Formosa Baptist Church
2026-10-18
  • In Christ Alone
  • At The Cross
  • Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
  • In Luke 22:19, as Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper, he tells us that we’re supposed to observe this in remembrance or memorial of him.
    Luke 22:19 ESV
    19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
    But what exactly are we supposed to be commemorating when we take the Lord’s Supper?

    Why do we celebrate the Lord’s Supper?

    The fact is that Scripture uses a lot of different images when talking about the Lord’s Supper, because what Christ accomplished for us can’t be fully explained with just one picture. The fact is that each week we gather as a church, and each time the Word is preached, we’re talking about a different aspect of our faith and what Christ has done for us.
    So, rather than try to explain every little part of the imagery in the Lord’s Supper in one go—which would take hours—each time that we take the Lord’s Supper, we’re going to focus on a different aspect, a different facet of Christ’s work that is pictured in the Lord’s Supper.
    The work of Christ is kind of like a diamond that has many different facets. So, this week, we’re going to look at probably one of the most basic facets of Christ’s work.

    The Lord’s Supper pictures Christ as our Redeemer.

    Last week, we studied the story of Ruth and Boaz, and we saw that Boaz redeemed Ruth from a desperate situation.
    Ruth was a foreigner, living in Israel. And, she was a widow—her husband had died and she had no children. She had no one to help take care of her, no one to pass down her property to, she was alone (except for her mother in law) and in a pretty desperate situation.
    But then along comes this kind man named Boaz, and Boaz purchases her deceased husband’s property and marries Ruth. He becomes her redeemer, like we saw last week.

    Like Ruth, we were Gentiles who had no legal right to demand redemption.

    She was at the mercy and grace of her redeemer. Our situation before Christ was the same.
    Ephesians 2:11–13 ESV
    11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh...12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

    Like Ruth, we could only be redeemed by abrother.

    Our redeemer had to be like us.
    Hebrews 2:14–18 ESV
    14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

    Like Boaz’s sacrifice, Christ’s redemption of us was costly.

    Redeeming Ruth was costly to Boaz. He would have had to have paid a large amount of money to purchase the property, and then the property would not even be his—it would go to Ruth’s son and be in her deceased husband’s estate.
    Boaz redeemed Ruth with money, but Jesus redeemed us with his blood.
    1 Peter 1:18–19 ESV
    ...you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
    and that word, “ransomed,” is the same word in Greek that is sometimes translated “redeemed.”
    So, Paul reminds us
    Ephesians 1:7 ESV
    In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

    Just as Ruth received an inheritance through redemption, so do we.

    Ephesians 1:4–11 ESV
    ...In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace... 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
    Because of Christ’s redemption, we become children of God, and we receive inheritance as sons of God.

    The Lord’s supper is an outward picture of what Christ has done in our hearts.

    When we take the Lord’s supper, we are doing a visual representation of all of that and more. We are saying, Christ has redeemed us. He was our sacrificial lamb, the means by which we are cleansed.
    1 Corinthians 5:7 ESV
    7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
    In Scripture, leaven (or yeast) is a picture of sin. Just a little bit can leaven the whole loaf of bread.
    That’s why they used unleavened bread in the Exodus Passover, and that’s why we use unleavened bread in the Lord’s Supper.
    Christ had no sin in him, that’s why he was able to be our Passover Lamb. So, the bread has no leaven in it. The bread represents Christ’s body, which was broken for us.
    And the fruit of the vine, either grape juice or wine, represents the blood of Christ which purchased our redemption and forgiveness.
    So, as we take the Lord’s Supper, we remember Christ as our Passover Lamb.

    Who can partake of the Lord’s Supper?

    Believers in good standing (not under the discipline of their church)

    Right after Paul talks about how Christ is our Passover Lamb, he instructs the church at Corinth not to take the Lord’s Supper with anyone who is under judgement of the church for gross immorality.
    1 Corinthians 5:11–13 ESV
    11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
    This doesn’t mean that we have to be perfect and sinless to take the Lord’s Supper—Jesus does that for us.
    But, as we see in Matthew 12, the fruit of our lives is a picture of what’s happened on the inside. What Paul is saying here is that those who are engaging in such gross immorality (here in Corinth a man was sleeping with his Father’s wife!) should be treated as an unbeliever.

    Those who have the blood of the Lamb applied to the door of their hearts.

    1 Corinthians 11:27–30 ESV
    27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
    This necessarily excludes any who have not repented of their sins and trusted in Christ for salvation.
    It also excludes those who have been saved but are harboring unrepentant sins in their hearts.
    Sin is serious, and Paul seems to indicate here that those who take the Lord’s Supper without having repented of their sins and placing their faith in Christ could find themselves being put to death, just as the firstborn of Egypt who did not have the blood of the Lamb.
    So, if you have not placed your faith in Christ, for your own good, do not partake. If you have placed your faith in Christ, I encourage you to lay your sins before him now in repentance and take the Lord’s Supper knowing that Christ was the spotless Passover Lamb you could have never been, and he has paid for your sins in his body on that cross.
    Pass out bread
    Serve deacons
    Prayer of confession and repentance
    Read Lk. 22:14-19
    Luke 22:19 ESV
    19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
    Eat Bread
    Pass out wine/juice
    Serve deacons
    Prayer of thanksgiving
    Read Lk. 22:20
    Luke 22:20 ESV
    20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
    Drink wine/juice
    Sing a hymn and dismiss

      • Luke 22:19NIV

      • Ephesians 2:11–13NIV

      • Hebrews 2:14–18NIV

      • 1 Peter 1:18–19NIV

      • Ephesians 1:7NIV

      • Ephesians 1:4–11NIV

      • 1 Corinthians 5:7NIV

      • 1 Corinthians 5:11–13NIV

      • 1 Corinthians 11:27–30NIV

      • Luke 22:19NIV

      • Luke 22:20NIV

  • Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
Formosa Baptist Church
jason_hill@formosabaptist.com
https://www.formosabaptist.com/
9 members