First Corinthians chapter number eleven and Matthew chapter number 27. 1st Corinthians eleven. Matthew chapter number 27. How fitting. I guess maybe a little ironic it is that some of great Veterans Day and what sacrifices our veterans have made for our country and I appreciate all that they’ve done and some have laid down their lives for our country’s sake. We’re going to talk this morning about one that’s greater than that. One that laid down his life for his enemies amen. And to save the world if they will just but trust him. And that’s why when we come to the Lord’s table it’s a time when we remember what Jesus did for us on the cross. It’s a time to remember to the time of other things we’ll talk about. But I don’t know of a problem in our lives that cannot be solved or cannot be fixed or cannot be helped by taking a look at Calvary, by visiting Calvary. I believe our problems can be solved. Now it doesn’t remove the sickness that we have, doesn’t remove the trial that we have but it helps get our vision of a crucified and risen Lord. It gets our vision where it needs to be. And some of this we’ve gone over a Wednesday night, this past Wednesday night but some of the things I think we need to go over again this morning we’ll do something a little unusual this morning, something they told me I should do in junior church and just provide visuals. Amen. So we’ve got some visuals, keep everybody’s attention a little bit. We have unleavened bread fresh from the pastor’s oven. Okay? And we’re not going to pass it around this morning so I don’t want to put anybody to that. We also got some unfermented grape juice. Amen. And welch’s. No it’s not welch’s, it’s Kroger brand. But that’s okay. It’s 100% grape juice. And these are the elements of the Lord’s supper. We know what they represent but sometimes it’s hard to visualize what’s going on when we open that little wafer inside that package. So we’re just going to look at these tonight or this morning. First green is chapter number eleven looking at verse number 23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night at which he was betrayed took bread and when he had given things he break it and said take, eat. This is my body which is broken for you. This do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup when he had stopped saying this cup is the New Testament in my blood. This do ye is alt as you drink it in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this spread and drink this cup ye do show the Lord’s death till he come wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drink unworthily, eateth and drink damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body for this cause. Many are weak and sickly among you, many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we shall not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, carry one for another. If any man hunger, let him meet at home. That you come not together into condemnation. And the rest will I say in order when I come. Now, the Lord’s Supper is one of the two ordinances that God has left the church. God has left the church a couple of things. When Jesus ascended into heaven, he left the church with the responsibility of teaching doctrine, teaching things that we believe. And where do we get our doctrine from? From the word of God. A man not from the opinions of man, but we get it from the word of God. Then he also left us ordinances, two ordinances that we practice here in this church, baptism. When a person gets saved, we put them in the water and then we try to make it as cold as possible for them. I’m just kidding. Brother Gary heats it up and sometimes it’s hard to get it just right, isn’t it? Well, we place them in the water and they’re standing up there’s publicly identifying themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. They’re saying, I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. Believe that he was buried and he rose again the third day. We do the same thing with them. We stand them up, we dunk them in the water so that they’re submerged under the water. They’re buried and then they’re raised, just like Jesus was, to walk in newness of life. That doesn’t save them. This doesn’t save a person. They’re pictures. They are commands that God has left the church to do, but just to picture and to testify what Jesus has already done. Likewise, the Lord’s Supper is also a picture, and it testifies to what Jesus has done. And we’ll get into this. But when we partake of the unleavened bread and of the grape juice, then we are saying, we are publicly declaring that I am trusting in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for my sins, not my own self. I can’t save myself. I’m trusting in Jesus Christ and Him alone, his finished work to accomplish my salvation. That’s what it is. It’s a public declaration. And it’s a time when we are encouraged to be in one accord because of our love and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. Both, if you’ll notice, both picture his death, and both are our reminders for us of his death. I love a baptism, don’t you? When a person gets new safe, because it’s exciting. It’s the outward picture of what’s happened on the inside of a brand new Christian. And that’s exciting and that’s a blessing. Lord, suffer. We gather together today here in a little bit and we’ll partake of that. We will go over some of the things that we discussed on Wednesday night and why. The Apostle Paul was addressing this through the inspiration of the Spirit of God. But God gives him this order in particular and look what he says in verse number 23. He said, I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you. This