Preparation For The Remembrance

by T.W. Fullerton, Melbourne | Category: General | Sept 1977

Those gathered in churches of God are privileged on each first day of the week to keep the commandment of the Lord. "This do in remembrance of Me". The emblems are intended to keep continually before us, during our Lord's absence, the sufferings of Christ and the great price which He paid for our redemption. On such occasions many thoughts occupy the hearts and minds of God's people: the mystery of the incarnation, reminding us that Jehovah the Son had left behind the glories of heaven to partake of humanity through His birth by the virgin; of His life spent among men, holy, harmless and undefiled; of Gethsemane; of the cross, where He who knew no sin was made to be sin on our behalf; of His resurrection and glorification, when the everlasting doors were lifted up that the King of glory might enter in. His glorified body bears eternally the marks of the cross. As Advocate and Great Priest He now appears before the face of God for us. All this is comprehended in the story of redemption by His blood, even the forgiveness of our trespasses.

What preparation is required to engage in the Remembrance? The apostle Paul instructs the Corinthians, "Let a man prove (examine) himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup" (v.28). There is to be self-examination. Unconfessed sin of thought or word or deed must be confessed before coming to the Remembrance. We must endeavour to see ourselves as God sees us, confessing and putting away that which we discover. In the case of the Corinthian saints there had been failure to do this; there had not been that which answered to the washing of the priests at the laver before approaching God; and they were experiencing divine judgement as the result. Some were physically weak and sickly and some had fallen asleep (died). The apostle continues, "If we discerned (judged) ourselves we should not be judged. But when we are judged (by the Lord) we are chastened of the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world".

Thus the Remembrance not only continually keeps before us the Person and work of our Redeemer, but its weekly occurrence is designed so that we should keep short accounts with God, by self-examination and confession.

T.W. Fullerton, Melbourne | Sept 1977
General