We often pursue, with earnestness and anxiety, those things which, if we could obtain them, would greatly harm, if not destroy us. Often, too, with a rash and blind impatience, we struggle to avoid or escape those difficulties which God sees fit to appoint for the most gracious and merciful purposes, – to correct our pride and vanity, to exercise and strengthen our faith, to wean us from the world, to teach us a closer dependence upon Himself, and to awaken our desires after a better inheritance. –John Newton
THE LORD’S TABLE TUNE “LOVE DIVINE” 8.7.8.7. WORDS BY JIM BYRD
1. God in mercy sent the Savior, To pay all the debt we owe; On the cross the dear Redeemer, Died in agony and woe. See Him wounded, bruised, forsaken, Sacrifice of God was He; Jesus bore our sins and sorrows, When He died on Calvary.
2. So we gather by commandment, At this table which is spread; To remember with thanksgiving, Christ Who suffered in our stead. He the Bread of Life was given, On the cross He bled and died; Shed His blood for our salvation, He God’s justice satisfied.
3. Here the bread is broken for us, Emblem of the Holy One; True Messiah, our Redeemer, God the Father’s precious Son. In remembrance of the Savior, Who redeemed us on the tree; We will drink the wine before us, Speaks of blood which set us free.
4. Jesus shed His blood for sinners, Bearing all our guilt and shame; By His death He sealed our pardon, Praise the Savior, spread His fame! Now enthroned in heaven’s glory, Lord and King of kings is He; By His sacrifice He saved us, Praise His Name eternally.
EFFECTUAL, PARTICULAR REDEMPTION “I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). “Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). The very heart of the gospel is that Christ died for His guilty people. Per the Surety’s agreement in the everlasting covenant, the sins of those the Father gave Him in electing grace were charged to Him and He became responsible to satisfy the demands of offended justice for them which required death for sin. We therefore read, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Co 15:3). The innocent Shepherd was sacrificed in the stead of His guilty sheep. Substitution and satisfaction are two words which wonderfully summarize the gospel. Christ took the place of His chosen people, fully answering every demand of the law of God in their stead. The true gospel is the message of effectual, particular redemption. And yet, this is the first place where preachers (not the Lord’s) will compromise. They teach that the Son of God came into the world and loved, lived, died, arose and now intercedes for all of Adam’s race. Their message is that Christ was crucified for mankind to make salvation possible, but one’s salvation is ultimately dependent upon the sinner. Such heresy flies in the face of Scripture and is treasonous against the glory of Christ for it makes the sinner his own savior. There is essentially no difference between those who deny the deity of Christ and those who deny the efficacy of His accomplished redemption for both are guilty of blasphemy, the one against His glorious person and the other against His successful work. To say that Christ died for the sins of those who will not be finally saved is a profane notion, contrary to the Word of God. Augustus Toplady said it quite well. “Twice payment God will not demand, first at my bleeding Surety’s hand, and then again at mine.” Christ paid the debt His people owed to infinite justice and no indebtedness remains. God, the righteous Judge, is satisfied. “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:33-34). –Pastor Jim Byrd
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