LORD’S DAY 28
Q. 75. How art thou admonished and assured in the Lord’s Supper that thou art a partaker of that one sacrifice of Christ, accomplished on the cross, and of all His benefits?
A. Thus: That Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat of this broken bread and to drink of this cup in remembrance of Him, adding these promises: first, that His body was offered and broken on the cross for me, and His blood shed for me, as certainly as I see with my eyes the bread of the Lord broken for me and the cup communicated to me; and further, that He feeds and nourishes my soul to everlasting life, with His crucified body and shed blood, as assuredly as I receive from the hands of the minister, and taste with my mouth the bread and cup of the Lord, as certain signs of the body and blood of Christ.1 Thus: That Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat of this broken bread and to drink of this cup in remembrance of Him, adding these promises: first, that His body was offered and broken on the cross for me, and His blood shed for me, as certainly as I see with my eyes the bread of the Lord broken for me and the cup communicated to me; and further, that He feeds and nourishes my soul to everlasting life, with His crucified body and shed blood, as assuredly as I receive from the hands of the minister, and taste with my mouth the bread and cup of the Lord, as certain signs of the body and blood of Christ.1
- Mat. 26:26-28. Mark 14:22-24. Luke 22:19, 20. 1 Cor. 10: 16, 17. 1 Cor. 11: 23-25.
Q. 76. What is it then to eat the crucified body and drink the shed blood of Christ?
A. It is not only to embrace with a believing heart all the sufferings and death of Christ, and thereby to obtain the pardon of sin and life eternal;1 but also, besides that, to become more and more united to His sacred body by the Holy Ghost, who dwells both in Christ and in us;2 so that we, though Christ is in heaven and we on earth,3 are notwithstanding flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone;4 and that we live and are governed forever by one Spirit, as members of the same body are by one soul.5 It is not only to embrace with a believing heart all the sufferings and death of Christ, and thereby to obtain the pardon of sin and life eternal;1 but also, besides that, to become more and more united to His sacred body by the Holy Ghost, who dwells both in Christ and in us;2 so that we, though Christ is in heaven and we on earth,3 are notwithstanding flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone;4 and that we live and are governed forever by one Spirit, as members of the same body are by one soul.5
- John 6:35, 40, 47, 48, 50, 51, 53, 54.
- John 6:55, 56.
- Acts 3:21. Acts 1:9-11. 1 Cor. 11:26.
- Eph. 5:29-32. 1 Cor. 6:15, 17, 19. 1 John 3:24.
- John 6:56-58. Eph. 4:15, 16.
Q. 77. Where has Christ promised that He will as certainly feed and nourish believers with His body and blood, as they eat of this broken bread and drink of this cup?
A. In the institution of the supper, which is thus expressed:1 The Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread, ….2-4 In the institution of the supper, which is thus expressed:1 The Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread, ….2-4
- 1 Cor. 11:23, &c. Mat. 26:26. Mark 14:22. Luke 22:19.
- Ex. 24:8. Heb. 9:20.
- Ex. 13:9. 1 Cor. 11:26.
- 1 Cor. 10:16, 17.
LORD’S DAY 28
The Sign and Seal of the Lord’s Supper
1. How are you admonished and assured in the Lord’s Supper that you are a partaker of the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross?
Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat the broken bread and drink the cup in remembrance of Him. Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24.
2. What promise does Christ add to this command?
That His body was broken and His blood shed for me as certainly as I see the bread broken and the cup communicated to me. Luke 22:19-20.
3. What assurance is promised you in the command to eat and drink?
That He feeds and nourishes my soul to everlasting life with His crucified body and shed blood, as assuredly as I receive and taste the bread and cup of the Lord. I Corinthians 11:23-29.
4. What is it, then, to eat the crucified body and drink the shed blood of Christ?
It is to embrace with a believing heart all the sufferings and death of Christ, and thereby to obtain pardon of sin and life eternal. II Timothy 1:12.
5. What blessed truth does eating and drinking Christ imply?
We are more and more united to Christ’s sacred body by the Holy Spirit, who dwells both in Christ and in us. I Corinthians 12:11, 12.
6. What is the result of the Spirit’s dwelling both in Christ and in us?
It is twofold: 1) that we, though Christ is in heaven and we on earth, are notwithstanding “flesh of His flesh, and bone of His bone.” Ephesians 5:30. 2) and that we live and are governed forever by one Spirit as members of the same body are by one soul. John 6:56-58.
7. Where does the Bible record for us the institution of the Lord’s Supper?
Jesus instituted the Supper in Matthew 26:26-29, and the apostle Paul also speaks of it in I Corinthians 11:23-29.