Do This in Remembrance of Me
Sunday Sept. 13th, 2026.
1 Corinthians 11:24-25 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.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
The ordinances symbolize the faith and obedience of the people of God.
· Ordinances do not transmit grace or serving as a means of grace.
· The ordinances are opportunities for their recipients to express their obedience to Christ,
Miriam Webster dictionary:
An authoritative decree or direction : order
On that day the king signed three ordinances.
A law set forth by a governmental authority
specifically : a municipal regulation
A city ordinance forbids construction work to start
The city ordinances are city orders that must be followed by every citizen in that city.
The word ordinance is first mentioned in Exodus 12.
The Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread
Exodus 12:14 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come, you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.
Then Jesus as the foundation and author of the church established the ordinances that the church must observe,
Holy Communion:
Matt 26:26–28 Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’”
Holy communion-Background and meaning of the Lord’s table
This ordinance is rooted in the Jewish culture.
· The Old Testament does not only tell us about the faithfulness of God but also it symbolically reveals the New Testament/new covenant.
· It mirrors the New Testament, and it prepares us for the ultimate covenant and fellowship with our maker.
· The old testament tells us of a God who says and He does. With many examples.
· The old testament tells us of a God who is constantly speaking to his people.
· It tells us of a God is guiding is people.
· A compassionate God who is so loving but also just to punish sin.
· The old testament is a revelation.
The night before his death, it was the time of the Passover meal that the Israelites observed in memory of their deliverance from the Egyptians and how he “passed over” their households. [Passover or seder meal]. in Exodus 12
There was the cup that followed the meal {Third cup} It was a cup of redemption-To remind them that they were redeemed from slavery. Luke 22:20
Do you remember the cup appearing in Gethsemane?
· The ram came up and saved Isaack from being offered as a sacrifice.
Gen 22:13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
· The lamb was slaughtered, and the Israelites were saved.
Exodus 12:” The Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread.” [Put the blood on the doorsteps]
· On the day of atonement, the Israelites always took a Goat that was sent away in the wilderness to take away the sins of the people.
Leviticus 16:22 “The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.”
· In Revelation, Jesus is pictured as a slain lamb.
Rev 5:6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
TTHE CHURCH MUST NOTE THAT THESE PRACTICES HAD TO CONTINUE, EVER SINCE WAS FOLLOWED WITH A SACRIFICE. THEY HAD TO DO IT MULTIPLE TIME IN A PERIOD. THE GREATNESS OF THE SACRIFICE WAS INDICATED BY THE AMOUNT OF ANIMALS OFFERED ON THE ALTAR.
Jesus erased all that, he became one single sacrifice.
Hebrews 10:1-18 Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
10 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.’”[a]
8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord.I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”[b]
17 Then he adds:
“Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”[c]
18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
· Then he declared, I’m the way the truth and life.
· He became the center.
· Forgiveness /attornment was through rams, goats and blood of animals.
· He became the only one single worthy sacrifice.
· He didn’t want us to just remember him as a person, but to remember the covenant.
•
On this day of Passover, it was a tradition to share a meal together in remembrance of God’s deliverance for his people from slavery and how he saved their first born in Egypt.
The elements only represent the body and blood of Jesus. They are symbolic
John 6:54-56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.
It is a physical demonstration of what has already happened in spirit.
· We do not worship the bread and wine
Neither is Jesus and the Holy spirit in the blood and water-They are symbols of our faith, and the church need to be very careful not to worship bread and water because that will be idol worship.
· We do not get baptized or take the sacrament to be saved or to be forgiven
They testify to salvation that is already experienced in the name of Jesus through the Holy Spirit by faith.
1 Corinthians 11:25-26 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Transubstantiation-bread and wine do not become flesh and blood
The bread and the wine do not transform into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. [Transubstantiation], some believe that the invisible substance does change into the body and blood of Jesus and that there’s fresh sacrifice with each communion bringing forgiveness of sins-That is the wrong doctrine.
We are only saved by grace through faith.
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
Who SHOULD participate?
• Only believers should partake in the Holy Communion.
• In the early church, only baptized believers in proper relationship to Christ could participate in this ordinance, which was celebrated weekly.
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
• The only instances we see the Holy communion being shared is by believers only.
Holy communion is not an evangelistic ordinance-
We cannot give people the communion to join the family [they join the family of Christ first]
All believers should partaker regularly.
