The Cup
A Communion Address

Ephesians 4:7-10 "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure {metron [met'-ron], the rule or standard by which we judge things} of the gift {dorea  [do-reh-ah'] from doron [do'-ron] a present; specially, a sacrifice. Used of the sacrificial offerings given to God} of Christ. [8] Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. [9] (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? [10]  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)"

Previously in our context of Ephesians we saw how God IMPRINTED each believer with the Spirit of God at the point of salvation. We saw how this imprinting united us into One Body, and that we have One unique (mia) hope because of the One unique (mia) baptism of the Spirit (see the sermon "One").

It is impossible to consider all the Gifts that Christ gave us who believe and not be overwhelmed. Though our inner man led us to forsake His way in the Garden, yet Jesus our Lord remained faithful to us. As the Scripture says:

2 Timothy 2:11-13 "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: [12]  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: [13]  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself."

Though there are times in our lives when we look around and say, "Why, God?"; though there are times when we allow the error of unbelief to lift its ugly head - even in these times, our Christ remains faithful to us. Why? Because of what the Cup, the Cross of Christ, truly purchased for mankind.

Ephesians 4:7 "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure {metron [met'-ron], the rule or standard by which we judge things} of the gift {dorea  [do-reh-ah'] from doron [do'-ron] a present; specially, a sacrifice. Used of the sacrificial offerings given to God} of Christ.

It is important, as believers, that we understands that GRACE is NOT given to us based on our performance or abilities. If Grace were bestowed based on our own abilities, then WE would be the ones who could glory in ourselves. If we could reach out an attain the presence of God within ourselves, then we would have no need of the Cup of Christ. If we could achieve the presence of God without the "Way of the Skull", then why did Christ have to walk this bloody path ... for us? Consider the words of Paul:

2 Corinthians 3:5-11 "NOT that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but OUR SUFFICIENCY IS OF GOD; [6] Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. [7]  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: [8]  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? [9]  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. [10]  For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. [11]  For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious."

Our SUFFICIENCY IS OF GOD, not of ourselves, all praise unto the name of Jesus! When Israel camped in the shadow of Sinai, and Moses went up into the Mount to receive the letter of the Law, Israel should have understood BY THE VERY PRESENTATION of that letter that there was absolutely nothing she could do to work her way into God's Grace. No, even the Tablets of the Law were CARVED OUT by the finger of God (Exodus 31.18), not by Moses' hand. Christ LOWERED HIMSELF to earth to write the Law with His own hand. But this was not a Law of Life, but of Death. This was not an attainable goal, but a set of Tablets given to make us LOOK TOWARD CALVARY. Here was our hope. Only Jesus, only Jesus. When Moses came from the Mount, he came bearing a Letter of Death. The Warden received the death warrant and we, those who were guilty, were under the ax. Moses descended from the Mountain glowing, shining with the glory of God - a glory he had not earned nor deserved.

Israel saw. Israel saw the Christ hewn tablets, and the Christ given shine. Israel heard the expansion of the Law, the Deuteronomical codes, and knew in their heart of hearts that they could not maintain such a rigid standard. A death sentence was passed, and all that remained was for the Warden to throw the switch.

But Grace got in the way.

When it was time for us to pay the penalty, Jesus Christ our Lord interceded for us. The bitter Cup that was offered us, He took instead, and offered us - in its place - the sweet Cup of salvation. We were each given Grace according to, not our own abilities, but according to the standard of His sacrificial Gift. Just as at the Lord's Table, the Cup was poured with His hand, the Cup was served with His hand, the Cup was purchased with His own blood. He wrote the Ordinances that Israel and we broke, then the hands that write the ordinances stretched themselves out to receive the penalty that should have been ours.

Colossians 2:13-15 "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; [14]  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [15]  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

Ephesians 4:8 "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."

I have heard this text interpreted in a variety of ways, and have, myself, sought its proper interpretation for the longest time. The text is a quotation from Psalms 68:17-19 (cf 18), which reads:

"The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. [18]  Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. [19]  Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah."

Ephesians 4:8 can only be understood when it is read in the context of Psalms 68:18. In the Psalms we see a picture of God, specifically Jesus Christ, as a Commander leading thousands of angels in battle. In ancient times the King of the conquering army would, as He travelled back to His homeland, march His enemy out in front of the army as a proclamation that He was victorious. The King, ascending to His land, would lead "captivity captive", or perhaps better "captives into captivity".

Who marched before Christ as defeated foes as He ascended, resurrected, into Heaven? We know from our previous quotation from Colossians that a large number of fallen angels were paraded before the King:

Colossians 2:13-15 "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; [14]  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [15]  AND HAVING SPOILED PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS, HE MADE A SHEW OF THEM OPENLY, TRIUMPHING OVER THEM IN IT."

When Christ went to the Cross, accepting the Cup for us, I can imagine the fallen angels - followers of Lucifer - rejoicing to see the Savior so neglected and nailed. Yet when He ascended, many of these arrogant beings, "Principalities and Powers", were captured and marched before the King as He returned home to Heaven. The righteous angels, who watched the Cross with horror, rejoiced as they saw this procession. The righteous angels, who saw Lucifer stand forth and boast, watched that which appeared to be defeat - the Cup of Calvary - turn into victory because of Jesus our God. As the writer of Hebrews said:

Hebrews 1:3-8 "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; [4]Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. [5]  For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? [6]  And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. [7]  And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. [8] But UNTO THE SON HE SAITH, THY THRONE, O GOD, IS FOR EVER AND EVER: A SCEPTER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE SCEPTER OF THY KINGDOM."

The King returned to His Throne, and many of the fallen and arrogant angels marched in procession before Him as He returned. The war was won.

Who or what else marched before Christ as defeated foes as He ascended, resurrected, into Heaven? Death and Sin marched before our Messiah, defeated in His presence:

1 Corinthians 15:22-26 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. [23]  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. [24]  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. [25]  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. [26]  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."

Jesus Christ overcame death, and after three days in the grave resurrected to stand before all creation as LIVING PROOF that DEATH HAS NO HOLD ON HIM, or ON HIS FOLLOWERS. Death has not yet been destroyed, for men and women still die. But Jesus showed us that HE could defeat death, both spiritual as well as physical death. Just as Jesus defeated death, we who believe shall defeat death THROUGH Jesus.

Hebrews 2:14-15 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; [15]  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

Satan may still be fighting, but the war is over. The King has triumphed. The Cup has defeated the foe!

Ephesians 4:9-10 "(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? [10]  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)"

The hand of God has not finished working among mankind, and there is much left to do. As His Church we have a great mission before us. God has given each of us Gifts, and we are called to seek out and use these Gifts to build up the Body of Christ. We have a School that we feel the Lord has called us to build. We, as a Body of believers, need to be "about our Father's business", telling others about the Cup that Jesus took for us.

Yet as we move forward for Him, never forget, NEVER FORGET that our Commander, our King Jesus Christ, sits on yonder Throne. He is not gone, but is with us as we live our lives for Him. He is with us as we are tried in the fires of life, with us and overseeing us as we walk the path He has laid out for us to tread.

Jesus is with us now, as we enter Communion with Him.

Hebrews 12:1-2  "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2]  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Examine yourselves, now, and focus on Him who provided for your salvation. Your salvation was the joy that Jesus looked toward, as He suffered and died - and rose again for you. Look toward your Commander in Chief, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Return to the Main Menu/ Bible Studies!