July 2017 Communion Meditation

In Romans 3:21-22, we find the glorious news that God in His mercy has restored us unto His righteousness. The pathway to communion with God has been restored. The psalmist asked in Psalm 15:1, “O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill?” The response in verse 2 is, “He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart.” Who is that man? Paul says, such a man is the one to whom the righteousness of God has been applied. God’s righteousness has become your righteousness. We who were once unrighteous are now made righteous.

How is it that you have been rescued from this terrible condition of unrighteousness and rebellion against the God of heaven and earth and now have obtained the righteousness of God? How did this glorious transformation take place? How has this marvelous and wonderful thing occurred? How is it that you have been made right with God? How is it that the general direction of your heart - that which it loves and that which it has a passion for, desires, and wills - has changed? How did you obtain “the righteousness of God”? Paul says, “through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe” (Romans 3:22). This term “through faith” is a preposition of means. The righteousness of God is only obtainable and accessible “through faith in Jesus Christ.” Christ did for us what we could not do for ourselves. In Romans 3:25, we are told, “God displayed Christ publicly as a propitiation.” God’s intent from before the foundation of the world was that Christ would be the means by which our sins would be forgiven and amends and reparations of wrongs would be met. This was done “in His blood through faith…,” and we would obtain the righteousness of God. Look at this marvelous transaction recorded for us in 2 Corinthians 5:21:

“He (God) made Him (Christ) who knew no sin (He only had the righteousness of God), to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God IN HIM.”

So, as you take the bread and partake of the cup, which symbolically portrays Christ giving up His life and setting us in the righteousness of God by pouring out His blood, rejoice in the power of the blood of Christ which has accomplished much.

1.You have been justified! God has made His judgment; He has lowered His gavel and declared you not guilty. Paul says in Romans 3:24, “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”
2.You have peace with God! (Romans 5:1) Your heart can sit down. No longer be stirred up because you have reconciliation with God; you now have the favor of God upon you. It is well with your soul, because you are reconciled to God.
3.The Love of God has been poured out within our hearts! (Romans 5:5) We now find ourselves to be recipients of “the love of God.” The “love of God” has been “poured out” in abundance and in full manner.
4.You have been set free! (Romans 6-8) You have been set free from the bondage of sin, set free unto righteousness, and set free from condemnation.