This Cup Is the New Testament in My Blood

 

I Corinthians 11:23-29

Matthew 26:27-28

Mark 14:23-24

Luke 22:20

 

THE FIGURE OF SPEECH

 

1. Find the right figure of speech in the words “This is my body,” or, “This is my blood.”
2. These words, from I Corinthians 11:24, have been wrested by various denominations to justify their interpretation of the doctrine there.
3. Many lives have been sacrificed and even wars fought over how this text is interpreted.
4. Catholics are literalists. They deny any figure of speech here. When the magical words “This is my body,” are said (hoc est corpus meum in Latin), the bread becomes the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ by the damnable heresy of transubstantiation.
5. Lutherans see synecdoche. The figure of speech is in “body.” It is part of the body and bread combination that exists in the wafer by the damnable heresy of consubstantiation.
6. Presbyterians see metonymy. The figure of speech is in “body.” The use of “body” is connected to the real offer of Himself spiritually and really and indeed in the sacrament.
7. The truth is a metaphor. The figure of speech is not in the word “body” but in the word “is.” It is a comparison by representation. The bread symbolically represents the body of Jesus Christ; the wine symbolically represents the blood of Jesus. There is no literal body or blood of Jesus at all.
8. In addition, Jesus identified the cup (not its contents) as His blood or the new testament, which is a metonym, another figure of speech in our Lord’s words.
9. The Lord’s Supper is not a sacrament as Catholics and Protestants claim. It does not convey grace or save at all.

 

NEW COVENANT FACTS

 

1. New Testament = New Covenant (Hebrews 9:20 cp. Ex 24:8; Heb 9:1 cp. Heb 9:15,18).
2. New Testament = most complete revelation and administration of everlasting covenant.
3. New Testament = everlasting covenant revealed (the total gospel rests on Jesus’ death).
4. Everlasting covenant = God’s plan and promise of eternal life in Christ before creation.
5. Everlasting covenant = God chose in eternity to create angels and men, allowing some angels and all men to sin, then sending His incarnate Son to adopt elect men as His sons. This covenant is the purpose for the universe; all other covenants are aspects of this one.
6. What is this everlasting covenant or covenant of grace? It is the most important of all.
   1. We choose David’s and Paul’s use of everlasting covenant (II Sam 23:5; Heb 13:20).
   2. God purposed and promised eternal life before the world began (II Tim 1:9; Tit 1:2).
   3. Theologians also use covenant of grace for God’s eternal counsel to save His elect.
   4. We choose everlasting covenant, for it is in the Bible twice and identified by timing.
   5. Some try to split hairs by distinguishing the two names, but it only creates confusion.
   6. Here it is: everlasting covenant = eternal purpose (Eph 1:4,9,11; 3:11; II Tim 1:9).
   7. It is God’s holy design, assignment, preparation, and guarantee to save all the elect.
   8. It is the whole work of eternal life from contrivance to final consummation in glory.
   9. It is God’s counsel or determinate counsel (Ps 33:11; Acts 2:23; 4:28; Luke 22:22).
   10. It explains the universe, for Him to display Himself (Pr 16:4; Rom 9:22-24; Ep 3:10).
7. Communion is a congregational ordinance of church unity about the blood of Jesus.
8. Note the apostolic order to come together and to tarry (I Cor 11:17-21,33; 10:15-17).
9. Jesus put the covenant into force for us by death, last will and testament (Heb 9:15-17).
10. Both testaments – the new by Jesus, the old by Moses – were dedicated by blood (9:18).
11. Mediator Moses, This is the blood of the testament God hath made with you (9:19-20).
12. The covenant is connected to the blood, so the disrespect of one disrespects the other.
13. Examination and discernment in Corinthians is counting the covenant holy (Heb 10:29).
14. We show the Lord’s death till He comes with chosen symbols for His body and blood.
15. We remember and celebrate the new covenant/testament going into force, like honest heirs would do on the anniversary of a rich father’s death that made them beneficiaries.
16. The cup is not necessarily more important than the bread, but more meaningful for Jews.
17. The cup of wine symbolizes blood, putting in force, dedicating, or enjoining a covenant.
18. The cup shows the new testament, so everlasting covenant (Heb 9:12-14; 12:24; 13:20).

 

Component	Old Covenant	New Covenant
Mediator	Moses	Jesus
Place	Sinai	Zion
Revelation	The Law	The Gospel
Sacrifice	Animals	Christ
Officers	Priests	Apostles/Pastors
Clarity	Veiled	Plainness
Writing	Tables of Stone	Tables of Heart
Means	God’s Finger	God’s Spirit
Nature	Letter	Spirit
Effect	Death	Life
Role	Schoolmaster	Adoption / Relationship
Salvation	Works	Grace
Blessing	Canaan	Heaven
Verdict	Condemned	Righteous
Duration	Temporary	Permanent
Motive	Fear	Love
God	Judge	Father
Power	Flesh	Spirit
Conscience	Condemned / Bad	Purged / Good
Sanctification	Flesh	Spirit
Summary	Do and Live	Live and Do

 

If Jesus’ death was the legal condition for the everlasting covenant, the communion cup represents all and any aspect of salvation.

This cup … is God’s choice to love you from eternity with an everlasting covenant love.

This cup … is election and predestination of you in me before the foundation of the world.

This cup … is eternal Jehovah’s grace and purpose for you in me before the world began.

This cup … is God’s foreordination of me to die for you before the foundation of the world.

This cup … is my willing death on the cross of Calvary to pay for all your sins forever.

This cup … is God’s guarantee He will freely give you all things since He gave me for you.

This cup … is my role as Mediator, for you by total depravity could not obey or please God.

This cup … is your justification from all sins that could not be paid for any other way at all.

This cup … is reconciliation to the thrice-holy God by permanent perfect peace with Him.

This cup … is atonement with God by putting you at one again with Him as it was in Eden.

This cup … is my perpetual intercession for you at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

This cup … is what I did as the Second Adam to undo all results of the first Adam for you.

This cup … is sanctification of you to be holy in body, soul, and spirit for my holy Father.

This cup … is the redemption of your soul, which is precious, by my more precious blood.

This cup … is propitiation between Jehovah and you by taking all offences out of the way.

This cup … is the ransom payment required to deliver you from the claims of divine justice.

This cup … is full forgiveness of sins that David praised and that equally applies to you.

This cup … is complete satisfaction of the divine demand for eternal punishment for sins.

This cup … is pardon full and free, permanently given by the Blessed and Only Potentate.

This cup … is God’s acceptance of you, rather than yours of Him, never to be rescinded.

This cup … is the imputation of your sins to me, and of my righteousness to you, forever.

This cup … is the certain guaranty that God my Father will never remember your sins again.

This cup … is God’s purchase of you from your debts and liabilities to be His alone forever.

This cup … is your adoption as God’s son (or daughter) by His beloved Son dying for you.

This cup … is my promise that God and I are committed to you forever for eternal glory.

This cup … is me as the way, the truth, and the life to make sure you get all the way to God.

This cup … is the evidence that you will spend eternity in heaven with me after your death.

This cup … is my descent from heaven with a mighty shout to raise your body incorruptible.

This cup … is my life that I will come again for you and receive you unto myself for eternity.

This cup … is the basis for your future glorification to be like me with a brand new body.

This cup … is assurance that you will never be lost, for I will not lose a single one of you.