HOW is the Lord present with us?

On “The Holy Supper”, Chapter 13 of True Christianity.

“Where the Lord is fully present, his redemption is also fully present.” (paragraph 717)

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” (John 6:56)

“Surely everyone can see that it is not the bread and wine that [bring about our partnership with the Lord], but rather the good we do from love, which is meant by the bread, and the truth we believe, which is meant by the wine. These qualities belong exclusively to the Lord; they emanate from and are distributed by him alone.” (paragraph 727)

“It is the spirit giving life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)

“Where the Lord is fully present, his redemption is also fully present. … Being redeemed means being liberated from hell, forming a partnership with the Lord, and being saved. These then are the fruits that are given to us in the Holy Supper. They are not given us to the full extent that the Lord would like, however. Moved as he is by his divine love, he would prefer to give us all of these gifts. Instead we are given them in accordance with our own receptivity; however receptive we are, that is how far the process of redemption takes us.” (paragraph 717)

“The Lord’s presence with people who go no further than understanding what is true and good is general and external in nature; but his presence with people who go further and actually will and do what is true and good is both general and personal, or both internal and external.” (719, Section 2)

“… one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 8:3).

“… since the body dies and the soul lives on after death, it follows that spiritual nourishment exists to serve our eternal well-being. Surely everyone can see, then, that these two types of nourishment should not in any way be confused with each other.” (paragraph 709)

“The Lord does not [close heaven] to any people, even to the final hour of their lives in this world. We ourselves close heaven to ourselves [while we are in this world], by rejecting faith and living an evil life. But even if we do this, we are still constantly kept in a state that leaves open the possibility of repentance and turning our lives around. The Lord is always present and exerting pressure on us to accept him. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20). We ourselves are at fault if we do not open the door.” (paragraph 720)

Recorded on Sunday 3 September 2023