We pause in our study of Revelation to celebrate The Lord’s Supper. We have learned that this ordinance of God was portrayed in the Old Testament story of the children of Israel being delivered by the blood of the lamb applied to the doorposts of their homes (Exodus 12). This of course was fulfilled when Jesus Christ, The Lamb of God, shed His blood on the cross of Calvary for the sin of the world (John 1:29).
Our texts this morning are the testimony of the apostle Paul, formerly known as rabbi Saul and archenemy of the Church (Acts 7:58-8:3). Before coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, Paul was what you and I would call a pretty devout individual (Philippians 3:4-6). According to “the gospel of the average person” in America, Paul was heaven-bound for sure. And yet, under the divine inspiration of the Spirit of God, Paul would write that prior to his conversion he was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious (1 Timothy 1:13).
The gospel of the grace of God eliminates boasting in any way, shape or form (Romans 3:27; Ephesians 2:8-9). All of the keeping of man-made rules or sacraments can not and do not justify a person in the sight of God (Luke 18:9-14; Romans 3:20-28). Paul gives this powerful testimony to an influential political figure by the name of King Agrippa. Paul shared this life- changing message of the gospel of Jesus Christ with this powerful, political ruler because nothing but the gospel of Jesus Christ can change an individual into a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Nothing but the gospel of Jesus Christ can rescue a lost soul out of the power of Satan (Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13).
Beloved, beware of false gospels (2 Corinthians 11:1-4; Galatians 1:6- 9). When Jesus declared that He was the Bread of Life, the people murmured and were offended because they knew that “partaking” of Him was a call to full devotion to Him as Lord and Master (John 6:41,61). As long as Jesus was performing miracles to fill their bellies they were fine, but the moment that Jesus declared that partaking of Him meant a full commitment to Him, they stopped following Him. As we go the The Lord’s table this morning, may The Spirit of God enable us to commit our souls afresh to the Lordship of Jesus in all that we do (1 Corinthians 10:31). God did not save us to be religious, but holy (1 Peter 1:14-16), sanctified for His use (2 Timothy 2:19-21).
