Let's Eat - Sharing In the Body

Robert Tyson
This past Sunday, Pastor Matt continued the “Let’s Eat” series. He led us through how the access to God was at the time. Israel was God’s chosen people. They were set aside for a purpose, but they could not approach God directly! They could only approach God through a high priest and it had to be exactly the way God had laid it out for them. There were specific and special rules that the High Priest must follow to gain access to God, no exceptions, and no excuses. They tied a rope around the foot of the high priest, so they could drag him out if he died in the Holy place because no one would be able to go in and get him out.
1 Corinthian 10:16-17
Verse 16 tells us that the cup of blessing which we bless is the communion of the blood of Christ and the bread, which we break is the communion of the body of Christ. Verse 17 tells us that we being many are one bread and one body, and we are partakers of that one bread. Jesus!
Galatians 3:28 follows this up with there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither bond nor free, neither male nor female for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Jesus changed the way! This is huge for us as Gentiles. We had no hope, we were without Christ and no way to come to God. John 14:6 Jesus told them “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” This infuriated the Jews; the priest did not like it. This was upsetting their apple cart. This was breaking tradition that had been used for generations. This was all new, how could a lowly Gentile be considered an equal or brethren to God’s chosen people? The Jews considered this blasphemy.
Ephesian 2:11-18 tells us that that we were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God. The (BUT NOW) is used to say, “pay attention”, this is important. We, who were far off are made near by the Blood of Christ. He is our peace, we are made both (Jew and Gentile) one, reconciled both unto God in one body by the Cross! Peace to us, for through him we both (Jew and Gentile) have access by one Spirit unto the Father! It is all about what Christ did for us.

Religion has twisted, distorted, and misled us to believe it is about us. It is a conditional access to God based on us. If we are following all the rules, have not sinned, and have confessed our sins; that only priests and pastors have special access to God and we don’t?
We do not have a conditional access to God. Praise God! For through Christ, we have access to God! Access by faith! We have confidence in the blood of Jesus that He created a new and living way unto God. It is all about what Jesus did for us! So thankful that it is all about Jesus and not about me.
I could never measure up and God knew that! I was led to believe that I had to be right with God before I could come to him. How could I get right with God when I had to be right with Him to have access to Him? I never could understand this process until I learned it was all about what Christ did. We are Worthy because He is worthy. Accepting Christ gives you access to God! Our faith is in the finished work of Christ. You can come to the Father with complete confidence! He is faithful! He is an awesome God and a Good Good Father! You can trust Him!!!!