THOUGHT FOR TODAY, MARCH 11, 2017: THE GOSPEL ENACTED, REENACTED, AND MEMORIALIZED
Easter is just a little over a month away. Many churches are planning their special Easter services. For some, this will include a mock crucifixion of Christ. In reality, every Christian is involved in a reenactment of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, which is memorialized weekly, not once a year. It is not a mock reenactment, but a spiritual reality.
First, we look at the gospel: “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:1-4, ESV).
Second, we look at the gospel reenacted: “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead” (Col 2:11-12).
Third, we look at the gospel memorialized : “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor 4:23-26).
Some reject baptism as a part of the gospel, saying that it is a work and we are not saved by works. It is a work, but not ours. It is God’s powerful working that raises us from the dead spiritually when we are buried with him spiritually.
Some argue that to have the Lord’s Supper each Lord’s Day would make it too commonplace. It is strange that they do not make the same argument in regard to assembling each Lord’s Day, praying each Lord’s Day, singing each Lords’ Day, and giving—especially giving—each Lord’s Day. The primary purpose of assembling on the first day of the week was to “break bread” (Acts 20:7). If it were just a common meal that Paul wanted to share, he would not have had to wait seven days after his arrival (Acts 20:6).
The gospel is a reality—Christ died, buried, and was raised? Have you reenacted that gospel? Do you proclaim his death each week?
