We partake of the Lord’s Supper—on the physical level—by means of our mouths and throats. As we do this, we want to make sure we are not highlighting any radical inconsistency. Mouths and throats are used in other ways.
“Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood” (Rom. 3:13–15).
And James tells us that brackish and fresh water don’t flow from the same spring.
“Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?” (James 3:11).
If that is the case, then it is also inconsistent to have brackish water flowing out, and broken bread and sacrificial wine being taken in. There is an inconsistency between foul and fair words traveling in the same direction on this road, but there is also an inconsistency between foul traffic coming out and fair traffic going in.
When we recognize the fact of this inconsistency, and repent of it, we may then in true faith be looking to God to strengthen us, by mortifying sin in us, and quickening us in our walk with God. Remember, always remember, that you cannot eat this body and drink this blood without simultaneously eating and drinking the death of sin. If you eat and drink that which is designed to mortify sin, overthrows sin, annihilate sin, then you should be aware of what you are doing.
Hypocrites love to twist words. “All day they twist my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil” (Psalm 56:5, NKJV). Among the words they seek to twist are these—Christ died for our sins according to Scripture. So when you come, as you are summoned to come, know what you are coming to. Do you really want the elements to slay any of your favorite ways of speaking on the way down?
So come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ.