Is There A Mystical Encounter With The Lord Jesus Christ In The Sacrament Of The Holy Communion, Pt.
1. It is a life-giving action (Ephesians 2. 4-5)
This God-initiated regeneration accomplishes exactly what He means it to do. Through the Sovereign power of the Holy Spirit, life is spiritually injected into the living flesh but deceased inner being of the subject and is at that moment, instantly made alive.
Paul’s letter to the believers at Ephesus continues to describe that event as God-centered. “But God, who is rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ...”
This monergistic impartation of new life is directly related to that which the entire Christian Faith is erected upon, that is, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The same power that brought the Christ back from among the dead ones is the same power that gives new life to those whom the Lord has chosen in Him.
2. It is a change inducing action (Ephesians 2.2-3)
The giving of new life is a radical change of existence. Slowly comes the realization of the reason that the Lord has set eternity in our hearts. It is so that we might seek Him and find Him. And indeed, He is not far from each of us.
Again, Ephesians is helpful is describing for us what has occurred in chapter two and verses 2-3. “...you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature, children of wrath, just as the others.”
The monergistically induced change in heart results in a dramatic change of life. This change of life inevitably involves a longing and desire to be joined closely to others who have been changed by God.
There is a longing for kinship with other members of the Lord’s family. That which once was a mystery to us is now becoming clearer in focus.
“Stewards of God’s mysteries,” this, according
to the testimony of the New Testament, is the
specific name not only for Apostles, but for all messengers of the Gospel...The Church of Jesus
Christ is the place in the world where this
mystery is experienced,[1]
Although there are many specific changes that this giving of life induces, the chief change is that it brings us from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light, the Kingdom of Mystery, the Kingdom of privilege where we are known as children of God.
3. It is a privilege bestowing action.
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (Eph.2.19)
What privilege indeed for those who are part of God’s Kingdom! Once an heir of death, now a son of life. Once an enemy of God, now a friend of the Creator of the all that is and all that will be. Once alienated from Him, His people and His promises, now brought near to the very presence of the Lord.
This union with the Christ of God only becomes sweeter as we realize not only the privileges of knowing Him but the joys of communing with Him in mystical fellowship. This then leads us to our next section.
.....To be continued in my next entry......
[1] Stahlin, Wilhelm. The Mystery of God.[London: Students Christian Union Press, 1937], p.47
