1 Corinthians 11:25 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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1 Corinthians 11:25

Comments

‘When he had supped’. The way that is constructed implies that time has passed. As we do today, there was prayer and thanksgiving. There may have been a homily, a short address. If the Lord's body was broken, signifying that he took our punishment for us, his blood was shed to show that his obedience, and his suffering ratified the covenant of God, the covenant of grace. Do you know about the covenant, the great covenant of grace – the heart of all divine understanding, the heart of the gospel? Before time was, before the world and the universe were ever created, there was an agreement, a covenant made between the members of the Godhead. They are one; they are equally God; they are totally agreed in everything, and yet they are three distinct persons. The Father said to the Son – it was the council of all of them – ‘If you will go into the world of time, and take upon you human flesh and become a man so that you are God and man, and in human flesh, be the representative of a people; if you will suffer and die for them, and pay the price of their sin, and secure forgiveness and redemption for them all; if you will go into the world you have created, and suffer that terrible humiliation for them, I will give you that people for your own possession to be your servants and your children throughout the everlasting ages, to rule in holiness and glory with them.’ And the Son said, ‘I will go and suffer and die for them and live a perfect life, no matter what is thrown at me. I will die for their sins, and I will earn and exhibit righteousness to secure salvation and deserve it on their behalf.’ And the Holy Spirit said, ‘For my part, I will in the course of time enlighten all those for whom you die. I will enlighten and illuminate their minds. I will regenerate their souls, cause them to seek and to desire to find thee; I will change their lives and work within them.’ The divine covenant: Father, Son and Holy Spirit each take a part. That is the covenant of grace. That is what saves us. There was a different covenant in the Garden of Eden. It said, ‘If you perfectly obey me, I will reward you.’ But God knew that would fail, and man would fall into sin. Thank God that the new covenant is not made with us. God does not say to us, ‘If you please me and come to me, I will bless you.’ He has made it with his Son: ‘If you will go and suffer and die for them, I will give them to you.’

Application

We enter into that covenant, not as participants, but as beneficiaries. That is why the Scripture uses the language, we are ‘in Christ’, sheltered under his wing, owned by him and possessed by him, gathered up in his arms. We are in the covenant by virtue of being in him. That cannot fail; Christ cannot fail. Whereas I would fail to keep it, he kept the covenant perfectly. Thank God, it is not made with me; it is made with Christ. Isn't that far better? That's what Christ means. Remember all this. This cup is the new testament, the new covenant, in my blood. My blood was poured out to seal and ratify and confirm the covenant made with within the Godhead. What we are particularly reminded of by the blood of the new covenant is our security. Christ has secured this covenant. How can I be sure I will stand, trusting in Christ? I have been purchased by the blood of Christ. The infallible Son of God has shed his blood and purchased me. This is a secure covenant. The old covenant, the covenants of works that started in Eden: that was fragile, that would collapse because it depended upon the performance of man. But the new covenant is secured eternally by the blood of Christ. And when we take the cup, we think, ‘In him I am secure. What blessing, what grace, what benefit this is. I am eternally secure. How much I owe him. How much I should give to him.’

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1 Corinthians 11:25 Commentary and Bible Study