LORD’S DAY 29
Q. 78. Do then the bread and wine become the very body and blood of Christ?
A. Not at all; but as the water in baptism is not changed into the blood of Christ, neither is the washing away of sin itself, being only the sign and confirmation thereof appointed of God;1 so the bread in the Lord’s Supper is not changed into the very body of Christ,2 though agreeably to the nature and properties of sacraments,3 it is called the body of Christ Jesus. Not at all; but as the water in baptism is not changed into the blood of Christ, neither is the washing away of sin itself, being only the sign and confirmation thereof appointed of God;1 so the bread in the Lord’s Supper is not changed into the very body of Christ,2 though agreeably to the nature and properties of sacraments,3 it is called the body of Christ Jesus.
- 1 Cor. 10:1-4. 1 Pet. 3:21. John 6:35, 62, 63.
- 1 Cor. 10:16, &c. 1 Cor. 11:20, &c.
- Gen. 17:10, 11, 14. Ex. 12:26, 27, 43, 48. Acts 7:8. Mat. 26:26. Mark 14:24.
Q. 79. Why then doth Christ call the bread His body, and the cup His blood, or the new covenant in His blood; and Paul, the “communion of the body and blood of Christ”?
A. Christ speaks thus not without great reason, namely, not only thereby to teach us that as bread and wine support this temporal life, so His crucified body and shed blood are the true meat and drink whereby our souls are fed to eternal life;1 but more especially by these visible signs and pledges to assure us that we are as really partakers of His true body and blood (by the operation of the Holy Ghost) as we receive by the mouths of our bodies these holy signs in remembrance of Him;2 and that all His sufferings and obedience are as certainly ours as if we had in our own persons suffered and made satisfaction for our sins to God.3 Christ speaks thus not without great reason, namely, not only thereby to teach us that as bread and wine support this temporal life, so His crucified body and shed blood are the true meat and drink whereby our souls are fed to eternal life;1 but more especially by these visible signs and pledges to assure us that we are as really partakers of His true body and blood (by the operation of the Holy Ghost) as we receive by the mouths of our bodies these holy signs in remembrance of Him;2 and that all His sufferings and obedience are as certainly ours as if we had in our own persons suffered and made satisfaction for our sins to God.3
- John 6:51, 55, 56.
- 1 Cor. 10:16, 17. 1 Cor. 11:26-28. Eph. 5:30.
- Rom. 5:9, 18, 19. Rom. 8:4.
LORD’S DAY 29
The Bread and Wine of the Lord’s Supper
1. Do the bread and wine become the very body and blood of Christ?
No, but as the water in baptism is not changed into the blood of Christ, so the bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper is not changed into the very body and blood of Christ. John 6:63.
2. Why then are the bread and wine called the body and blood of Christ?
Because this is agreeable to the nature and properties of sacraments, the bread and wine being only signs and confirmations appointed by God.
3. Why does Paul speak of the “communion of the body and blood of Christ”?
To teach us that, as bread and wine support this temporal life, so Christ’s body and blood are the true meat and drink whereby our souls are fed to eternal life.
4. Of what does Christ assure us by the visible signs and pledges of the Lord’s Supper?
That we are as really partakers of His true body and blood, as we receive by our mouths these holy signs in remembrance of Him. I Corinthians 10:15, 16.
5. How are we partakers of the true body and blood of Christ?
By the operation of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Romans 8:14-16.
6. What does the Holy Spirit work in us by which we are able to eat and drink Christ?
Faith, which is the hand and mouth of our soul. Belgic Confession, Article 35.
7. What truth do we embrace by faith when we partake of this sacrament?
That all of Christ’s sufferings and obedience is ours, as if we had in our own persons made satisfaction to God for our sins. Romans 5:9, 18, 19.