Grace and Glory

Heb. 2:9 says, But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

The perfect oneness of Christ and His Church, and the consequent reciprocity of interest and affection which exists shows that while Christ represents the Church above, the Church represents Christ below; while she is glorified with Him in heaven, He is glorified in her on earth. ~ said Octavius Winslow, 19th century preacher 

The Grace of God!

Titus 2:11-12, For the Grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present age.

This passage in Titus is all about Jesus, being the Grace of God; bringing salvation; He has appeared; to teach us; to deny ungodliness, and worldly lusts; to live soberly, righteously and godly; in this present age.

The word “deny” has the idea of disregarding one's own interests, by forsaking, or renouncing a thing, whether evil, or good... IF it is ungodly and a worldly lust.

"Soberly" suggests “the exercise of that self-restraint that governs all passions and desires, enabling the believer to be conformed to the mind of Christ” -according to Vine’s Dictionary.

WHY Do We Remember Jesus

In 1 Cor. 11:23- 26 the Apostle Paul writes, For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread. And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, This is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
In the same manner also he took the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim (1.e., declare and assert) the Lord’s death until He comes.

Let Us Remember WHY  We Remember.

The Assurance of Spiritual Life

John 3 verses 3 and 5, Jesus said, “I assure you and most solemnly guarantee to you, unless a person is born from above... spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified... you cannot enter nor even SEE the kingdom of God.” AMP

And in verse 6 He said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

If you are born of the Spirit, you have a spiritual life. Anyone who does not have the Spirit born spiritual life is still DEAD in their sins.

Rom. 8:2, ...the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. The liberating law of the life-giving Spirit has freed us from the enslaving law of death-giving sin.

Rom. 8:3-4 God, by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not live our lives in the ways of the flesh guided by worldliness, but live our lives in the ways of the Spirit guided by His power.

The Scriptures Speak of Christ

John 5:39 says, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”

Search the scriptures. Jesus was speaking to the ruling Jews who were persecuting Him “because He had done “these things” on the Sabbath” (John 5:16). The Jews of that day had what we today might call the Old Testament. Most believe they had the Torah, or the first five books of the bible (Pentateuch); as well as the Prophets and Psalms, Proverbs, Daniel, Ruth, Esther and some minor prophets... not necessarily all in every synagogue.

Infinite Distance

We must occasionally bring to mind the great gulf between sinful man and our Holy Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. We must recall Who and What He is, and who and what we were in order to more fully comprehend and appreciate what He did! We should not want to dwell on who we “were” but rather appreciate more what He did for us.

This Do In Remembrance of Me

In 1 Cor. 11, the Apostle to the Gentiles writes to the Corinthian assembly. I say that purposely to draw attention to Paul because He was the only one ordained by the risen Lord Himself to go specifically out from the Jews directly to the Gentiles, even though his ministry would include everybody and anybody. A point I believe very much missed by Christendom today. Catholicism, for example, may as well be a pharisaical religion under Law. And although Protestantism tried to break away, it hasn’t gone very far. The mysteries of the “Body of Christ” were revealed to only Paul. And, as Peter writes in his letter, they are HARD to understand. Wrong perspective.

Many scholars believe this letter to be the first written description of the Lord’s Supper since this letter from Paul is dated earlier than most of the Gospels. This is very edifying to contemplate since Paul was NOT at the “Last Supper.”