Love of Money and Love of Sinners

Blessed the morning after these services through their family came in a little boy of five years old, said he the question for me know.

These are usually the toughest questions from children. The question he asked was when I could answer, he asked why this church was called Calvary church wanted to know the meaning of Calvary told him of course and appointed Bob and showed them the cross on the ceiling because Calvary of course is the name of the place where our Lord and Savior died and the symbol of the Christian faith is a saying of dereliction of carnage of violence. After harder for me think that on the cross market leader said the cross alone is our theology. When Paul came to Corinth, he said undetermined to know just this one thing and that is Christ crucified, that is the cross as we say over and over again. The cross is central to the Christian faith. This makes the Christian faith distinctive. Other faiths talk about being nice and being good and being kind and loving our neighbor by the distinctive of the Christian faith is the cross of Christ, and I believe that nowhere do we gain a fresher warmer deeper understanding of the cross and that the Lord's table.

As we come this morning to communion which will celebrate in a few moments the cross of Christ is central not just in our theology. It certainly is that.

But it is to be central in our various in our very lives and gives meaning and relevance to all of life to the past to present, and evenings were thinking in that wonderful song. The class on some to other future this morning as we come, then to the Lord's table and as we read and meditate and reflect on the words of our Lord. We do look back and also we rejoice in our presence. Experience and look forward to a glorious future. This is the greatest privilege that you would have an earth. We anticipate many things, but many of the things that went to submit out relatively trivial. I'm looking forward to the European championship between liver Liverpool and helmeted and some of you think trivial capacitors and that's true is amazing how we can focus on these things as if it really matters who wins a ballgame, but think of the privilege that we have become the table of the Lord and to do what Christians have done millions of Christians have done as we are going to do – different settings, some formal some informal different ways.

Yes, of celebrating communion but the centrality is Christ on the cross of Christ, we open your Bibles to Matthew chapter 26.

If your new to Calvary. This is your first time we give you a very warm welcome. Thank you so much for coming and going through consecutively.

The book of Matthew and we come today to Matthew chapter 26 and were looking at verse 14 through 29. First I want to read verses 1415 and 60 Matthew 2614 then one of the 12, whose name was Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and said what will you give me if I delivered them over to your and the patron therapy pieces of silver, and from that moment he saw an opportunity to betray him.

The love of money leads to treachery and disaster with an act of treacherous betrayal. Judas, one of the 12. One of the 12 apostles accepts money in exchange for the dead of Jesus to this is an insider, but when it came to the point.

Whatever he provides with his lips when it came to the pliant deal of money more than Jesus. Notice what he says in verse 15.

What will you give me of the story that Jesus told about the man had two sons and the one of the sons comes to the father and he says father give me all about him give me as we do this is saying give me he's putting himself in the very center of his life and Matthew as he writes his gospel is minified to the last week shows the contrast of this woman. Matthew doesn't even name her without expensive flask of ointment and breaks it, and pours it all over Jesus. She gave Judas takes you to take her regular society is very self focused and then my rights my entitlement how I feel I'm entitled to this. These are my rights don't offend me is so easy to put ourselves in the very center of our lives. Judas, one of the 12.

One of the inner circle of Jesus. He's also John tells us of you turn to John chapter 12 John tells us, gives us an insight about Judas Judas was the treasurer in a single treasurers or greedy course not. But Judy is was the treasurer for the 12. I don't like that much money, but John chapter 12 verse five.

Judas is the one as Mary anoints the Lord as we saw last week.

He says why was this assignment not sold for 300 denarii I and given to the poor, or that sounds so pious doesn't like the person. When were about to do something. A golfer standing arms and while I would lose money not given to the poor. Why was it not given to the missionaries rather than substance, such times, very good, doesn't it will.

John says he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it is called embezzlement is called fact screen market wasn't Jesus only 12 apostles and one of them is a safe is in the embezzler. He loves money and helped himself.

Here is Mary. She comes with precious ointment. Judas betrays Jesus for their pain pieces of silver, the price of a slave.

He's the one who criticizes Mary for wasting money, but he is going to waste his life. Judas put a price on everything but him up but he valued nothing when it came to the point.