was given to Paul directly. So this order was not handed down, not passed down. It was given to Paul directly. He gave it directly to the Corinthian Church and gave it to the church in general through the letter, the first Corinthians and God saw fit it to keep it. So what is the purpose of the Lord’s supper? We talk about some of these Wednesday night, but not all of them. The purpose is a time of remembrance. Look at verse number 24 again. It says that when he had given thanks, he break it the bread and said, take heat. This is my body which is broken for you. This do in remembrance of me. You and I. Sometimes if my wife can tell me something and five minutes later I will have forgotten what she told me, what she sent me to the store. For. My mind just as one track. I can only think of one thing at a time. And most of the time that’s driving, then parking and stopping. And I get to Walmart. I have to call her. What was that you sent me for? It’s gone. You and I are the same, though, and unfortunately it’s the case. We are the same in our Christian lives. How many times we have forgotten what God has brought us from. We shouldn’t. God has saved us from the devil’s, held the greatest transaction in our life was not our physical birth, but our spiritual birth. And yet still we forget what Jesus has done for us. So these are reminders that we ought to do this more often. And it’s been my fault that we haven’t. So we’re going to do this more often. So this due in remembrance of me. Nowhere in Scripture are we commanded or even recommended to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We do Christmas time, but we’re not commanded to do that. Yet we are commanded. It’s an ordinance to remember his death. How much more important, his death, his burial and his resurrection? Some of the things we need to remember, we need to remember Christ’s death. Look at verse number 26 for his office. Eat this bread and drink this cup. You do show the Lord’s death till he come. Once you hold your place here turn with me to Matthew chapter number 26. Chapter 27 we’re going to visit Calvary for a few moments this morning and remember what Jesus went through. And there are so many passive scriptures we could turn to this morning. We’re not going to for sake of time. I have references though, if you want to see them. But Jesus knew what lay ahead of him, and john 13 One I am going to turn there. You don’t have to. John 13 One jesus says this now the feast of the Passover when Jesus now before the feast of the Passover, when jesus knew that his hour was come, that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. That’s still true today. He’s still loving us until our end, until our transportation to heaven, to glory. But he knew what lay before him, and he knew that one would betray Him. John chapter 13 he knew of his death and being glorified again. Chapter John chapter 13 but also think about not only his foreknowledge, but his humility. He laid aside the garments of glory to take upon him the robe of flesh. But it wasn’t just for a short time. He still has that robe of flesh now seated in heaven at the Father’s right hand, and for all eternity he will have that robe of flesh as God who became man to die on the cross for your sins and mine. What love that is. How would you and I do in that situation? We would just probably let people go on their way. And yet God loved us so much that he came willingly from heaven to down the cross for our sins. When he washed the disciples feet, he was showing his humility here on earth, his willingness. John 14 but that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do arise, let us go. Hence. He knew what lay ahead of Him. He tried to tell his disciples. The disciples just didn’t listen. He said, Greater love hath no man than this that a man laying down his life for his friends. John Chapter 17 we see his ancestry prayer, and there’s some other places here we see that when he saw the multitude coming, or he knew that they were coming, he went forth to meet them. He wasn’t running from them, he went forth to meet them. He was betrayed by one of his own. He never sought to escape from his death on the cross. When Pilate asked him, when Pilate could have released him, Jesus kept his mouth closed. He replied not. He didn’t reply when the chief priests and the elders were falsely accusing him, he didn’t reply when he would have been better served had he not said anything. He replied he wasn’t flinching in what he needed to accomplish. Then in his suffering. He was led before the high priest. He was falsely accused, mocked and smitten. He was led before pilot. Pilot announces, this is interesting to me. And again I don’t have time to get into the references, but Pilate says that I have found no fault in him. Then he scourges Jesus. He whips him where his flesh is torn from his body. He’s led before Herod. Jesus never enters Herod. He’s clothed in a robe and mocked by the soldiers. Then he’s led before Pilate the second time. And again Pilate says two more times, there’s nothing worthy of death in Jesus. So three times he testifies, he finds no fault. There’s no cause of death in this man. And he says again, Have I not said that there’s no cause of death in this man? And yet the multitude cried out to crucify him. So let’s read in verse number 26. Then released he Barabbas unto them. When he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall and gathered under him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him and put on him a scarlet robe. They were mocking him. When they had planted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head