The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ at the time of the celebration of the last Passover-and it replaced that Old Testament rite.
There were differing views concerning the effect of the sacrament on believers. The Roman Catholic church taught transubstantiation, that is, the bread and wine changed into the literal body and blood of Christ when the priest spoke the words: “This is my body.” These taught that the accidental qualities remained, but there was a real change. They taught that though the bread looked, tasted, smelled like bread, it was nevertheless the real flesh of Christ. This was based on the words of institution: “This is my body.”
The Lutheran church taught consubstantiation, that is, the body and blood of Christ are in and under the real bread and wine. Zwingli supposedly taught that the Supper was only a memorial feast.
Calvin taught that we really receive Christ-but by faith and spiritually. The sacrament is the means whereby God conveys His grace to us.
Not all who partake of the Supper “receive the truth of the Sacrament”. Those to partake unworthily, “eat and drink judgment to themselves”.
QUESTIONS:
1. What does the Heidelberg Catechism teach about the mass?
2. What does the Roman Catholic church call the Supper?
3. Why did Christ use the elements of bread and wine?
4. Could we not use something other than bread and wine?
5. On what basis do the Roman Catholics teach transubstantiation?
6. What must be included in our “self-examination?” (see form)
7. What other symbolism do we note in the Lord’s Supper?
8. Distinguish between open, closed, and close communion.
9. Why do not children partake of the Supper too?
10. What was the debate about “individual communion cups” and the common cup in past years?
11. Explain Calvin’s view of the meaning of the Lord’s Supper.
12. Explain the relationship between the Passover and the Supper.