LORD’S DAY 30
Q. 80. What difference is there between the Lord’s Supper and the popish mass?
A. The Lord’s Supper testifies to us that we have a full pardon of all sin by the only sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which He Himself has once accomplished on the cross;1 and that we by the Holy Ghost are ingrafted into Christ,2 who according to His human nature is now not on earth, but in heaven at the right hand of God His Father,3 and will there be worshiped by us4—but the mass teaches that the living and dead have not the pardon of sins through the sufferings of Christ, unless Christ is also daily offered for them by the priests; and further, that Christ is bodily under the form of bread and wine, and therefore is to be worshiped in them; so that the mass, at bottom, is nothing else than a denial of the one sacrifice and sufferings of Jesus Christ, and an accursed idolatry.5 The Lord’s Supper testifies to us that we have a full pardon of all sin by the only sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which He Himself has once accomplished on the cross;1 and that we by the Holy Ghost are ingrafted into Christ,2 who according to His human nature is now not on earth, but in heaven at the right hand of God His Father,3 and will there be worshiped by us4—but the mass teaches that the living and dead have not the pardon of sins through the sufferings of Christ, unless Christ is also daily offered for them by the priests; and further, that Christ is bodily under the form of bread and wine, and therefore is to be worshiped in them; so that the mass, at bottom, is nothing else than a denial of the one sacrifice and sufferings of Jesus Christ, and an accursed idolatry.5
- Heb. 7:27. Heb. 9:12, 26. Mat. 26:28. Luke 22:19, 20. 2 Cor. 5:21.
- 1 Cor. 6:17. 1 Cor. 12:13.
- Heb. 1:3. Heb. 8:1, &c.
- John 4:21-23. Col. 3:1. Phil. 3:20. Luke 24:52, 53. Acts 7:55.
- Isa. 1:11, 14. Mat. 15:9. Col. 2:22, 23. Jer. 2:13.
Q. 81. For whom is the Lord’s Supper instituted?
A. For those who are truly sorrowful for their sins,1 and yet trust that these are forgiven them for the sake of Christ, and that their remaining infirmities are covered by His passion and death;2 and who also earnestly desire to have their faith more and more strengthened, and their lives more holy;3 but hypocrites, and such as turn not to God with sincere hearts, eat and drink judgment to themselves.4 For those who are truly sorrowful for their sins,1 and yet trust that these are forgiven them for the sake of Christ, and that their remaining infirmities are covered by His passion and death;2 and who also earnestly desire to have their faith more and more strengthened, and their lives more holy;3 but hypocrites, and such as turn not to God with sincere hearts, eat and drink judgment to themselves.4
- Mat. 5:3, 6. Luke 7:37, 38. Luke 15:18, 19.
- Psa. 103:3.
- Psa. 116:12-14. 1 Pet. 2:11, 12.
- 1 Cor. 10:20, &c. 1 Cor. 11:28, &c. Tit. 1:16. Psa. 50:15, 16.
Q. 82. Are they also to be admitted to this supper, who, by confession and life, declare themselves unbelieving and ungodly?
A. No; for by this the covenant of God would be profaned, and His wrath kindled against the whole congregation;1 therefore it is the duty of the Christian church, according to the appointment of Christ and His apostles, to exclude such persons,2 by the keys of the kingdom of heaven, till they show amendment of life. No; for by this the covenant of God would be profaned, and His wrath kindled against the whole congregation;1 therefore it is the duty of the Christian church, according to the appointment of Christ and His apostles, to exclude such persons,2 by the keys of the kingdom of heaven, till they show amendment of life.
- 1 Cor. 10:21. 1 Cor. 11: 30, 31. Isa. 1:11, 13. Jer. 7:21. Psa. 50:16, 22.
- Mat. 18:17, 18.
LORD’S DAY 30
Proper Partakers of the Lord’s Supper
1. What does the Roman Catholic Church teach in the mass?
That the living and the dead have not the pardon of sins through Christ’s sufferings unless Christ is also daily offered for them by the priests.
2. What comforting truth does the Lord’s Supper teach in contrast to the mass?
That we have full pardon of all sin by the only sacrifice of Jesus which He Himself has once accomplished on the cross. Hebrews 7:27; 9: 12, 26.
3. What is a second error taught by the mass?
That Christ is bodily under the form of bread and wine, and therefore is to be worshiped in them.
4. What scriptural truth does the Lord’s Supper teach concerning Christ?
That according to His human nature He is now not on earth, but in heaven, and will there be worshiped by us. Ephesians 4:10; Hebrews 1:3.
5. What can be said, then, of the Romish mass?
It is a denial of the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross, and also an accursed idolatry.
6. For whom is the Lord’s Supper instituted?
For those who are truly sorrowful for their sins, and yet trust that these are forgiven them for the sake of Christ. Matthew 5:3, 6; Luke 7:37, 38; 15: 18, 19.
7. What must be the earnest desire of those who come to the Lord’s Supper?
They must desire to have their faith more and more strengthened, and their lives made more holy. Psalm 116: 12-14; I Peter 2:11, 12.
8. What happens to hypocrites when they partake of the Lord’s Supper?
Those who do not turn to God with sincere hearts eat and drink judgment to themselves, not discerning the Lord’s body. I Corinthians 11:28, 29.
9. May those who by confession and walk declare themselves to be ungodly be admitted to the Supper?
No, for by this God’s covenant would be profaned and His wrath kindled against the whole congregation. Psalm 50:16; I Corinthians 10:21.
10. What then is the duty of the Christian church toward ungodly members?
To exclude these people by the keys of the kingdom until they show amendment of life. Matthew 18:17, 18.