I want to explain something that I usually say at the conclusion of these little exhortations, and that is, “Come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ.” What do I mean by that?
First, the Scriptures teach us that when we partake of the bread and wine we are partakers of the Table of the Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 10:21). When we come to His Table, we are coming to Him. As we come, God in His grace has determined to grow us all up into the perfect man, the Lord Jesus, and for us to partake together in love at this meal is one of His instruments for accomplishing this. When we come here in faith, we are coming to Jesus.
Another important word I use is the word welcome. To get to this Table, you don’t have to get past a bunch of suspicious security guards with metal detectors. If you are baptized, and not under the lawful discipline of the church, then you are welcome. You are not being given bread and wine for being such a good person, you are being given bread and wine so that you might grow up into a good person. You are welcome, not for what you have done, but because of what God in His grace intends to do.
And last, I use the word come. This is an invitation to everyone. For those not baptized, it is an invitation to be baptized. For those unrepentant, it is an invitation to repent. The only barriers to this Table are found within the confines of the sinful human heart.
So come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ.