Easy-to-Read

Originally scheduled for March 29

There are several different translations of the Bible, of course. They reflect various philosophies of translation, and sometimes reflect a desire for a Bible with a particular type of language. Such is the “Easy to Read” version. One particular verse struck my eye:
 
This means that every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are telling others about the Lord's death until he comes again.
(1Co 11:26)
it makes something clear from the Greek. In communion, you ARE telling others about the Lord’s death. If you are taking communion correctly, you are proclaiming the Lord’s death. This may seem odd; just exactly what it is are we proclaiming here?
·         We are proclaiming that Christ went to the Cross voluntarily. This was part of his mission, and he went willingly. Not cheerfully, but willingly.
·         We are proclaiming that this was in accord with the will of God, as expressed both by Christ himself and the prophecies of the Old Testament. This was the divine plan.
·         We are proclaiming his genuine death — not some deceptive plot. Men don’t die for what they know to be a lie. He was in that tomb three days.
·         Most of all we are proclaiming the atonement — that Christ died for our sins and through him we have forgiveness our redemption.
But note the next phrase: “until he comes again.” That means quite simply that there will come a time when it is too late to accept the salvation provided by the atonement. The time for such a decision is now. When he returns, he will bring with him the judgment of God. Do you think Adolf Hitler got what he deserved in this life? Neither do I. But God is not finished with his reckonings yet.
  For the Christian that will be a joyous time. It includes the resurrection of the dead, the New Heaven and the New Earth. Just exactly how this will happen, we don’t know. But he is returning, and with him will, those who loved him and faithfully served him. That’s the message we proclaim when we take that simple, symbolic meal known as the Lord's Supper - His body, His blood, our salvation.