The Christian faith stands unique in all of history as the only faith that has a God who saves. Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva do not save. The god of Islam does not save. Confucius does not save. Buddha does not save. Atheism does not save. The state does not save. These all admit that man needs saving, saving from something, but for each of these, man must save himself.
Our God is a God who saves. And so we call Him our Saviour.
And, because our need for salvation is self-evident throughout history, our God is a God of saving acts throughout history.
When God told Noah to build an ark and get himself and his family into it, that was a saving act. When God intervened with Abraham and pointed to the ram in the thicket, that was a saving act. When God rained down destruction upon Egypt, and then led Israel through the cloud and the sea, that was a saving act. When God walked through the furnace with Shadrach and his mates, that was a saving act. And when God brought Israel out of Babylon and back to the Promised Land that was a saving act.
All these were shadows or types of the ultimate saving act, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It is this saving act that is brought to mind through a multitude of tiny salvations that come our way each day.
And it is this saving act that is set before us each Lord’s Day in the form of bread and wine. And, as we eat and drink these symbols of Gods’ salvation with genuine faith, we are sharing in all of its blessings, just a those who looked to the bronze serpent in the wilderness (Numbers 21:8-9) enjoyed the salvation for which it stood.
In other words, if you look to the bronze serpent, you are no longer dying. If you are in the ark, you are not drowning. If you are on the far side of the Red Sea, then you are no longer a slave in Egypt.
And so, it follows, that when we gather around the Lord’s table and enjoy His supper we are not merely partaking in a little ceremony. We are partaking in the salvation of the world.
God gives you bread from His table so that you might taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). And when you drink from His vineyard, the heart is made glad with the kindness and mercy of God to sinners (Psalm 104:15).
So, we do not call God our Saviour because that is a Bible word. We call Him our Saviour because He saves. We call Him our Saviour because when we gather together at His table, we gather to witness the salvation of the world.
The rebel, the saint and the sinner are commanded to come. Not with a defiant heart, not with an unbelieving mind, but in a sincere faith that the God who saves really has – and does – save. He saves us. Not through any sacrifice made by you but through the once-and-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Bread and wine. Broken body, blood shed.
So come before Him today. Come as one in need of salvation. Come before Him and be made welcome. Come before Him and be saved.
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Hi David and Gail,
Have just read this piece related to the Lord’s Supper. A short word like this should be presented to the congregation more regularly as should an appropriate hymn be sung. I have appreciated your messages for some time now and thank you for them. Have been feasting on Alistair Begg lately which should be good news to Gail. Listened to his presentation on C H Spurgeon which was such an insight into both men. Loved the part where Spurgeon met Moody who chided him on his cigar smoking as an excess. Apparently Spurgeon replied that it would only be excess if he smoked two at once. I’m going back to the men’s study this week after having a nice hour with Davo over a sandwich and coffee a few days ago. Trust all is well on the “ranch” as it is here in our “abode humilis”. Cheers and God Bless Pedro
Hi Pedro,
Thanks so much for the message and your encouragement. It is really nice to hear from you.
I remember reading of a similar incident with Spurgeon at a pastors conference in London in which he was the main speaker. He got up and chided the men for smoking during the lectures. Embarrassed, they all put out their cigars and cigarettes at his admonition.
He then pulled a cigar out of his pocket, lit it up and began his lecture.
Glad to hear you are planning to rub shoulders with the other men.
God bless and stay in touch.