“THREE CUPS”
SELECTED SCRIPTURES

I. Introduction
“Christ died for us,” is one of the most basic and fundamental truths to be found in all of Scripture. It is the core of the gospel, God’s good news for lost sinners. Jesus Christ did for us what we could not do for ourselves. God’s own Son humbled Himself, was born of a virgin, shed His innocent blood for us, the guilty, and died on the cross of Calvary.

But that wasn’t the end. He defeated sin and the devil. He conquered death and rose triumphantly from the grave and He lives forevermore. That is the good news. All who believe it, humble themselves, repent of their sins, ask forgiveness, and embrace the Lord Jesus Christ as their only hope for salvation will be saved. That is His promise.

We believe it. So we’re here this morning to worship our Lord and to remember His sac-rifice for us. We do so by following His command to partake of these elements that He prescribed at the Last Supper. The bread represents His body – His life. The cup repre-sents His blood – His death. We are to partake of these elements until He comes for us at the Rapture of the Church. In the Lord’s Supper, in this communion service, we are reminded that Jesus lived, Jesus died, He lives today, and He is coming back.

In past communion services here at LBC we have focused on the bread. In John’s gospel Jesus reminds us that He is the bread of life.
*John 6:48-51
48 “I am the bread of life.
49 “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
50 “This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.
51 “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh.”

Today our focus will not be directed to the bread but to the cup, or rather, to its contents.
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II. Text
I would not be going out on a limb this morning if I said everyone in this room knows what a cup is. It’s a common word found nearly seventy times in the Scriptures. And that doesn’t count all the other instances where the original languages are rendered “gob-let, bowl, or laver” to describe a drinking vessel. When the Bible speaks of a cup, there’s usually no mystery about it – a cup is a cup.

But today there are three of those seventy cups mentioned in the Bible that have signifi-cant meaning for us as we approach the communion table.
The first is the Lord’s Cup of Wrath, the second is the Lord’s Cup of Salvation, and the third is the Lord’s Cup of Blessing.

A. The Lord’s Cup of Wrath –
Wrath? God’s anger? At Communion? What’s that all about?
Psalm 11:6
6 Upon the wicked (God) will rain snares; fire and brimstone (sulfur) and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.

You say, “See, the psalmist says, ‘upon the wicked.’ We are not the wicked, we are the ones made righteous by the blood of Christ.” That’s right! This morning we celebrate the grace of God as it is found in the contents of the other two cups, the Lord’s Cup of Salvation and the Lord’s Cup of Blessing.

But those will not mean as much to you unless and until you first understand that the Lord’s Cup of Wrath and its contents is what you and I deserve. So turn with me to…
*Psalm 75:8-9
8 …a cup is in the hand of the Lord, and the wine foams; it is well mixed, and He pours out of this. Surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs.
9 But as for me, I will declare it forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

In these two verses (75:8-9) are found references to both the wicked and the righteous. First the wicked; then the righteous. Wickedness always precedes righteousness. It’s the wicked who will drink from the Lord’s Cup of Wrath. They will drink down its dregs.

What are dregs? Simply put, dregs are the particles of solid matter that settle out in a liquid. Think of those times when your coffee hasn’t been thoroughly filtered. You’ve taken the last swallow from your cup and you get a mouthful of grounds. They’re the dregs. They are considered to be worthless. Psalm75:8 tells us that the wicked will drink those dregs.

But a Christian is one who has come from a state or position of wickedness to a state or position of righteousness. Since eternal security (you can’t lose your salvation) is one of our core beliefs here at LBC, we teach that you cannot regress from a state of righteousness to a state of wickedness. In other words, we believe and we teach that you cannot lose your salvation – once saved, always saved.

The point is this – you and I were wicked, and we were lost. We deserved nothing less than the dregs from the Lord’s Cup of Wrath seen in His hand here in Psalm 75:8. Some may say, “Well, that’s OT, that’s Law. We’re NT people, we’re under grace.” Let’s see what the NT says about the cup filled with the wrath of God. But first, let’s define wrath. The Greek word is “orgē.” It means, “…a fierce hot anger as a state of mind.”
In other words, “orgē” is not an out of control rage rooted in some emotional reaction. It is a clear, deep, thoughtful, and absolutely righteous decision on God’s part.
John 3:36
36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

But why is God angry? God’s wrath is aroused for several reasons. He says this…
Romans 2:5 (about unbelievers)
5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.

If a person claims to believe in Jesus but has a hard heart and does not repent, Romans 2:5 says that person is not saved and God’s wrath is aroused.
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 (about unbelievers)
8 (God will deal) out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the pre-sence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.

So those who have heard the gospel and subsequently rejected it, as well as those who have never heard it, remain under the wrath of God. Another reason for God’s wrath is revealed in…
Romans 1:18 (about unbelievers)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth…

God’s wrath is aroused against those who know the truth but fail to proclaim it, or worse still, proclaim something else!
Ephesians 5:5-8 (speaking to believers about unbelievers)
5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not be partakers (partners) with them;
8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.

All Christians have been commanded to walk as children of light. All Christians are able to walk as children of light because God placed His Holy Spirit in us the very moment He saved us. Until that very moment you and I were faced with the horrible reality of having to drink from the Lord’s Cup of Wrath.

But… someone drank that cup for you.
Matthew 26:39b
39b …and (Jesus) fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

And so Jesus took the Lord’s Cup of Wrath from us and drank it. He drank it all the way down to its dregs. It is only because He did that you and I don’t have to.
*2 Corinthians 5:21
21 He (God the Father) made Him (God the Son) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, (so) that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

This is the very heart of the gospel – the substitutionary atonement. The cup before us today is filled to overflowing with a symbol of pure, holy, righteous, and precious blood.
Hebrews 9:22
22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Have you repented of your sin, put your faith and trust in Christ and Christ alone to save you? If so, you can celebrate with a cup that is filled not with God’s wrath, but with joy. Tim and Allison read from Luke to open the service. Listen to Matthew’s account.
Matthew 26:26-28
26 And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you;
28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.”

