just the words of Christ.
At least they'll have to manufacture some new excuses for why Christ might not have died for them. (Oops. I mean, might not have died for all.)
We'll see how they did in the next episode of "Getting the L out of here."
Bruce
"For you"
It doesn't get any more personal than that!
Hi ya David!
I wrote a post on Romans 6 for this blog http://ldstalk.wordpress.com/
It will come out probably this Fri. or Sat.
I will be able to defend our Lutheran understanding of Baptism against the usual readers of this blog, but not on Sat., for I am headed off to a church council retreat and will not access to a computer.
I was wondering if you wouldn't mind sticking your nose in over there and helping to defend the grace of Christ in Baptism.
If you aren't able, I do understand.
Sorry to ask you this here, but I could not find your e-mail address.
Thanks, David!
- Steve M.
PS- I also aske Larry Hughes to do the same.
Will do what I can St Stephen. Looks like fun!
David, you ARE a saint! :D
BTW...I love the new look of your blog!
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