Furthermore, we should not withhold gifts or blessings because circumstances seem unfavorable. Anyone who is forgiven and accepted by God lives in a world where grace flows freely—unmerited, abundant, and unfailing (Romans 8:32). To deny or block that flow is to curse the very blessings God desires to pour out upon His children (James 1:17). The physical expressions of faith—such as communion or rituals—are always marred by human imperfection. No one can purify the cup or the bread enough to achieve true holiness on their own (Matthew 23:25–26). We are painfully aware of our depravity: every part of us is affected by corruption (Romans 3:10–18; Jeremiah 17:9). When physical rituals are introduced as prerequisites for acceptance, they create a barrier that separates us from grace, turning what should be a sacred act into a mere work or religious obligation. Would you like me to craft a more concise summary or focus on a specific aspect? I believe that the sacrifices described in the Old Testament serve as a stark contrast to God's sovereign work through His Word of salvation. They were temporary and pointing forward, highlighting the futility of trying to attain righteousness through human effort alone. In contrast, God's true grace flows from His love for us—an unmerited, unearned gift that Paul boldly affirms in Romans 5:8 and Ephesians 2:4–5. This grace is not merely a concept but is implanted within us through His Word, which is the voice of blessing—a proclamation of favor that is utterly undeserved and freely given (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23). The Word itself is the vessel of divine blessing, announcing grace that cannot be earned by human works. Any attempt to transfer grace through physical acts—such as rituals, sacrifices, or external ceremonies—becomes a work, a form of self-assertion that oversteps human authority and diminishes the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement (Romans 3:27–28; Galatians 2:16). When humans attempt to bridge the gap between themselves and God through physical acts—whether sacrifices, rituals, or deeds—they unwittingly place a barrier between grace and acceptance. The Apostle Paul warns in Galatians 3:10 that relying on such works curses the individual because it depends on personal effort rather than divine grace. The misconception that we must eradicate sin entirely before we can be truly accepted by God is a misunderstanding of the nature of grace. Many think that acceptance from God requires complete moral perfection—an impossible standard—leading to a cycle of striving and failure. However, true acceptance is a blessing—a gift bestowed freely by God's grace, striking us suddenly and unexpectedly. It’s akin to a jolt, similar to hitting a funny bone—unexpected, surprising, and undeserved. We are sinners, yet we are struck by grace, receiving Christ’s blessing not because of our merit but because of God's unmerited favor (Romans 5:20–21; Ephesians 1:6–7). To attempt to earn this acceptance through works is to live under a curse, as Galatians 5:4 states, because it substitutes grace with self-effort, nullifying the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. Our total depravity confirms that every part of us is tainted by sin—only the incorruptible Word (1 Peter 1:23) can mediate unmerited favor without becoming a curse. Acceptance from God, therefore, is fundamentally passive; it is received through faith in His spoken promise rather than through active works. This understanding liberates us to live as sons, fully accepted and gifted in Christ, not as slaves striving to earn approval. Gifting is a matter of divine grace—completely unearned and freely received. In this way, we are freed from the burden of trying to earn divine favor, knowing that all spiritual blessings are already ours through faith in Christ’s finished work. While prayer is a vital part of our relationship with God, it can sometimes be flawed—offered with wrong motives or selfish desires (James 4:3). However, asking in accordance with God's will is essential for receiving what is truly good (1 John 5:14–15). To deny the authority of the Word in discerning our words and motives is to deny its sovereignty; it is the ultimate judge of what is acceptable and what is not. The Word provides the foundation for both blessing and cursing—nothing is neutral. Our actions either align with the Word, deserving its curses when they oppose divine standards, or they submit to it, producing divine fruit (Isaiah 55:10–11). Faith in this divine grace system is fundamental; to dismiss it or rely on anything else is to stray from the truths articulated in the Westminster Confession and biblical doctrine alike. Yet, in the midst of this, we are invited to speak blessing—words that carry the power of salvation and divine favor (Romans 10:8–10). The Word itself—the living, active Word of God—is the most pure and powerful channel of grace (Hebrews 4:12). Communion, then, is fundamentally a word of salvation—a sacred moment to seek a deeper blessing, perhaps a breakthrough in unanswered prayers or a renewed sense of divine presence. It serves as a covenantal foundation for blessings and curses, not merely through physical elements but through spoken blessing and curses, which carry spiritual significance (James 3:9–10). Like any creed or religious declaration, recited words may sometimes lack heartfelt meaning, but in true worship, genuine communication occurs—an encounter where the heart’s true intent is revealed. To believe that mere participation in communion or religious rituals suffices for spiritual success is to equate them with the Old Testament sacrifices—offering without genuine devotion, which God despises (Isaiah 1:11–13; Psalm 51:16–17; Hebrews 10:5–7). Metaphysically, this view affirms that the Word is the ultimate channel of divine grace—a divine speech that establishes and sustains the new covenant. Grace is spoken into existence through Christ’s blood, which speaks a verdict of acquittal over humanity’s sins, much like Abel’s cry for justice (Genesis 4:10). Physical signs—baptism, communion, rituals—are meaningful only insofar as they point to the living Word and divine grace. They cannot carry grace on their own without devolving into idolatry or self-righteousness; rather, they serve as pointers to the true source—God’s active Word that regenerates, justifies, and sanctifies. Would you like me to further expand on any particular section or focus on a specific theme within this elaboration? Throughout the Old Testament, God consistently expressed His disdain for the mere external aspects of worship that rely solely on physical acts. Prophets such as Isaiah and Amos vividly describe how God regards such sacrifices as an abomination—a stench that fills His nostrils (Isaiah 1:13; Amos 5:21–22). These outward rituals, while perhaps fulfilling ritualistic standards, reveal a deeper truth: human efforts to please God through external works are inherently flawed because they originate from a depraved heart. External sacrifices and rituals might appear to meet religious expectations, but they do little to address the true condition of the human soul. They serve as outward tokens of devotion, yet they do not transform the inner person. In fact, these acts can often highlight the futility of trying to earn God’s favor through works—efforts that are ultimately self-assertive and insufficient. The Apostle Paul underscores this point in Romans 3:20 and 7:18, emphasizing that no amount of human effort—no matter how sincere—can achieve righteousness by itself. Works are merely external acts; they cannot remove sin or bring about genuine acceptance from God.