Please listen when it came to the pliant preferred money to Jesus. Paul tells us in the first Timothy six the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil but if you run a you're going to end in disaster turns to Matthew 27 will skip ahead a little bit and see what happens to this greedy man is thief. Judas Matthew chapter 27 verse three little ahead of our story, but when Judas has betray her saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind brought back to 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders saying I've sin by betraying innocent blood. They said was that to see to yourself and throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple he departed and he went out and hang himself. Suicide with the chief priests taking the pieces of silver set is not lawful to bring them into the treasury since its blood money so they took counsel and brought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. Therefore, that field has been called the field of blood.

To this day.

Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah say and they took the 30 pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price.

It means that by some of the sons of Israel and they gave them for the potter's field as the Lord directed me as a result of the greed of Judas disaster betrayed the Lord and he know takes his on life. You notice as I read in chapter 27 verse three when Judas has betray her saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind, although someone says well why didn't the Lord Jesus forgive them that it is a change of mind change of heart. This was not true repentance. This was what we call remorse or regret. As he began to see the consequences of his actions. No, the one he had served for three years. The one he had watched Hill the site. Judas was there when the Lord sat on the Mount of olives and taught we began to think of the consequences of his action, yet a change of mind. But that is not repentance. There's many a man there's many a woman when faced with their sin cries.

There's many a person when they are caught as it were, with their hand in the detail cry of remorse is true of most people in the nine years as a pastor, as I've met with people.

Yes, professing believers in Jesus Christ as they look back on something that done wrong. There steers little grads.

They say that we should never done it but the question is, is true repentance. Of course you're sorry for the consequences your embarrassed you humiliated people not know of your sin, but as we come to the table of the Lord is missing the minute we are to examine ourselves is there to repentance. The brother go and what chapter 15. He started by saying give me give me give me. He goes off. It was a money becomes to the senses, and what does he say make me make me as one of the Ohio sentence and as a status.

He says I've sin, you simply sin against his father, the first of all, sites I've sinned against and in your sight. Yes, our sin impacts other people you know regret that you did that you can see the devastation of your sin. But the question is, is there true repentance before God and before heaven and those that are the fruits of repentance because repentance is a spiritual Lord, wincing over and over again in his gospel that when Jesus comments the messages repentance for the kingdom of heaven is Judas is guilty, leads to suicide for three years. He was close to Jesus. But now he is eternally separated from God will be demented back to chapter 26 verse 24 Jesus says it would mean better for that man, meaning Judas if he had not been born discrete for effective pieces of silver for sums shot again, betrayed innocent blood Bulova money and loves money who would say they don't, the love of money will lead you to lie, it will lead you to be deceitful, the love of money breaks business partnerships, the love of money. Our professional man and woman making a lot of money. But the more they make.

It seems to be the greeter they have in the partnership breaks because one person, but others feels that all that enough in a work situation here is angry. Here is jealousy among fellow employees because people feel one person has got more than they have someone see someone's car yesterday I saw a beautiful new Ferrari that was almost perfect. Think of the last amendment shall not covet. I thought what I would love and I would love to see the faces of the members recovery church when I drop in the parking they would say we are so happy that their pastor has that and my fellow passengers would say John that is wonderful. We know you deserve it. We don't.

But you do is very easy if the love of money breaks homes when the common causes of divorce as a man and his wife arguing over money.

The love of money aside. Think of the relationships are broken. Think of the families that approach it out when brothers and sisters are arguing when their father and mother will die because they feel they didn't get enough warrant.

We will you betray Jesus for love or money for envy for pleasure for popularity for ambition for your greed when it comes down to it, that is something that you prefer, rather than Jesus was. I and the song is about giving everything to Jesus really prepared to do that you really prepared to surrender to put in the hands of Jesus into trusting the future you prepared member. The question Jesus asked what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul students. They tried to gain the world, and in so doing, he lost his soul. The love of money leads to treachery and disaster, but no read with me chapter 26 verse 17 was read on notice of Matthew constructs is story that when the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus saying where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover. He said go into the city to a certain man, and say to him.

The teacher says my time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples and the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and they prepared the Passover. When it was evening he reclines at table with the 12 and as they were leaving. He said truly I say to you one of you will betray me in the very sorrowful began to say to one another that I Lord answered he, who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but more to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed, it would have been better for that man if he had not been born Judas who would betray him answered his Rabbi he said to him you have said so on the very night that the Lord is betrayed. He institutes the Lord's supper as we will.

