IN THE LORD'S SUPPER WE CELEBRATE THAT IN CHRIST WE ARE ALREADY PART OF THE HEAVENLY HOST. WE ASK GOD TO MOVE US TO PRACTICE FERVENT LOVE AND SERVICE OF ONE ANOTHER. WE NEED TO GIVE THE MATTER SERIOUS THOUGHT, LEST WE REDUCE WORSHIP FORMS TO RITUALS DONE FOR THEIR OWN SAKE. IN 1 CORINTHIANS [13:1-3]. IS BASED ON THE FIRST VERSE OF THIS CHAPTER. ( 1 COR. 13-4-7, PAUL DESCRIBES THE DISPOSITION OF LOVE, AND POINTS TO ITS ETERNAL QUALITY [13;8-13]. GOD GIVES MANY SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO HIS PEOPLE- SUCH AS PROPHECY, TONGUES, KNOWLEDGE, FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE. HE REFERS TO THE TEMPORARY NATURE OF THE FIRST THREE; THE LAST THREE LISTED STILL "ABIDE"- AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN. 1) FAITH MEANS BELIEVING IN THINGS WE CANNOT SEE, BELIEVING IN A GOD AND A LIFE TO COME BEYOND HUMAN SIGHT. HOWEVER, WHEN WE ENTER HEAVEN ITSELF, THERE WILL BE NO MORE NEED FOR "FAITH" IT WILL GIVE WAY TO "SIGHT." HENCE, FAITH ( IN THE SENSE IN WHICH IT IS USED IN THIS PASSAGE) WILL CEASE.
2. HOPE MEANS LOOKING FORWARD WITH JOY TO THINGS YET TO COME, IN PARTICULAR TO THE ETERNAL LIFE WE POSSESS ONLY IN FAITH. WHEN WE ENTER HEAVEN, "HOPE" WILL GIVE WAY TO "EXPERIENCE." HOPE WILL CEASE.
LOVE WILL NOT CEASE. IN THE LIFE TO COME WE SHALL USE LIFE TO SERVE GOD AND ONE ANOTHER. HENCE, "LOVE" IS THE GREATEST GIFT BECAUSE IT IS ETERNAL; GOD'S PEOPLE PRACTICE IT NOW AND FOREVER.
THE DESIRED OUTCOME OF PARTICIPATION IN THE LORD'S SUPPER IS NOW CLEAR. IN THE CLOSING PRAYER OF THE COMMUNION LITURGY, WE ASK GOD TO HELP US DO NOW WHAT WE SHALL DO THEN, TO DEMONSTRATE HEAVENLY BEHAVIOR DURING OUR EARTHLY LIFE.
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