and a reed in his right hand. And they bowed the knee before him and mocked him, saying, Hell, King of the Jews. And they spit upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him. They took the robe off from him, put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. They were treating him as a common criminal, as the offscoring of earth, as somebody that was not wanted, that no one cared for. And Jesus suffered all that he endured the cross despising, the shame, because he saw the joy that was before me. He saw you and me being saved and become part of the family of God through his suffering. He saw that his father would be pleased. Verse number 35 and they crucified him and parted his garments, casting lots that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet they parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down, they watched him there. This was no uncommon thing for the soldiers. They were callous. They were hardened men of war. They had seen this countless at times. They had crucified many. And they no doubt had seen all kinds of horrible things in their time as being a soldier. This was nothing to them. They didn’t know who was standing before them. They sat down and they watched him there and set up over his head this accusation written this is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads. We could see the soldiers being callous. But think about the people, all that Jesus had done, for all of them, for them. He had healed their sicknesses, he had raised their dead, he had healed their broken hearts. All that he had done. They walked by, they reviled him, they wagged their heads. Let’s just read verse 40 and saying, thou that destroys the temple and builders it in three days, save thyself if thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. They were ridiculing him, all that he had done. And the people that should have known better, out of everybody, the chief priest and the scribes and the elders likewise also the chief priest mocking him with the scribes and the elders said he saved others himself he cannot save. You know, when you think about that statement, they were meant as a ridicule, as a mockery. But that was true. If he had saved himself, he would not have saved anybody else. He was willing to hang there on the cross for you and for me, his body torn. The Bible says that his visit, his countenance was so marred that was without form or comeliness. His body was so bruised and so tattered from the scourging, from the beating. I think they treated Him worse than they would have. I think they treated Him worse than they did the thieves. Then they did the common prisoners, the common soldiers. No doubt the Devil was behind a lot of this, stirring up their hatred and their envy of Him. But that’s not to say that’s not in all of us. You know why he did that, though? He did that because he loved us and he knew exactly what we needed. And had he come down, you and I would have no hope. But he stayed on the cross. Jump down with me. Verse 44 the thieves also, which were crucified with him cast the same in his teeth. Isn’t that amazing? Both thieves on either side cast the same thing in his teeth. What does that mean? That means they said the same thing. They were ridiculing the Savior, the one right in the middle. They were ridiculing him. They were mocking him. But one of those, if you’ll remember, received forgiveness, received mercy. Isn’t that amazing? Just a few maybe an hour later, a few moments later, he recognized that there was something different about this one in the middle. And he looked at Jesus and he said, remember me when thou comest to thy kingdom. And Jesus said, today thou shalt be with me in paradise. He forgave all of his sins, even his accusations, while he was on the cross. He forgave all that realized when Jesus was hanging on the cross. There were seven things that he said. He said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. That was the first thing he said, father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Then two, number two, he said, verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise. He spoke to the thief. The thief, the one that just had done wrong, deserved where he was, but had recognized who Jesus was and put his faith in Jesus. Jesus said, I’m going to forgive you of your sins, and I’m going to give you better than what you asked for. Then he sees his mother there. This is in John. It’s not in our passage, it’s in John. He says he sees his mother and he tells his mother, woman, behold thy son talking about John. And he talks to John. He said, Behold thy mother. He’s saying, John, I want you to take care of my mother while I’m going through this. And after I leave, I’m going to send up into heaven. This is what he’s thinking. He said, you need to take care of my mother, of Mary, the one that birthed me. There was nothing special supernatural about Mary. She was a person just like you and me. But he cared for her. Isn’t that something that he cared for her from the cross? And then here in verse number 46 45 now, from the 6th hour, there was darkness over all the land into the 9th hour. That’s from 12:00 to 03:00 in the afternoon to the brightest part of the day, the hottest part of the day, there was complete darkness. And about the 9th hour, about 03:00, jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, eli eli lama sabakanai. That is to say, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Right in the middle of his suffering, in the middle of the railings that was bringing upon him earlier, he said that he told the disciples, you will forsake me, but I’m