Mathew 26: 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
· It is not limited to church membership but to membership in the body of Christ-You may not be a member of this church but being born again qualifies you as a member of the body of Christ.
Take the table sincerely / do not be casual/do not take it for granted.
1 Corinthians 11:20-22 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry, and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in?
There is stern warning about taking the Holy Communion casually, sicknesses, weakness, and even death.
1 Corinthians 11:28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.
- Reflect and repent.
- Just
Why the ordinances?
The ordinances reminds us of the new covenant.
· You are reminding yourselves of the new covenant of grace that was sealed with the blood of Jesus Christ.
Matt 26:26–28 Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’”
Jere 31:31 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.
It matters to remember the covenant because you will know that in the new covenant it is grace that works.
v There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
v You will remember that he came to give life and give it in abundance/fullness. John 10:10
v You will remember Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.John 14:27
v “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. John 14:1.
We observe the ordinances to accomplish righteousness-obedience.
Matthew 3:15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
· Righteousness is staying right with God.
DO THIS IN REMEMBERANCE OF ME
1 Corinthians 11:25-26 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
v What did he mean?
v How did he want us to remember him?
v Covenant keeping God.
v Faithful God.
v Just God who repays good and punishes evil.
v Great father, who speaks to his children daily.
v Did he want us just to remember him or to remind ourselves of him.
v Did he know that remembering him will remind us who we are?
· We want to remember his birth, by the power of the Holy Spirit-It will consistently remind us the creating power of the Holy spirit that we so need in our broken life.
· We want to remember how he grew up favored of God and man.
· How he zealously stood for the gospel. “My father’s house shall not be called a den of thieves”
· How he was responsible as a son- “Son this is your mother; mother this is your son”.
· A great leader he was-he grew the ministry from nothing to 2billion followers.
· We want to remember him, healing the sick, feeding the poor, raising the dead, and forgiving adulterers.
· We want to remember him telling Nathanael If you believe you will do greater things than these.
· Walking on the water and calming the sea, giving hope and strength to nervous followers. Lifting the faith of the faithless.
· We want to always remember him saying,” And lo, I will be with you always”
· We want to remember him saying , and these miracles will follow you….
· We want to remember him saying,” I’m not leaving you like orphans, I will ask the father, and he will see and you the Holy Spirit”
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 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.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Matthew 26:26-28 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
THE WALK OF GOD AND MAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN MARKED BY COVENANTS
1: Noahic Covenant -unconditional.
Genesis 9:11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
God promised never to destroy the earth again with the flood and gave a sign of a rainbow.
· Unconditional-Remind us of His Grace.
· Promise. -Promise keeper
· Signs-
2: Abrahamic covenant -UNCONDITIONAL.
Genesis 15:9-10, 17-18 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.10 And he took into him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.18 In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.
Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and pin you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”3
Galatians 3:16 Now the promises were made bto Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, c“And to your offspring,” who is Christ.
3: Mosaic covenant-CONDITIONAL.
Exodus19:24 this included the ten commandments establishes Israel as Gods chosen people. It emphasizes obedience, blessing and curse on the part of disobedience .
Deuteronomy 28:1 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
Exodus19:24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”
· The mosaic covenant served to inform the people that they would never be able to obey all the rules.
· They needed a savior to die for their sins, and they could be saved by Grace.
· It showed the nation of Israel (and us) the impossibility of keeping God’s law perfectly and the need for a savior and
· It provided a forum for Christ to come and be the perfect Son of Israel who would obey God’s law in all things and be the once-for-all sacrifice for sin.
4: Davidic Covenant God-unconditional.
God promises David that his descendant will reign forever leading to Messianic hope in Jesus Christ.
2 Samuel 7:12-16 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me[a]; your throne will be established forever.’”
5: New Covenant -The covenant of grace.
This was prophesied in Jeremiah 31 and fulfilled in Christ .
Jeremiah 31:31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.
Luke 22:20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
This is the covenant the Lord spoke to us today.
This covenant emphasizes on Internal transformation, forgiveness of Sins, and a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
· The new covenant ushered in the new creation.
· This covenant is new in relationship to the old (Mosaic) covenant, but both are part of the covenant of grace.
· While Moses was the mediator of the old covenant between God and the nation of Israel, Christ is the mediator of the new covenant between God and believers through his finished work of redemption in his life, death, and resurrection. While the old covenant required national obedience, the new covenant requires faith in Christ, the perfectly obedient Son of Israel.
Song
Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary
Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You
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