Episode Details

Part one of three episodes on the Sacrament of the Altar. We will go over the different views, what Lutherans believe, and why Lutherans are right. You can follow along to the outline of the Bible study at Christforus.org. 

#theology #Lutheran #Lord'sSupper #LutheranConfessions #BibleStudy

1. What is the Sacrament of the Altar.
   It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself, for us Christians to eat and to drink. 
2. Where is this written? 

The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write:  

Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is my body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”  

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when he had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do as often as you drink it in remembrance of Me.” (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-30; 10:16)

1. The Formula of Concord states, “All three evangelists (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20) and St. Paul, after Christ’s ascension, received the same (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Unanimously and with the same words and syllables they repeat these distinct, clear, firm, and true words of Christ about the consecrated and distributed bread, ‘This is My body.” They repeat these words in one way, without any interpretation, turn of phrase, and change. Therefore, there is no doubt about the other part of the Sacrament. The words of Luke and Paul, ‘This is the new covenant in my blood,’ can have no other meaning than what St. Matthew and St. Mark give: ‘This is My blood of the covenant,’ whereby I establish, seal, and confirm with you men this: My testament and new covenant (i.e., the forgiveness of sins).

• Who instituted the Sacrament of the Altar?
  Jesus Christ instituted it on the night he was betrayed.
  I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-24
  • The formula of Concord says of this, “This very opinion, just stated (that the body and blood of Christ are present in the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper), is founded on the only firm, immovable, and undoubtable rock of truth. It comes from the words of institution, in the holy, divine Word. This is how it was understood, taught, and spread by the holy evangelists and apostles and their disciples and hearers.” (SD VII:42) The Formula goes on to site Matthew 17:5, “Listen to Him,” Luke 21:33, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away,” and Matthew 28:18, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”
• People refuse to believe that the Lord’s Supper is truly Christ’s body and blood, because it is impossible for our human reason to comprehend. Would God ever ask you to believe something you could not understand?
  Yes.
  “Jesus answered him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” John 13:7
  “But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Matthew 3:15
  “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than that we ask or think…” Ephesians 3:20
  “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are po