Luke 22:1-23

Sermon Notes

Luke 22:1-23

The Divine Conspirary

Pastor Jim Thomas

The Demonic Conspiracy: Luke 22:1-6

Co-Conspirators in Luke 22:1-6

• The devil
• The defecting disciple
• The delighted religious leaders

The story of Judas reminds us:

1. A person can claim to be a follower of Jesus, but ultimately prove not to have been

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”
Matthew 7:21-23

2. A person can have access to spiritual privileges and even serve in ministry, but never come to love the Lord
3. Remorse is not the same thing as repentance
4. You cannot lose God’s salvation, but you can most certainly fake your own
5. Jesus loves sinners of all kinds, even those who betray Him and end up rejecting Him. The essential question becomes, “How will we respond to Jesus?”

“We were made not primarily that we may love God (though we were made for that too) but that God may love us, that we may become objects in which the Divine love may rest ‘well pleased.'”
C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

“While the biblical concept of sin has many aspects that could rightly be described as forensic or legal (such as the ideas of “missing the mark” or “falling short of what is required”), the idea of the betrayal of a personal relationship is fundamental to a biblical understanding of sin. Sin is about failing to trust God, challenging His authority, or failing to take His promises seriously.”
Alister McGrath, Justification by Faith

The Divine Conspiracy: Luke 22:7-23

“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.”
Ephesians 1:4

“And, indeed, this is one of the greatest mysteries in the world; namely, that a righteousness that resides in heaven should justify me, a sinner on earth!”
John Bunyan, Justification By An Imputed Righteousness

How is Christ present in the Lord’s Supper?

Transubstantiation (Roman Catholic): Bread and wine become Christ’s literal body and blood.
Sacramental Union (Lutheran): Christ’s body and blood are present “in, with, and under” the bread and wine.
Real Spiritual Presence (Reformed): Christ is spiritually present through faith, with bread and wine as symbols.
Memorial View (Baptist/Zwinglian): Bread and wine symbolize Christ’s sacrifice, commemorating His death.

Purposes of the Lord’s Supper:

• Examination: Reviewing our great need for redemption. (1 Cor. 11:28)
• Reflection: Meditating on Christ’s greater sacrifice. (Luke 22:19)
• Renewal: Deepening our union with Christ. (John 6:56)
• Proclamation: Declaring God’s covenant promises. (1 Cor. 11:26)
• Restoration: Renewal by grace, through faith in God’s promises.

“It is not by the mere outward administration of water in baptism that we are cleansed and receive the Spirit, nor by the mere gift of bread and wine in communion that we feed on Christ crucified, but by faith in the promises of God thus visibly expressed, a faith which is itself meant to be illustrated in our humble, believing acceptance of these signs. But we must not confuse the signs with the promises which they signify. It is possible to receive the sign without receiving the promise, and also to receive the promise apart from the receiving of the sign.”
John Stott, Christ the Controversialist

Let’s join the Divine Conspiracy!

• Encouragement: The love of Christ pursues you, inviting you to receive and walk in His free gift of salvation.
• Invitation: Examine your heart—have you surrendered every category of your life to Christ?
• Challenge: Live as His apprentice, following Jesus through obedience and faith.
• Response: Participate in the fellowship of Christ’s church, the Word and Sacraments, trusting Christ as your Savior, Lord and King.