Calvin Synod Herald, 2008 (109. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)

2008-03-01 / 3-4. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

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come to the Lord’s supper, may and ought to be kept from that sacrament, by the power which Christ hath left in His church,1 until they receive instruction, and manifest their reformation.11 i. 1 Corinthians 11:27-34; cf. Matthew 7:6, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, Jude 23,

1 Timothy 5:22. k. 2 Corinthians 2:7.

Q. 174. What is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s supper in the time of the administration of it?

A. It is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, that, during the time of the administration of it, with all holy reverence and attention they wait upon God in that ordinance,1 diligently observe the sacramental elements and actions,m heedfully discern the Lord’s body,n and affectionately meditate on His death and sufferings,o and thereby stir up themselves to a vigorous exercise of their graces;p in judging themselves,11 and sorrowing for sin;r in earnest hungering and thirsting after Christ/ feeding on Him by faith,' receiving of His fulness/ trusting in His merits," rejoicing in His love,x giving thanks for His grace/ in renewing of their covenant with God,z and love to all the saints.3

l. Leviticus 10:3; Hebrews 12:28; Psalm 5:7; 1 Corinthians 11:17, 26-27.

m. Exodus 24:8; Matthew 26:28. n. 1 Corinthians 11:29.

0. Luke 22:19. p. 1 Corinthians 11:26; 1 Corinthians 10:3-5, 11, 14. q. 1 Corinthians 11:31. r. Zechariah 12:10. s. Revelation 22:17.

t. John 6:35. v. John 1:16. w. Philippians 1:16. x. Psalm 63:4,5; 2 Chronicles 30:21. y. Psalm 22:26.

z. Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 1:5. a. Acts 2:42.

Q. 175. What is the duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament of the Lord s supper?

A. The duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, is seriously to consider how they have behaved themselves therein, and with what success;15 if they find quickening and comfort, to bless God for it,c beg the continuance of it,d watch against relapses/ fulfill their vows/ and encourage themselves to a frequent attendance on that ordinance*: but if they find no present benefit, more exactly to review their preparation to, and carriage at, the sacra! ment;h in both which, if they can approve themselves to God and their own consciences, they are to wait for the fruit of it in due time': but, if they see they have failed in either, they are to be humbled/ and to attend upon it afterwards with more care and diligence.1

b. Psalm 28:7; Psalm 85:8; 1 Corinthians 11:17,30-31.

c. 2 Chronicles 30:21-23,25-26; Acts 2:42,46-47.

d. Psalm 36:10; Song of Solomon 3:4; 1 Chronicles 29:18.

e. 1 Corinthians 10:3-5, 12. f. Psalm 1:14.

g. 1 Corinthians 11:25-26; Acts 2:42,46.

h. Song of Solomon 5:1-6; Ecclesiastes 5:1-6.

1. Psalm 123:1-2; Psalm 42:5, 8; Psalm 43:3-5.

k. 2 Chronicles 30:18-19; Isaiah 1:16, 18.

l. 2 Corinthians 7:11; 1 Chronicles 15:12-14.

Dr. Edwin P. Elliott, Jr. Reformed Presbyterian Church Manassas, Virginia

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Prepare Your Hearts for the Lord

“Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. ”

(1 Corinthians 5:7)

Scripture reading: Luke 22:1-20. Text: “Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and make PREPARATIONS for us to eat the Passover.’ ‘Where do you want us to PREPARE for it?’ they asked. He replied, ‘As you enter the city, a man carrying ajar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large upper room, all FURNISHED. Make PREPARATIONS there.”’ (Luke 22:7-12)

One of the key words of Maundy Thursday - the Thursday before Good Friday - is PREPARATION. From our scripture reading - which includes our text - we learn the physical preparation of the Passover lamb. The Passover lamb was the symbol of the great delivery of the Jewish people from the bondage in Egypt. Please read Exodus 12:1-14.

However, besides what was the tradition and what the disciples saw; there had been another preparation as our Lord was getting ready for his arrest, torture, ridicule, and death on the cross. Please remember how he had prayed in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46). Maundy Thursday ushered in the culmination of Jesus’ ministry, his crucifixion.

Urgent, Useful and Spiritual Preparation.

Although we do not pay too much attention to preparation unless it is necessary and vital, yet it is so important that if we would eliminate it from our lives, we would suffer terrible loss or even would not survive the consequences.

Please think about preparing our daily meal, or our schedule, budget, and vacation. When a baby will arrive, what a caring preparation is taking place. Going to school is nothing else but preparing ourselves for the challenge of life.

On Maundy Thursday our spiritual preparation comes into the center of our attention. As we look deeper into what had happened that evening as our Lord had instituted the Last Supper, we will discern precious treasures and relationships.

We find preparation in God’s eternal will, as we learn it from the parable of the last judgment: “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom PREPARED FOR YOU since the creation of the world.’” (Matthew 25:34) Our Savior also made a very encouraging promise: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to PREPARE A PLACE for you.” (John 14:1-2) See also 1 Corinthians 2:9.

As we can see the divine preparation is for our benefit, it obliges us that we also make preparations accordingly; we PREPARE OUR HEARTS to worship and serve God, as John the

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