The idea that any man could somehow dishonor the Lord by disobeying His commandment is absurd to most Christians. Moreover, that this disobedience could somehow make one unworthy to receive His body and blood is illogical. Yet how would a blood washed saint become unworthy of the Lord’s body and blood?
It is clear that Jesus’ righteousness is imputed to all souls who accept His death on the cross as payment for their sins. The fact that Jesus died for those sins before they were ever committed illustrates how completely Jesus disseminated the old covenant. The standard for righteousness has changed because of the holy blood spilled at Calvary. There is only one sin than can tarnish the blood washed saint for all the old covenant commandments were solidly dealt with by the cross. The one sin is the disobedience of the Lord’s commandment, the one issued by the Lord after the resurrection.
When we are asked to judge ourselves, it is not in the light of the old covenant that we are asked to judge, it is in the light of the new covenant. Just consider the natural order of things. An underling can be court marshaled in the military for disobeying an order because it is an act of defiance, it is dishonoring to a superior officer. In a military tribunal, they are said to be unworthy of the uniform they wear. Kings and princes put people to death or exile them for disobedience of orders; they are unworthy to belong to the kingdom. How does the King of Glory feel when those who have received His body and blood go on to dishonor Him through disobedience?
Still, most Christians never consider that to disobey the Lord’s commandment would be dishonoring in the least, much less that it could make them unworthy of His body and blood. When Paul states, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup” (1Cor.11:28), most Christians are left wondering whatever that phrase could mean. If we are clothed with Jesus’ righteousness through faith, there is nothing to examine. We might consider whether we are still believing in Jesus for righteousness but beyond that, whatever could make us unworthy of His body and blood?
It makes me angry that after 2,000 years, the church does not observe the Lord’s Supper, it observes the Saviour’s Supper. The Church observes the death of the Saviour from the old covenant side of the cross and judges itself based on the old covenant definition of sin and righteousness. However, in order to observe the Lord’s Supper we must view the cross from the resurrection side as it was the Lord who was resurrected from the grave. On the resurrection side, old covenant sin has been dealt with by Jesus’ death and blood. Old covenant sin is behind the cross when viewed from the resurrection side.
It was God, the Father, who instituted the old covenant and set the standard of righteousness for old covenant members. Jesus, being God, lived up to the Father’s standard of righteousness, fulfilling the old covenant thereby and taking the Father’s standard for righteousness out of the way for all who place their faith and trust in Him. However, Jesus issues a commandment after the cross and disobedience of this commandment is sin and sin unrepented of establishes unrighteousness and unrighteousness makes us unworthy of the Lord’s body and blood. Once again, in order to observe the Lord’s Supper, we must view the cross from the resurrection side of eternity and this is the side of eternity we live on.
Viewing the cross from the resurrection side of eternity illustrates the truth that obedience of the one commandment Jesus issued after the resurrection is the only obedience critical to Christians. Jesus is the fulfillment of all old covenant law and through faith in Him all fulfillment of old covenant law is imputed to us, making us free from old covenant law. Now that we are free from old covenant law, we are free to live in the new covenant. However, Jesus issued a commandment after the cross, after fulfilling the old covenant.
This commandment indicates the presence of a new covenant law; a new covenant standard of righteousness. To not keep this commandment makes us unworthy of His body and blood whereby we were delivered from old covenant law. Paul said, “For if we should judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world” (1Cor.11:30-31).
We “should judge ourselves” based upon new covenant law because we have left the old covenant law behind us through faith in the Saviour. The question is, “Are we keeping the Lord’s commandment?” Are we looking back at the cross from the resurrection side? If we are, we cannot miss the presence of the Lord’s commandment; issued with all the authority of heaven and of earth by the King of kings and the Lord of lords. If we are not, we can expect the Lord’s chastisement because Jesus loves us and wants us to attain to salvation. If we do not change our behavior we will be condemned with the world because we are no longer worthy of the Saviour’s body and blood.
The question is not “Have you exercised faith in the Saviour?” The question is, “Have you exercised faith on the Lord?” The incredible measure of authority conferred on Jesus at His resurrection by the Father God and Holy Spirit is what makes the disobedience of the Lord’s commandment by any Christian so utterly absurd. Why would any soul who has set about to find salvation intentionally dishonor the Lord of salvation by blatant disobedience of His one commandment?
Christians today have their feet firmly planted in the old covenant. They repent of old covenant sins and look forward to the cross. Instead of resting in a righteousness gained by faith, they are continually seeking righteousness. This is not salvation.
If Jesus is Lord, why do you disobey His commandment? How does a blood washed saint make himself unworthy of the body and blood of the Lord? Or, maybe a better question would be, How do blood washed saints make themselves worthy of the body and blood of the Lord?
It is not the Saviour who is returning on the clouds of glory. Whether or not we are honoring the Saviour is immaterial as it is the Lord who will return as judge. Jesus laid aside His Godhood and came to earth as a man. He willingly subjected Himself to ridicule, humiliation, torture, and death for the salvation of mankind but what will He do to those who wrap themselves with His righteousness to tread on His Lordship?
It is the height of Jesus’ exaltation coupled with the depth of depravity Jesus suffered that makes the Church’s disobedience of the Lord’s commandment so hideous. Jesus went from stripping Himself of His Godhood to being ridiculed and humiliated, tortured, whipped, crucified and publicly embarrassed, all for the sake of mankind, to being exalted above all power and authority. He is literally King of kings and Lord of lords, the blessed only potentate (1Tim.6:15). To disrespect the only Lord God by disobedience of His commandment after receiving the benefits of His torture and death is incredibly troubling.
Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” The Church cannot claim to love Jesus while disobeying Jesus’ commandments. The test of this love is obedience.