In Remembrance of Me

Luke 22:7-20 (KJV)

Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. 

And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. 

And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 

And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. 

And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 

For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 

For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 

19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 

If I may, I would like to focus your attention of just one phrase found in Luke’s account of that first Lord’s Supper. In verse 19 Jesus said, “this do in remembrance of me.”

The Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Jesus Christ.

Naturally when we think of that memorial, we think of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But if you don’t mind, I would like to give you five things about Jesus that every Christian should strive to remember:

We ought to remember that,

I. He is the fulfillment of all prophecies 

One of the most fascinating things about the Bible is that Christ’s fulfillment of all of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah serves two purposes:

A. It serves to assure us that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah

The sheer number of prophecies and the nature of them, serve to prove that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be and who we believe Him to be; the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.

It is impossible that any human being could have manipulated events in his own life so that he appeared to be the fulfillment of so many, so varied and so specific of prophesies.

B. It serves to assure us that the Bible is a supernatural book.

The Bible proves Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus proves the Bible is the Word of God.

The same prophesies that proves that Jesus is our Saviour also prove the Bible to be supernatural. No man could have written a book that so clearly predicted the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ so many hundreds of years before the fact. It has to be inspired of God.

We ought to remember,

II. His virgin birth

It is that Jesus was conceived of the Holy Ghost in the womb of Mary while she was still a virgin that makes everything else about Jesus viable.

• If He was conceived like any of us, He was no better than any of us.
• If He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, He is unlike any other man who has ever lived or ever will live

We ought to remember,

III. His righteous life

It was years before I really understood the importance of Christ’s life.

• He never sinned, but much more,
• He obeyed all of the Old Testament law

By fulfilling the Law he satisfied it. It is finished, completed. It’s work is done and over and we have moved into a new law, that of obedience to Christ.

We ought to remember,

IV. His passionate gospel 

Acts 1:3 (KJV)

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

Here is the death, the burial and the resurrection of Christ, all performed for the love of you and me.

We ought to remember,

V. He is alive today

Christianity is more than a historical society.

It is a vital and living movement 

• Because Jesus Christ is alive right now, at the right hand of the Father, praying for us and
• Because Jesus Christ has promised that He is coming again

As we receive the elements of the Lord’s Supper tonight, remember that His body was broken for you and remember that His blood was shed for your salvation.

But remember also:

• He is the fulfillment of all prophecies 
• His virgin birth
• His righteous life
• His passionate gospel 
• He is alive today

ARE YOU RISEN?

Colossians 3:1-4 (KJV)

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Easter Sunday, I prefer to call it Resurrection Sunday because the word Easter is technically the name of a Pagan religion celebrated at the same time of the year. – I do not have a ton of problem calling it Easter though, because almost all of the world has come to associate it with the resurrection of Christ and not the goddess Ishtar.

What we do this morning is come to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ rom the grave.

But I want to suggest to you that the majority of people who do that today, do it wrong.

They come to church because it is the resurrection of Jesus, but they fail to take the resurrection of Christ to its Biblical conclusion, their own resurrection with Christ.

I want you to notice that the Apostle Paul, when speaking to the saints in the church at Colosse, had some doubts about some of them.

There are two "ifs" in the book of Colossians that every serious believer ought to take very careful consideration of:

• "…if ye be dead with Christ…"
• "If ye then be risen with Christ…"

Both of these phrases can be viewed as statements rather than questions. It would sound something like,  "Since ye …" 

The context, some would insist, requires that they are statements of fact. 

I prefer to think that, since the Bible uses the word "if" there is at least some level of doubt and a wise believer asks himself whether these are true of him.

I want to speak to you on three headings having to do with this phrase, “If ye then be risen with Christ”

I. THE QUESTION CONTAINED IN IT

Colossians 3:1-4 (KJV)

If ye then be risen with Christ…

Consider; Paul is writing to, 

Colossians 1:2 (KJV)

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: 

He will later tell us that this is a church; a local congregation of believers united together under common faith common baptism and a common head, the Lord Jesus Christ.

And yet among those in the church there were some whose testimony was such that Paul left just a twinge of doubt concerning their true salvation.

It must have moved some of those original readers to examine themselves whether they were truly in the faith.

And it would be appropriate for you and me to do the very same thing this Resurrection Sunday morning.

A. Are you dead with Christ?

Paul said, 

Galatians 2:20 (KJV)

I am crucified with Christ: …. 

He also said

Romans 6:3 (KJV)

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Romans 6:11 (KJV)

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, …

1 Corinthians 15:31 (KJV)

… I die daily.

As you can see then, there are numerous other references to the fact that the Christian is dead in Christ. 

It is a positional fact. 

My question is this, 

Is it a practical truth in your life? 

Death implies a number of things about the one who has died. 

The dead

• Have no attachment to this world
• Have no connection with religious rituals
• Have no inclination to sin

Are those true of you?

B. Are you risen with Christ?

Now we see the rest of

Galatians 2:20 (KJV)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Can you say that this is your experience? 

• Are you dead to your old self but alive to a new self? 
• Has the death of Christ on the cross so smitten and slain you that you cannot ignore its reality? 
• Are you drawn to the cross of Christ and to the consequences of it? And, having come to the cross, 
• Are you now compelled to make an about face in heart, mind and action?