not alone, because my Father goes with me. But here even the Father turns his back on the Son. Why? Because he’s taken upon my sin. He’s taken your sin upon himself. And the Father turns away from the sun. It’s a mystery that’s beyond understanding for us, because God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit, are three and one. They’ve been eternally existent. They’ve been together for all eternity past. They shared the glory together. The sun comes to Earth, a dialog cross for our sins. The Father stays in heaven and is in please with the Son. And then he turns his back on his Son as he takes on him the sins of the world. And I believe there he is suffering my hell and your hell. The Father turns his back and Jesus says, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? It’s not in our passage here. But then he cries out, I don’t think it’s in our passage here. He cries out, I thirst. I believe he’s suffering the sinners hell, so the sinner never has to suffer that if they’ll put their faith and trust in him. Then he cries out in John, chapter 19, verse 30, he says, it is finished. He’s not finished. The work of salvation is finished. Jesus paid it all. He paid my sin debt. My salvation is complete in him. Then he said, here in our passage, verse number 50 jesus, when he cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. It’s not here in our passage, but it’s in Luke, I believe. John says, father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And the Bible says, he bowed his head and he gave up the ghost. He dismissed his spirit. The thieves couldn’t do that. They did not have power over their spirit to keep their spirit or to let their spirit go. But Jesus did. He gave up the ghost. He gave up his spirit. He laid down his life for you and me. We could read the effects of, naturally, what his death created. It had all kinds of interesting things that happened. The rocks rent, the earth did quake. The veil of the temple was rent in two from top to bottom. And then the centurion centurion of the soldiers looked and saw and said truly, this was the Son of God. They took him down his body, down from the cross. Joseph and Nicodemus took his body. They laid him in a tomb and they rolled a stone over the tomb. They thought it was the end. Three days later, the stone was rolled away. He wasn’t there. The disciples were confused. And the angel tells the women that came by don’t be afraid. Fear not. He is not here, for he is risen as he said. He said, Go and tell his disciples that he will meet them. He appears unto merry Magdalene. Then he visits and appears unto Peter. Aren’t you thankful that God Peter we didn’t read it, but Peter denied the Lord three times. In his moment of greatest need, Peter denied the Lord. Yet Jesus said, I want you to go tell Peter. As a matter of fact, I think he shows himself to Peter later on, said Go tell Peter I’m alive. Don’t let him give up. I’ve got something in store for him. He’s not over with. It’s not over with. And then later, when they’re all gathered together he comes and appears before them. And Thomas isn’t there with them. And the disciples said look, we’ve seen the Lord. We know he’s here. Thomas said, Unless I see the nail print in his hands and thrust my hand aside, I will not believe. And then eight days later, Jesus comes and shows himself again to his disciples, thomas is there. And then he says to the Thomas reach his or thy finger and thrust it in my side and see my handprints. And he says, my Lord and my God Jesus says, don’t be faithless, but believe the sacrifice that Jesus gave on Calvary. How many of you are thankful for that? I’m thankful for that. Not all one of us deserve that. Not a single one of us. None of us have done any good enough in our lives to merit what God did for us on Calvary. It’s all of grace, all of mercy, all of his love for us. I’m thankful what Jesus did for us. We need to remember that not only remember his suffering, but remember that he only did it one time. He only suffered one time. We are not making Him suffer again by breaking the bread. This bread does not become his body. This juice does not become his blood that was broken at Calvary 2000 years ago. His blood was shed 20 years ago and I believe is in heaven now. And the mercy seat, the true mercy seat, of which we had the mercy seat here on earth, as a picture, the true mercy seat, and will be there forever as a covenant between God the Father and God the Son. God is pleased with the sacrifice of His Son, so this doesn’t become the blood or the body of Jesus Christ. He suffered one time, one. Peter 318 for Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjusted. He might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit. Romans 16 for then in that he died, he died unto sin once, then he liveth. He liveth unto God. Hebrews seven, verse 24 I want you to listen to this. But this man, because he continues ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost. Aren’t you thankful for that? Listen. That’s our eternal security. That’s how we know we have eternal life. If you’re in Jesus Christ, you have eternal life, because he’s eternal that his covenant is everlasting with the Father. If you’re in Jesus Christ, you’re safe and you will be delivered to heaven safely. One day he will save us to the utmost say, come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who as holy, harmless, underfowed, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens, who needeth not daily as those high priests to offer up sacrifice for his own sins and then for the peoples. For this? He did once, when he offered up himself. Hebrews 922 28 