Creeds & Confessions   Prayer & Devotions   C.R.C. Stuff

Introduction & Index Lord's Day 1 Lord's Day 2 Lord's Day 3 Lord's Day 4 Lord's Day 5 Lord's Day 6 Lord's Day 7 Lord's Day 8 Lord's Day 9 Lord's Day 10 Lord's Day 11 Lord's Day 12 Lord's Day 13 Lord's Day 14 Lord's Day 15 Lord's Day 16 Lord's Day 17 Lord's Day 18 Lord's Day 19 Lord's Day 20 Lord's Day 21 Lord's Day 22 Lord's Day 23 Lord's Day 24 Lord's Day 25 Lord's Day 26 Lord's Day 27 Lord's Day 28 Lord's Day 29 Lord's Day 30 Lord's Day 31 Lord's Day 32 Lord's Day 33 Lord's Day 34 Lord's Day 35 Lord's Day 36 Lord's Day 37 Lord's Day 38 Lord's Day 39 Lord's Day 40 Lord's Day 41 Lord's Day 42 Lord's Day 43 Lord's Day 44 Lord's Day 45 Lord's Day 46 Lord's Day 47 Lord's Day 48 Lord's Day 49 Lord's Day 50 Lord's Day 51 Lord's Day 52 Heidelberg Catechism Menu

Lord's Day 29
Prev   Text File   Next

78   Q. Are the bread and wine changed into
the real body and blood of Christ?
A. No.
Just as the water of baptism
   is not changed into Christ's blood
   and does not itself wash away sins
   but is simply God's sign and assurance,1
   is not changed into the actual body of Christ2
   even though it is called the body of Christ3
      in keeping with the nature and language of sacraments.4

1 Eph. 5:26; Tit. 3:5
2 Matt. 26:26-29
3 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:26-28
4 Gen. 17:10-11; Ex. 12:11, 13; 1 Cor. 10:1-4
back to the top
79   Q. Why then does Christ call
the bread his body
and the cup his blood,
or the new covenant in his blood?
(Paul uses the words,
a participation in Christ's body and blood.)
A. Christ has good reason for these words.
He wants to teach us that
   as bread and wine nourish our temporal life,
   so too his crucified body and poured-out blood
   truly nourish our souls for eternal life.1

But more important,
he wants to assure us, by this visible sign and pledge,
   that we, through the Holy Spirit's work,
      share in his true body and blood
      as surely as our mouths
      receive these holy signs in his remembrance,2
   and that all of his suffering and obedience
      are as definitely ours
      as if we personally
      had suffered and paid for our sins.3

1 John 6:51, 55
2 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:26
3 Rom. 6:5-11
back to the top