Matthew 26:27-28 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

The different records of the Last Supper all supply slightly different details, but they don’t really conflict with each other. Matthew, who was writing particularly to Jews and probably wrote in Aramaic, rather than the Greek that was disseminated, is careful to note that Jesus didn’t leave out any of the steps of the Passover meal, but gave thanks for this cup as well. The Church through the centuries has celebrated the glorious truth that Jesus’ blood was poured out for the forgiveness of sin. He didn’t say “for all people,” but “for many,” not because His blood wasn’t sufficient for all, but because not all would repent and receive it. Universalism, that says everybody is going to heaven eventually, cannot be found in the Bible. It is true that God desires that everyone be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4), but human free will is not an illusion, and many do not choose to receive what God offers. That kind of throws a wrench into hyper Calvinism! Because He sees the end from the beginning, God knows who will repent and believe and who won’t, but He doesn’t force anyone to do so. That’s why “doing the work of God” is believing in Jesus. (John 6:28-29) Some people deride “easy-believism,” and it is true that there can be no true faith without repentance, but as Luther re-discovered, faith indeed covers it all. Such faith will work, but works without faith are meaningless.

I’ve not been one to go line by line on doctrine from the pulpit, but I’ve got to be sure the foundations are fully laid in each believer’s heart and understanding. The only thing required for salvation is faith, but I can’t get away from the reality that saving faith is possible only with repentance. I must proclaim God’s grace, but that is not cheap grace, to use Bonhoeffer’s phrase. I must remember and proclaim that the grace we receive cost Jesus His life, in terrible agony. The major motivation, for me and for each believer, should be gratitude for what God has already done for us in Christ. It’s something we could never earn, and we must never take it for granted.

Father, help me be the shepherd and teacher that You want me to be, equipping the believers with understanding of themselves and of You and training them to be the disciples You want them to be. Thank You for the message You gave me last night for this coming Sunday. Help me get those notes in shape, and help me deliver the message in the grace and power of Your Spirit, so that each one who hears may be set free indeed, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!