Communion Message
A Comparison View
June 26, 2005
Pastor Leighton Sheley

We come to the cross just as we are. We come to the cross because it is only through Christ that we can be redeemed to the Father. We come just as we are because we are unable to save our self. We are unable to arrange for our own sin's forgiveness. We are unable to cleanse ourselves. We are helpless, but thanks be to God who is our help.

It's important for us to pray as we have in song these words to remind us of our condition and to remind us how we are conditioned by this world in which we live. We are conditioned, for instance, to constantly be comparing. We compare McDonald's and Burger King. We compare Chevys and Fords. We compare Pepsi and Coke, and we are constantly being conditioned to compare.

Sometimes that conditioning is not healthy because it really shouldn't take place in the church. We shouldn't be comparing that singer with that singer, or that worship leader with that worship leader, or that preacher with that preacher, or even the same preacher with this week's sermon compared to last week's sermon. And sometimes that tendency and propensity to compare slips into the home and words slip out like, Why can't you be more like your brother? - comparison - or more like your sister? And the obvious answer is, I'm not my brother.

Some people have a concept that when they stand before judgment it's going to be a comparison thing. They are going to be compared with somebody else, and as long as somebody else is in worse shape than they are then they're okay. But that isn't the way judgment is going to work, because each and every one of us are going to be compared with what we should have been, and according to the Scriptures every one of us has sinned, every one of us has missed the mark and come short of the glory of God.

It is only through Christ and through His sacrifice that we can stand in the presence of a holy God. We are in a desperate estate. In fact we are described as being dead, and something that's dead cannot help itself

The writer to the Ephesians said: "Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms--all because we are one with Christ Jesus. And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus.

God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things that he planned for us long ago."

God desires us to do good things, but sometimes that old nature overwhelms the new nature and we do things that are displeasing to God. God's word says if we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all righteousness. And so I'd like to invite you this day, if you are physically able, to join with me as we now kneel in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

The Scriptures say at times like this when we gather about the communion table we should examine our self.

Lord we are thankful that our salvation can be sure. If our salvation was based on us being better than someone else, we would not be sure, we would always wonder. If our salvation was based on some kind of a score system where our good deeds outweighed our bad deeds, we would never be sure. If our salvation was based at all on us and our efforts, we would never be sure, but You have made sure our salvation because our salvation is not of us but of Christ who has completed the work, who has paid the price of our sin, who has redeemed our souls from destruction.

And Lord You've gone beyond that; You've even adopted us as Your own children. Truly Your love for us is beyond our ability to fathom. Lord we ask this day that You forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Lord not only do we do things that are displeasing, we have a desire to do things that is displeasing. Forgive us Lord and cleanse us we pray in Jesus' name. And Lord we now partake of these elements in remembrance of You. Let's partake of the bread, and also the cup.