Into the Holiest
The Communion meal is impossible outside of the Spirit and the Church, and excommunication is the most dreaded consequence of being cut off from God and the Church.
G.W. North emphasizes the significance of the communion meal in the Church, explaining that it was not practiced between Christ's death and the establishment of the Church due to the need for Christ to fulfill atonement and establish reconciliation. He highlights that communion is intrinsically linked to the Holy Spirit, which was not given until Pentecost, making it impossible for men to partake in communion before then. North warns that excommunication is a grave matter, as it symbolizes being cut off from both God and the Church, leading to spiritual damnation. The sermon underscores the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and the necessity of communion for believers.
Text
Following the birth and institution of the Church on earth, there is no record of the communion meal being repeated between the time of the actual Passover at which Christ died and rose again and the occasions referred to as 'breaking of bread' in Acts chapter 2. The reasons for this are: (a) the feast is only for the Church, (b) the Lord had first to complete and crown the system of atonements under which Israel had for centuries existed as a redeemed nation. By His superior death He fulfilled atonement and replaced it with Reconciliation, He then entered into the Holiest in heaven and poured forth the Spirit. By this He promulgated that Reconciliation and installed the Communion in the Church.
Until this was done there could be no Communion, for it was not yet established for men.
Communion is referred to by Paul as 'of the Holy Ghost', who, John tells us, was 'not yet given' while Christ was on earth. The Communion was therefore impossible for men until Pentecost. Because this is so, the fact arises that just as the Communion is impossible outside of the Spirit, so also is it impossible outside of the Church. Therefore, of all things that could possibly happen to a person, excommunication is to be the most dreaded, viz, to be refused the symbols of communion because cut off from the Communion. The sentence symbolises being cut off from God and the Church -- damned.
Sermon Outline
- Introduction to the Communion Meal
- The Reasons for the Delay in Communion
- The Establishment of Reconciliation and Communion
- The Necessity of the Spirit and the Church for Communion
- Communion is impossible outside of the Spirit
- Communion is impossible outside of the Church
Key Quotes
“The Communion was therefore impossible for men until Pentecost.” — G.W. North
“Communion is impossible outside of the Spirit, so also is it impossible outside of the Church.” — G.W. North
“To be refused the symbols of communion because cut off from the Communion symbolises being cut off from God and the Church -- damned.” — G.W. North
Application Points
- The Communion meal is a privilege reserved for those who are part of the Church and have received the Holy Spirit.
- Excommunication is a serious consequence of rejecting the Church and the Spirit.
- To be part of the Communion meal, one must be in a right relationship with God and the Church.