Being Fitted Together

Paul uses this phrase of “being fitted together” and the process he is referring to is the same process which the Puritans referred to as “improving on your baptism.”  Having been identified with Christ and baptized into His body, He is now in the process of fitting you – fitting you for Himself and fitting you for one another – fitting you into the perfect holy temple in which He dwells.

It might be said that God is easily pleased with us, like a loving Father, but He is never satisfied with us – and so His ongoing work in us will always continue.  This fitting together, this work upon us – and therefore this time at the Table of our Lord – is all declaring that we are closer and closer to heaven.  The fact of the matter is that everyone is either being fitted for heaven or, in our rebellion, are insisting on being unfitted for it.

Either way, we are on a journey of what we are becoming – and that becoming is the work of God in us.  Welcome to the Table of the Lord where by faith you may enjoy being fitted more and more – for Him – and for your pleasure and satisfaction in Him – both for another week – and forever.

Discerning the Body

As we come to the Table on this Ascension Sunday, remember that Jesus rules as Lord and King over all.  Remember that He is the Good Shepherd and He loves His sheep – even the ones you might be having trouble with these days.  Being one with Christ means that we are also one together in Christ.

And this is what is meant by discerning the Lord’s body.  It is not a command to be able to rightly answer theological questions about the elements of the bread and wine.  In context in the book of Corinthians, Paul is admonishing, no, spanking, the Corinthians for eating in a way that is antithetical to what the Lord’s supper declares.

Do not come here with a hypocritical spirit – I love Jesus, but I hate some whom Jesus loves.  I love God but I hate my brother.  This will not be a good place for you to be.  Remember, we have been made one in Christ.  You cannot declare your oneness with Christ without declaring your oneness with all that are Christ’s.  As you come, you are declaring both.  Do so in faith and humility – Amen.

Sui Generis

"As a whole, the Bible is not an example of any genre of literature.  It is sui generis." - Frame, ST, p55.

Saved and Being Saved

Ephesians says, “by grace you have been saved” and that verb, saved, is a perfect participle, emphasizing the abiding consequences of God’s saving action in the past, as if Paul should say, “you are people who have been saved and remain forever saved.”

We come to the Table to partake of Jesus’ body and blood, not because we need to be saved again – that’s been done and complete – declared in your baptism.  We come because we have been saved to be continued to be saved – or to continue to experience our salvation, to be renewed in that salvation – to spread that salvation out into all the corners of our life – now – and this week – and for all eternity with Jesus.

Systematic and Biblical Theology

In his introduction to Part 2 of his Systematic Theology, Frame notes that while biblical theology looks at Scripture as a story or narrative, and systematic theology explores concepts such as the attributes of God and the hypostatic union of Jesus' two natures, the division between the two is somewhat artificial.  He argues that there is no reason why a systematic theology should not explore traditional biblical theological concepts and there is no reason why a biblical theology should not consider a systematic theology since, for instance, "the narrative presupposes a system of truth including these concepts." 

Amen.  Quit fighting you two.

Father and Mother at the Table

It is here, at the Table, where Your Heavenly Father provides a heavenly meal.  The Father provides His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is presented to us to be received by faith as we partake of the appointed elements of bread and wine.

In addition, we understand that these memorials are to be received here, in the church – and Paul instructs us in Galatians that the church is our spiritual mother. 

And so, here at the Table, we receive a meal that the Father has provided and that our Mother has prepared to give to us – and all in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.  Come and welcome to the family of God.  Come and welcome to Jesus Christ.

Food Weirdness

Hebrews 13:9 (NKJV)

⁹ Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

Sometimes you just run across verses you think you've never read before.  In my NT readings this morning I ran across this verse and thought about all the weird diet fads that people are into these days.  Nothing wrong with a diet or eating "right" (whatever that means).  But here is the answer for what makes the heart healthy:  Grace.  Foods do not profit those who have been occupied with them.

Occupied, in the Greek, is parapateo, and means "to regulate one's life" or "to conduct oneself."  That's it.  Don't regulate your life or conduct yourself with foods.  Regulate your life and conduct yourself, busy yourself, with grace.