“In Remembrance of Me”
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for the sinner to receive Him, to repent, and to be cleansed from the
defilement of sin. This example is for us. When we suppose one to
be in error and sin, we are not to divorce ourselves from him. By no
careless separation are we to leave him a prey to temptation, or drive
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him upon Satan’s battleground. This is not Christ’s method. It was
because the disciples were erring and faulty that He washed their feet,
and all but one of the twelve were thus brought to repentance.
Christ’s example forbids exclusiveness at the Lord’s Supper. It
is true that open sin excludes the guilty. This the Holy Spirit plainly
teaches.
1 Corinthians 5:11
. But beyond this none are to pass judgment.
God has not left it with men to say who shall present themselves on
these occasions. For who can read the heart? Who can distinguish the
tares from the wheat? “Let a man examine himself, and so let him
eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” For “whosoever shall eat this
bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the
body and blood of the Lord.” “He that eateth and drinketh unworthily,
eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s
body.”
1 Corinthians 11:28, 27, 29
.
When believers assemble to celebrate the ordinances, there are
present messengers unseen by human eyes. There may be a Judas in
the company, and if so, messengers from the prince of darkness are
there, for they attend all who refuse to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Heavenly angels also are present. These unseen visitants are present
on every such occasion. There may come into the company persons
who are not in heart servants of truth and holiness, but who may wish
to take part in the service. They should not be forbidden. There are
witnesses present who were present when Jesus washed the feet of the
disciples and of Judas. More than human eyes beheld the scene.
Christ by the Holy Spirit is there to set the seal to His own ordi-
nance. He is there to convict and soften the heart. Not a look, not a
thought of contrition, escapes His notice. For the repentant, broken-
hearted one He is waiting. All things are ready for that soul’s reception.
He who washed the feet of Judas longs to wash every heart from the
stain of sin.
None should exclude themselves from the Communion because
some who are unworthy may be present. Every disciple is called upon
to participate publicly, and thus bear witness that he accepts Christ as
a personal Saviour. It is at these, His own appointments, that Christ