That's we come to the Lord's supper we are remembering our Lord's love for us and we also rejoice in the forgiveness of her sentence. As we come now to the table of the Lord.

One of the things we do. We are looking back but think of the context is up to shred on the very night of his betrayal. Paul is going to say this in first Corinthians 11 the Lord celebrates the Passover with his disciples Jesus and his disciples leave FNA and go into Jerusalem the capital of Israel for the temple is to celebrate the Passover clear instructions are given to the disciples as to how the Passover is going to be celebrated as we read the Passover was to be eaten after sunset and completed before midnight. Is it what is the Passover of your Bible.

Exodus 12 said last week that one of her goals and tell Ray is to teach you the Bible is very difficult if you don't have a Bible second book of the Bible.

I said to new members yesterday and have a Bible I would buy them a Bible and I say that to you get a Bible Exodus 12 – three is the institution of the Passover term all the congregation of Israel that on the 10th day of this month every man shall take a lamb, according to the father's house alarm for a household. There's five your lamb shall be without blemish. I mail-year-old you may take it from the sheep from the goats.

You shall give it until the 14th day of this month when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight than the shall take some of the blood and put it on the two door posts in the lintel of the houses in which the each shall eat the flesh that night roasted on the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. Verse 11 in this manner. You shall eat it with your belt fastens your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand unusually heated and hazy it is… The Lord's Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast and all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments. I am the Lord, the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are and when I see the blood, I will pass over you and no plague shall befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt, really more than a minute. Next is troubling to visit the Lamb is to die. His blood is to be applied to the doorpost of the lintel and when the destroyer comes member slaves in Egypt when the destroyer comes and sees the blood it will pass over no judgment of God on that will the Passover.

Then there was an ordinance.

It was written into the very life of the children of Israel. And what was it about. It was a feast of remembrance of looking back, God wanted his people, never, never to forget that once they were slaves in Egypt and by his mighty hand and through his grace he delivers them from the bondage of Egypt leads him to the Red Sea through the wilderness and into the promised land. Exodus 12 again. Verse 24 you shall observe this right is that you, for you and your sons forever.

When you come to the land of the Lord will give you the promised land as he has promised you shall keep the service and when your children say to you what you mean by this service. You shall say is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover 40 Passover the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses and the people bowed their heads and worshiped here. Here's the Lord nobody night, which is between and they are performing the feast of Passover on the looking back to the deliverance from Egypt. Verse 26, seven now is everything. The Passover, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples and said to Kate, this is my body, and he took a cup, and when he given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, drink of it, all of you for this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my father's kingdom. One of the things that we do at the Lord's supper is that we look back Israel. Look back to their deliverance. What do we look back to Jesus as as we did in first Corinthians 11.

This new and remembrance of me. We as a people of God sitting here at Calvary church, Charlotte, North Carolina. This beautiful day.

When looking back to an even greater events than Israel's deliverance from Egypt was that event draws Jesus Christ is the true alarm of the Passover. Paul says in first Corinthians 574. Christ, our Passover also has been sacrificed that lamb that Israelites tooth was which was without blemish.

It was a time of the Lamb of God is going to take away the sin of the world that perfect plan. Our Lord Jesus Christ, without spot or blemish, and when the Lamb of God comes into time and space.

He comes as a sacrifice for the sin of the world and his redemptive work is perfectly and fully completed the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus the deal on the cross.

Unlike all of the Old Testament sacrifices his final it's unrepeatable. It's perfect and it is complete and it is all sacrifices one there of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10 verse 12 but when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down and then at the right hand of God. The sacrifice is over no more sacrifices.

We are not re-sacrificing Christ this morning said this a good Friday service that many of you were not repeated. We do not have an altar come to church with many people who come into this building just to see it and if I'm there and I'm speaking with a visitor. I was asked to what your impression of this building on them is a very big building yes but what's your spiritual understanding is you usually cannot. One of the things sometimes. This is well, where's the altar, many churches still have an altar Calvary church does not have an altar. This is not an altar. Please understand what's out altar cross of Christ.