Blood demanded by God the Father was blood given by God the Son. This is the blood we remember here today. You will not find it in the Lord’s Cup of Wrath. You will find it in the second cup under consideration this morning.

B. The Lord’s Cup of Salvation –
*Psalm 116:1-6, 13
1 I love the LORD, because He hears my voice and my supplications.
2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.
3 The chords of death encompassed me, and the terrors of Sheol (death and the grave) came upon me; I found distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called upon the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!”
5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yes, our God is compassionate.
6 The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.
13 I shall lift up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

Matthew 26:30 says on the night He was betrayed, just before they went to the Mount of Olives, Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn. Many scholars believe that Psalm 116, the passage we just read, was at least a part of the hymn they sang together that night.

When God saved us we drank from the Lord’s Cup of Salvation. The question is, are we living like God’s people are called to live? It’s a question we should be asking ourselves every day, but especially when we approach the communion table. Here are five things the contents of the Lord’s Cup of Salvation provide for us.

1. The Lord’s Cup of Salvation has set us apart for God.
2 Thessalonians 2:13b
13b …God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctifi-cation by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

Your election, your predestination, your calling, and your faith itself are all found here.

2. The Lord’s Cup of Salvation has brought us assurance and comfort.
John 6:37-40
37 “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.
38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
39 “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing. But raise it up on the last day.
40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

Are you fearful? Read John 6:37-40. Are you unsure? Read John 6:37-40. Are you discouraged? Read John 6:37-40. Just bask in its promises. They are there for us.
• You cannot lose your salvation. It is His. And He cannot lose it.
• You will be resurrected. He was.
• You have eternal life. He does.

All of these are among the assurances and comforts found in the Lord’s Cup of Salvation.

3. The Lord’s Cup of Salvation has placed us under a new Master.
Romans 6:17-18
17 …thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedi-ent from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed,
18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

The Apostle Paul is saying that before God saved us we were owned by and enslaved to sin, and sin is a cruel master.
But now we are owned by Christ and we are enslaved to Him. He is not a cruel master. On the contrary, He is a loving and gentle master. We were weary, heavy-laden, and burdened under a yoke of slavery to sin (Galatians 5:1), but now Jesus has placed His yoke upon us. And Jesus says…
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
29 “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.
30 “For My yoke is easy, and My (burden) is light.”

We are no longer to be ruled by our own fallen natures and satanic forces. We are now ruled by the Kings of kings and Lord of lords. Your “change in ownership” was brought about by the contents of the Lord’s Cup of Salvation.

4. The Lord’s Cup of Salvation has provided us with eternal joy.
Psalm 132:9
9 Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness; and let Your godly ones sing for joy.

The immediate context here refers to Israel, but the overarching truth refers to all God’s people. Peter has made it abundantly clear that all true Christians are the priests of God.
1 Peter 2:9 (addressing the entire Church of Jesus Christ)
9 …you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession…

And while Scripture offers no promise of continual happiness, an emotion that’s always changing, the Bible does promise eternal joy, a state of being that does not change.
Romans 15:13 (one of our regular benedictions)
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hope, joy, and peace; they are all found in the contents of the Lord’s Cup of Salvation.

5. Finally, the Lord’s Cup of Salvation has opened the door to an abundant life.
John 10:10
10 “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.”

The words “more abundantly” are translated from the Greek “pĕrissŏs,” which means exceedingly, above the greatest abundance, or “superabundance.” It is a strong word, a superlative used of the overflow of God’s blessings on His children.

Your abundant life began the moment you were born again. You don’t have to wait until you’re in His presence in heaven, because He is in your presence right now in the person of His indwelling Holy Spirit. That is abundant life here and now.

The blessings in the Lord’s Cup of Salvation are clear.
But for God’s people there is even blessing to be seen in the Lord’s Cup of Wrath. How can that be? The blessing for us is that Jesus has already consumed its contents. And that leads us to the last of the three cups this morning.

C. The Lord’s Cup of Blessing –
The blessings of this cup are infinite. We will have all of eternity to discover and enjoy them. We will see God and we will know Jesus personally. After all, aren’t we children of God? Aren’t we heirs of the promise? Isn’t He our inheritance?
Psalm 16:5a
5a The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup…

*Romans 8:16-17
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.

Glorified with God! This is the ultimate blessing. But the contents of this cup are with-out number. And they have only just begun.
Philippians 1:6 (We sing this often.)
6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Found within the contents of the Lord’s Cup of Blessing is the privilege of coming to this table. We will be able to commune with our Lord and Savior in this manner until He takes us into His presence. Then we will partake of the heavenly feast with Him.
Matthew 26:29
29 “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

How we look forward to that meal! But in the meantime, this communion service is a temporal blessing reserved exclusively for us. The Lord’s Cup of Blessing is always for Christians. It is never for unbelievers.
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III. Conclusion
And please remember, there are times when it may not be for us either. If you are harboring any known sin, I urge you to prepare yourself by confessing it during the time of meditation to follow.

As you prepare yourself remember Jesus’ sacrifice. The Lamb of God was slain to pay the price for your sin and for mine. Remember Him this morning. Thank Him, praise Him, honor Him, and worship Him. He willingly drank the Lord’s Cup of Wrath so that you and I might drink the Lord’s Cup of Salvation and the Lord’s Cup of Blessing.
Will you join me at the table?