The Apostle Paul poses this question to the believers in the church there in Colosse and then gives to them,

II. THE IMPLICATIONS INVOLVED IN IT

Colossians 3:3-4 (KJV)

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

There are three things here that are true of those who are risen with Christ:

A. They are dead

Since the Bible has taken us back to that first question from Colossians 2:20, I want to take you back to the definitive passage on this subject, Romans 6:1-12 (KJV)

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

I want to point out three things the Bible says concerning Christ and the Christians “death” in Him:

You should know it

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

They say “knowledge is power”. 

Whenever a Christian comes to fully understand that he is dead with Christ, he will rob the sin nature in him of its power over him.

You should accept it

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

There is a difference between knowing something is true and accepting that truth.

For the last seven and half years, I have known who my president is.

But I have yet to accept it.

I know it, but I don’t like it.

As a believer not only must I know that I am crucified with Christ, I must accept it.

You should deal with it

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Stop making excuses for your sin. 

The only power it has is the power that you give it.

God has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness so, if we are saved:

• we are dead to the power of that sin, and 
• we have everything we need to overcome it.

Concerning those who are risen

B. They are hidden in Christ

Colossians 3:3-4 (KJV)

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

One of the most challenging things about the Word of God is that there are very few things that can be put in a neat little box.

God is bigger, higher and infinitely more complex than we can comprehend so that, as we study the Bible, there are some things that we know are true but we can’t get a really firm hold on them.

I know: 

• that I am dead to sin, 
• that sin has no power over me, 
• that I have everything I need to overcome my sin

But the Bible also assures me that I am not going to gain complete victory over sin until I get to heaven.

Paul said concerning this very thing, Philippians 3:10-14 (KJV)  

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle John wrote and said,

1 John 2:1 (KJV)

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

In other words, Christians, don’t sin. But if you sin (and I think Paul would say, when you sin) remember that Jesus Christ is on your side.

That’s the point of, “… your life is hid with Christ in God.”

We who are Christians know we are not perfect, that we fall short of the ideal that the Bible presents.

But we take comfort in the Bible truth that, whenever God looks at us, He only sees Jesus Christ.

If you are risen with Christ then you are hidden in Christ.

And then if a person is risen with Christ, 

C. They will appear with Christ in glory

Colossians 3:4 (KJV)

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

The resurrected Jesus is coming again.

And when He comes He will take us to be with Him in the glory of heaven.

“If ye then be risen with Christ”; we have seen: 

• Some questions contained in it
• Some implications involved with it

Let me hurry now to speak a moment on

III. THE OBLIGATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH IT

Colossians 3:1-2 (KJV)

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

My grandson, Joshua, is very excited.

In just a little over a week from now he is going to go with his dad to a preacher’s meeting.

• It means he gets to miss school for two days!
• It means that he gets to be alone with just his dad
• It means he gets to be around all of those preachers but
• It also means he has get his schoolwork for those days done on his own time.

He was talking to his Nana, who also happens to be his teacher about that the other day and she told him, 

“With privileges come responsibilities.”

Joshua was pretty impressed with that statement and asked her where she found it.

She told him, “It’s just a truth.”

We, who are risen with Christ have some great privileges don’t we?

But with those privileges come some responsibilities, or obligations.

A. Seek those things which are above

The concept of seeking something implies effort.

There is going to be some work involved with it.

I am reminded of a couple of parables in Luke 15:3-9 (KJV)

And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 

Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 

And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 

The shepherd had to go out and look for the sheep that was lost.

I imagine him:

• Climbing hills
• Walking through pastures
• Crossing streams
• Sliding down hillsides

I imagine the woman who lost her coin:

• Sweeping the whole house
• Removing all the cushions from her couch and love seat
• Pulling the refrigerator and stove out to look behind them
• She probably pulled all the drawers out of her dresser
• She probably vacuumed all the dust bunnies out from underneath her bed

She searched diligently until she found what she was looking for.

Some Christians never grow because they think that they get to slip and slide their way into heaven.

The fact is: 

• We are supposed to seek those things which are above.
• We are supposed to diligently work at our faith

Not only should we seek those things which are above but we are to

B. Set your affections on things above

It is a lot easier to be motivated to look for something when you love it.

I think a lot of so-called Christians have no real love for heaven. They just think that, since death is an inevitability, they might as well go to heaven instead of hell.

• Their heart is not set on heaven
• Their affections aren’t set on things above

So

• Their focus is on the nasty now and not the sweet by in by

Seek those things which are above

Set you affections on things above

C. Mortify your members which are on the earth

Colossians 3:5 (KJV)

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

I wanted to take this list and divide it into groups of the same kind, but what I found is they are all of one kind;

They all have to do with a worldly desire.

The Bible groups them into just one kind, idolatry.

• They are the friendship of this world and
• They are the enemy of God.

We can do only one thing with it; we must subdue and kill it.

Conclusion

The Apostle Paul was very careful not to assume that everyone who read this letter to the saints in Colosse was 

• Dead with Christ and
• Risen with Christ

And I don’t want to assume it either.

• You might identify yourself as a Christian
• You might be a member of a church
• You may have been baptized and taken the Lord’s Supper, as we did Tuesday night

But none of that means you are going to heaven.

The only people who are truly saved are: 

• Dead with Christ and
• Risen with Christ

So my question to you is

Are you?