The sacrifice the Lord's supper today is not a sacrifice offered by a priest on the altar. Rather, it is a sampler Sarah from a table or a difference in the Lord Jesus Christ is the host and he invites all of his people, those saved by his lot those of been born again by his grace invites all of us, to do all the things we do is to remember no longer on the cross back trust that there is empty know Jesus is not on a cross.

He's on his throne. His work is completed he is risen from the dead, and what we do and what we are going to do a trust you can look back to the cross and rejoice at the forgiveness of our sins. This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins willing back to that unique, never to be forgotten unrepeatable perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ take bright does that symbolize symbolizes his incarnation, the Lord of glory is a man on earth acquire saying that didn't Lord Jesus Christ was and is and ever shall be. God, what happens at incarnation becomes into time and space. The word becomes flash and dwells among us and become not only as a man is he comes as a servant, not only as a servant becomes as one region to that death on the cross. Remember that we take the cups symbolizes this for live verse 28. This is my blood know the bread and wine don't actually talking into the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ that some teachers on this leg know we don't believe in transubstantiation, what were doing is understanding that the bread symbolizes his body broken for us. The cop symbolizes his blood poured out so that your sins and mine may be forgiven.

Remember saviors beaten appears his precious blood is shed forgiveness of sins, and we, and we praise him, but our sins are forgiven. As Paul writes in first Corinthians 11 that we do this in remembrance of me. First Corinthians 11 verse 23 I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed as truth next to Brad when he given thanks, he broke it on this.

This is my body which is for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way.

Also he took the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the new covenant, and my blood.

Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me cross busy life central to the life of the church, as commanded by the Lord Jesus is this faceless ordinance so that you would never forget that your salvation is not based on what you do all of the grace of God accomplish through his redemptive work and we drink that cup and remember sometimes that the world thinks the forget we drink to remember the Lord's supper.

Today is a reminder please him that you are not the center of your world do this not in remembrance of John Monroe non-remembrance of anyone here do this in remembrance of me who is the central person in your life you give me, give me satisfy me. You offended me didn't help me the way you should write this is the way we live. You come to the Lord's table.

If you're a follower of Christ. US cards help that selfish self seeking self absorption which characterizes us in our flash is transformed by the spirit as the more we meditate on the sacrifice of Christ more would transform that were surrendered to receive this do in remembrance of me, but also the Lord's supper.

We examine ourselves and we rejoice in the gift of present salvation.

Did you read that you catch. As we read that all the disciples as the Lord Jesus is talking about materials that is it. I do this also said it tremendous and significant that Peter and James and Andrew said that when Paul is giving his account of the Lord's supper in first Corinthians 11. He says let a man examine himself to examine myself.

I can't see into your heart.

You may be a Judas and you say oh it's not me.

I am all rights you may question man and and I can put defense mechanisms, and I can the flag you to examine yourself in the light of Scripture and in the light of the cross of Christ today is possible to be the Lord's table and yet to be spiritually was Judas says Jesus is been better for that man if you never been born. He's an insider by the eternally lost a false professor hypocritically went out with immigrants in Scripture and any anyone pretending you can give a glib answer.

I wanted to alow the spirit of God to examine you some sin. You're living a double life and you here today. I'm asking you. Do you know Jesus Christ. Have you experienced the forgiveness of sins, and I'm speaking to you. We welcome you ever your thank you for coming by to ask you is your is your pastor to challenge it as Scripture does when you examine yourself to see my truly a child of God. So I come back I examine myself, but Paul says in first Corinthians 11 verse 26 for as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's day until he comes.

What are we doing we are proclaiming the Lord's that we are presently rejoicing in all of the benefits of salvation. This is my body. This is the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins as I arise about the Messiah, he pours out his soul today. This is the blood of the new company in the old covenant is a covenant of condemnation, John. You cannot keep the law. John you are a sinner. John you come short on condemned and I'm condemned forever.

If I continue like that but Lord Jesus Christ comes to Japan's. The Lord's supper helps us to understand how God deals with theirs. The wages of sin is that why did or Savior have to die. He goes in to he dies for me. The bread is broken for me the compass forward for the forgiveness of my sins.

Jesus is giving his life and love for me, the indictment of my sin to be nailed to his cross.