we could turn there and I don’t think we have time for that this morning. But it says Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them to look for Him shall he appear the second time without sin and the salvation. One time Jesus suffered for the sins of the whole world, and that’s all it took. Jesus not suffering now. He’s not on the cross now. He’s seated at the right hand of the Father now. And so we remember Christ’s death, not to bring Him back and put him to death again. Some people believe that we don’t do that. We remember his death, his resurrection, and his promise that he’s going to return again. One corinthians oneone. Go back there with me, if you will. He said this do in remembrance of me. It’s off as you do it. You do. Show the Lord’s death till he come. Jesus is coming. He’s on his way. We can look at the signs and the signs will point to it, but his word tells us he’s on his way. We’re just listening for the sound. We’re listening for the trumpet. He says, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself. That where I am, there you may be also. But also he said this due in remembrance of me. Not just my death, not just My promise of what’s going to happen, but remember me. Remember who Jesus is. He’s a faithful friend. Would you agree with that? How many agree with that? He’s a faithful friend that sits closer than a brother. His care for you, his faithfulness. It’s a time to remember who Jesus is and what he’s done for us. And listen, you and I would have nothing if it weren’t for Jesus. We would have nothing but on our way to the devil’s hell. It’s also times we mentioned to declare the truth. Verse 26 for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show the Lord’s death till he come. We’re publicly testifying that we believe that Jesus died, was buried, rose again and is coming again. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we believe that we drink of the juice. We’re not saying this is going to save me. We are saying to those out to one another, but also to the world. I believe Jesus blood was shed for me, and I’m trusting in his shed blood as my salvation, nothing else. Not my good works, not my church membership, not my baptism, not the fact I live in America or whatever it may be. I’m trusting in his shed blood, and I’m trusting that he died on the cross for my sins. That’s a picture. It’s a public declaration. And it’s also something we pass down to our children and our children’s children. It’s a perpetual declaration. We pass it down from generation to generation from the first church. As long as these churches continue until Jesus returns. It’s an ordinance we must keep to declare Jesus death barrel, resurrection and coming again, a faith that was once delivered. Look at verse number 24 again. It says, and when he had given thanks, he’d break it. Jesus knew what labor for Him, but he gave thanks for what was about to happen. He gave thanks for he was still grateful and still thankful even what lay before him with what he was about to partake in. You and I, when we come to Lord say, well, we. Ought to come with a grateful heart, a grateful spirit, recognizing, realizing what God has done for us, who we are. Think about it. Who are we? We’re nobodies. As my granddad would say, we all live on a hill. There’s nothing to us. And by that saying, he means there’s nothing to us. We’re nothing special. But Jesus loves us. That’s what makes a difference. It’s a time to give God thanks. I want you to look at verse number 25, and after the same manner also, he took the cup when he had stopped saying, this cup is the New Testament in my blood. The word testament means covenant. God the Father made a covenant with God the Son. And we can enter into that covenant when we by faith trust in Jesus Christ, in his sacrifice on Calvary. See, it’s not up to me to keep myself going to heaven. God will keep me if I’m in Him. He’s going to keep me because that covenant is between God the Father and God the Son. And there’s no danger of that ever breaking. Amen. So there’s no concern there. We are at the symbol of the new covenant. It’s Jesus shed blood. It’s also time to remember his promise that he’s coming back. One day he came as suffering Savior, but one day he’s coming as Lord of Lords and King of Kings ruling reign. And every niche I bought and every time confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Looked at verse number 27. It’s also time of reflection personally. Wherefor whose servant shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Here’s a warning to let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For eateth and drink unworthy Edith, and drink damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body for this cause. Many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. He said there are sicknesses. Not every sickness, but there are some people that sleep. Sleep in the Bible means die prematurely. There are some that die prematurely because they have come to the Lord’s table in an unworthy manner. We’re all unworthy of ourselves, right? Jesus blood on Calvary made us worthy. It’s his righteousness imputed to me. But the manner in which we approach the Lord to say what’s a serious thing if there’s unconfssed sin in our life, if we’re living outside of the will of God and we come flippantly and we just come just to partake, to save face, to guard our reputation that’s coming irreverently that’s doing a disgrace to the Lord’s supper. This is supposed to represent his body that died for me. This represents his blood that was shed for me. So I should not come flippantly just as an everyday common occurrence, I should come reverently and ask the Lord to show me is there something between me and you? Do I have any unconfessed sin in my life? He said, I want you to examine yourself. Listen, if we will selfjudge ourselves, God will not judge us. First John one nine. If anybody can let me read that first John one nine. Somebody help me out. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Thank you, brother Jeremy. Just had to get me started. When we go to God the Father, we confess our sins. He will forgive us and cleanse us from those sins. But we got to confess it and have the desire to forsake it. There’s a warning there. But look at again verse number 28. Let a man examine himself, and so let him do what? Verse 28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. You say, Well, Brother Eric, there are things in my life that I’m not willing to give up. I’m just going to skirt around the issue and then not partake because I don’t want to confess. And forsake those things, you’re still doing disservice. You’re being disobedient to the command of Scripture. Jesus said to confess it, to judge yourself, examine yourself, and then eat, then drink. Remember what God has done for us. Remember his sacrifice. Remember his victory over death, hell in the grave of his coming. Again. Listen, we have victory in Jesus because of what’s transpired in the past. God is not a God of yesterday. He’s the same God yesterday, today and forever. The same Lord and Savior that died on the cross, conquered death, hell in the grave. As my Savior is your Savior, he’s still seated at the Father’s right hand. And when he comes, he’s going to rule and reign on this earth. He’s going to send everything straight. Won’t have to worry about counting ballots until three years from now. Jesus will rule and reign and have a world of peace when he comes, because he will be King of kings and Lord of Lords. He will be sovereign when he returns. So we participate here. We participate remembering who he is, what he’s done, that he’s coming. We participate willingly, gratefully, with joy, looking for his return. And we’re careful to do it, reverently his body. Unleavened bread leaven represents sin. In the Bible, Jesus was without sin, perfect, holy, pure. That’s why we use unfermented grape juice, because he’s perfect, pure, holy, without sin. Sin requires payment. Only God Himself could beat that payment as a holy sacrifice. And I’m showing that I’m accepting his sacrifice. I’m publicly identifying it. You, in a sense, are preaching this morning when you partake the Lord’s Supper. We gather together as a congregation. As his body, we’re thankful for what God has done for us. We’re saying, Lord, thank you for saving my soul. Thank you for God on the cross for my sins, lord, I want to live for you. I want to be holy and pure and true. I want you to be pleased with my life. I’m looking for your return. When we do that, that’s what we’re saying. That’s what we’re declaring. So as we get ready to come to the table here in just a minute, let’s remember his suffering, his deaths, and this dude remembrance of me. Let’s remember that he didn’t stay dead. He rose again from the grave. He’s got victory over death, hell in the grave. He offers salvation, free and simple. It cost Him a great deal to offer that freely to us. It’s offered freely. If you don’t know the Lord as your Savior this morning, you can before you leave. You can trust him. It’s offered freely, but realize you can’t get to heaven. You can’t pretend, you can’t fake the Lord out. It’s either a heart matter or you’re going to miss heaven. There’ll be some that will Internet or see the Lord one day, and they’re going to say, lord, Lord, we prophesied in Thy name. In Thy name we cast out the others. We did all these wonderful things. And Jesus will say unto them, depart from me, for I never knew you. Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Are you trusting him? Not have you made a profession? But are you trusting Him in your heart? Are you trusting in Jesus as your Savior? Let’s remember his death on the cross, his resurrection, his victory, his ascension, seated at the right hand of the Father. Listen, everything’s okay because God’s in control. Jesus is still seated in heaven. He’s coming back one day. It’s okay. It’s all right. Just remember also that he is present here with us through the person of the Spirit of God. He hasn’t left us here without help, without comfort. He’s here this morning with us through the Spirit of God. Let’s do this. Let’s bow our head and close our eyes, have a time of prayer. I want you to use this time also to examine yourself. Is there something between you and the Savior? Is there some unconfessed sin that you need to get right? This altar is open to be a great place to come and say, lord, forgive me. I’m sorry I haven’t been a Christian. I should be. You pray this. Lord, search me. Show me if there’s something in my heart, in my life that I need to get rid of. Is there anyone here this morning? Say, brother. I’m not sure that I’m saved. Just slip up your hand, I pray for you. If I die right now, I don’t know that heaven will be my home. It’s a serious matter. I hope you know that. You know that. You know that. You know beyond any shadow of a doubt that heaven’s your home. We’re not guaranteed of another day. Lord, search me. Show me, Lord. I’m sorry. Help me to get rid of it. Be what ought to be. Let’s stand head and mouth and eyes closed. God’s spoken to your heart. When you come, make things right with the Lord. If you have a need you need to pray for, come pray. Maybe you just want to come and say, thank you, Lord, for saving my soul.