COMMUNION

Scripture:             II Peter 3:8-9

C.I.:                Communion: A “Timeless” Memorial

In this series of lessons we have been paying very close attention to the Lord’s Supper.  Today…

I. God, Time and the Lord’s Supper!

A. Time is always a subject that seems to leave us breathless as we consider its scope.

1. “Time” was God’s first creation:
 

a. (Gen. 1:1), “In the BEGINNING God created….”

1) God created “time” - so that the “heavens & the earth” – would have a frame of reference.

b. God as a “spiritual being” does not need time, but He exists “outside of time”

1) (Ex. 3:13-14), “Then Moses said to God, ‘Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you.” Now they may say to me, “What is His name?” What shall I say to them?’ – And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM: Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”’”

2) When God says “I am” – He is telling us that He is ever-present!

3) (Rev. 1:8), “‘I am the Alpha [beginning] and the Omega [end],’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come.’”

4) No wonder the Bible says, “Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday & forever,” (Heb. 13:8)

2. God created space & time as one.

a. God is present throughout His creation – i.e., both space and time – at the same moment.

1) Everywhere : (Psa. 139:7-8), “Where can I go from Your Spirit & where can I flee from Your presence? – If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I descend into Hades, behold, You are….”

2) Everywhen : (Psa. 139:15-16), “Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them”

b. We think of time like a river – where it is something that “passes us by” – and is gone - But it is more correct to see – WE ARE MOVING - and the river remains stationary.

c. In the same way that space & matter do not cease to exist – simply because we have moved on – neither does time. - We may not see a moment any longer – but every moment is eternal with God

(i) ILLUST.: Ben-Hur wins the race every time – if you’ve seen it 2x - are you surprised?

(ii) God was here at this moment when I said, “Welcome…” – and here is there now – and is also at tomorrow right now!!

(iii) So ALL TIME exists at the SAME TIME to God –He does not move beyond events – but He is able to move “within” events – and even to “remain” at an event.

d. THAT is what Peter means when He says, “…with the Lord a day is as a 1000 years and…!”

B. Time and Forgiveness

1. In the O.T. - God established rituals for forgiveness:

a. (Lev. 4): Brings an offering – lays his hand on its head – sacrifice is slain – priest sprinkles the blood (atonement) – “…he/they shall be forgiven,” (vs. 20, 26, 31, 35).

b. But why do I mention this in a lesson where we have been discussing TIME?

1) Because it was NOT what these people did – AT THAT TIME – which brought forgiveness!

2) (Heb. 10:4), “For it is IMPOSSIBLE for the blood of bulls & goats to take away sins.”

c. So which is it – Were the people forgiven or not? – Did God mean what He said or didn’t He!

1) The answer is – “Yes, God meant exactly what He said in BOTH places!”

2) The people were forgiven – “But it wasn’t by the blood of bulls and goats!”

2. God sees through “TIME” as we see through space – Based on what He sees, He forgives!

a. (Heb. 10:5-7), “When Jesus comes into the world, He says, ‘Sacrifice & offering You have not desired, but a body You have prepared for Me; behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’”

b. (Heb. 10:11-12), “Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; - but He, offered one sacrifice FOR SINS FOR ALL TIME”.

c. So, even during the days of the O.T. – God “SAW” Jesus on the cross – and was forgiving them!!! – God looks through “TIME” – the same way we look through “SPACE” (He sees ahead/behind).

3. Since the cross is not forever before our eyes – God gave us a reminder.

a. (I Cor. 11:24-25), “This is My body, which is for you; do this in REMEMBRANCE of Me … This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this as often as you drink it, in REMEMBRANCE of Me.”

                                                                                COMMUNION

C. In the New Testament God established rituals for forgiveness:

1. In the N.T. – God also established rituals (ala Lev. 4) – for the people to obtain forgiveness.

a. (Quote Mark 16:16; Heb. 5:9).

b. In the same way that God saw the death of His Son as the basis for forgiveness in the O.T. – the same is true for all of us today!

c. By our obedience – we are entering into the TIME of Jesus death for us - (Rom. 6:3-4).

d. When we meet this condition – God forgives us – because of WHAT JESUS DID ON A CROSS!