He is my substitute. We call that in theology the substitutionary atonement that our Lord Jesus Christ goes on the cross as our substitute in place all of us, we sometimes saying about you were seeing it today. Tim, bearing shame, and scoffing roots in my place can then student. You deserve the condemnation under the law ENGINE you know that the Lord Jesus Christ comes and says Jon I love you and I'm stepping into the place of condemnation sealed my pardon with his blood hallelujah walks sick and remembering the Lord have you been there as we do this we renew our commitment to the Lord Jesus, we thank him for our salvation.

We ask for night flooring of his grace and peace we hear again our Savior say I love you if you you are my child forever.

This is our present experience. Yes, we experience this but the experiences based on truth and reality. Judas ago someone sent me a copy of the world. The words on the staff of the mint Museum and uptime Charlotte and that is there is no rhyme or reason.

Your purpose is only to experience the biblical standard with all due respect to the goodness of the statement as well is telling me there is no purpose. There is no rhyme or reason, but finally the purpose is to experience that self is is a Christian faith to make Spanish of course attendance we experience it as we come to the table of the Lord bought in the gospel that is reason to believe there is a purpose that is doctrine is an understanding of the truth of the cross. By then the one that I and you as we come here the experience of fresh, the forgiveness of sins and think of the wonder of it that you can walk out into the parking lot and understand all of your sins forgiven.

We sometimes find it hard to forgive people the way the offenders is the bitter over some pretty little thing people don't speak to each other for years was slow, so slow to vertigo. There is forgiveness through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, his blood is poured out for the forgiveness of sins, and we experience it, or Savior is saying to you, take it for sinners like back examine themselves in the present.

Finally, very quickly of the Lord's supper. We eagerly and joyfully anticipate the return of our Lord and the messianic banquet dinner was verse 29. Italian says Jesus you will not drink again of the strength of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my father's kingdom. Paul says we proclaim the Lord's death in first things 11 on till he come. We are eager to lay with all of this recently looked at Matthew 24 and 25. We are eagerly anticipating the return of our Lord Jesus Christ wonderful to experience the forgiveness of sins. Wonderful to worship here this morning, but the best is yet to be one can imagine why tenant is like think sometimes we forget that this is that some people want to live to the hundred and 27 the last 10 years in a nursing home in a wheelchair. I am quite honestly, I'd rather be with the Lord: the Lord's hands is in the life here can be very difficult problems of tears of sadness. Life is difficult, reexperience disappointments and tensions and bereavement and tragedies in unbelievable sorrow, sometimes here we come to the Lord's table. Yes, we look back we examine ourselves sweetly experience.

Once again the joy of the forgiveness of sins, but we don't stop there, and Jesus didn't stop Bill and Paul didn't stop there. We look forward got tremendous future certain, our Savior will come in John chapter 14, the disciples were devastated.

He says that might not your hearts be troubled you believe in God believe also in me.

My father's house are many mansions that were not so I would've told you. I go to prepare a place for you and if I go, what I will come again.

He's coming back and Paul says we do this until he comes on the Lord's supper then points forward to that great on ending day.

Isaiah 37 verse 10 everlasting joy shall be upon their heads, they shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and sighing shall flee away and we anticipate another feast skull the marriage supper of the Lamb. We don't know all about much about that is described in Revelation 19. But Jesus refers to it here is is you will not drink again of this fruit on till that day that is that great eternal day, which begins with his messianic kingdom was on into eternity. When I drink it new is the words with you in my father's someone you admire someone you respect but I'm some celebrity that you admire and that person invites you to their home for a meal. Wonderful to eat with such a person that fellowship with such a person can imagine what Jesus is saying to you and to me that through his grace we are going to be part of that great messianic kingdom that great marriage supper of the Lamb and you will drink it with you.

Notice the person relationship the eternal relationship of the Lord Jesus had with the 1111 apostles are going to be there with Christ you take the bread is for you. The cup is for you. The best is yet to be were going to drink and eat and feast with our Savior with him in the father's kingdom ready for the kingdom you part of the kingdom trust in Jesus do this.

Members of me do this until I when we pray we prepare our hearts to break bread eternal God and the father we thank you for this reminder. So you your word in the we do rejoice in the wonder of your salvation. Thank you for the Lord Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God, and even though we prepare our hearts help us to examine ourselves there some here.

Perhaps you love money more than Christ and the not yet saved may even at the Lord's table.

They will look to the safe was lifted up into draws all kinds of people to help us know we pray Christ