TOPIC 24 OF 47
Holy Communion
Christ gives his body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.
THE MAIN TRUTH
Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist) is a sacrament instituted by Christ Jesus.
The teaching
From the book · pages 72–74
Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist) is a sacrament instituted by Christ Jesus. He fulfilled the Passover feast and transformed it into a remembrance of the New Testament he enacted by his sacrificial blood as the Lamb of God. The Passover lamb was both sacrificed and eaten. In the same way, Jesus sacrificed himself for our sins, and now he supernaturally gives his body and blood together with bread and wine, so that we truly eat and drink his body and blood with our mouths for the forgiveness of sins.
The words of Jesus, “This is my body” and “This is my blood,” give exactly what they declare when spoken over the bread and wine. The consecrated bread is a communion in the body of Christ, and the consecrated wine is a communion in the blood of Christ.
Faith receives Christ’s body and blood and the forgiveness of sins. As we partake of Christ’s body together, we are united in faith as one body. Those admitted to the Lord’s Supper are repentant, baptized believers who trust these words of Jesus and stand in agreement with our shared confession of faith.
Scripture foundations
All Scripture excerpts from this topic are presented below in the book’s order. Ellipses and bracketed explanations follow the manuscript. Select a reference to read the surrounding passage in the EHV.
Reading these passages together
Read the words of institution alongside Paul’s teaching about communion, the one body, and self-examination. The gift rests on Christ’s words and calls for repentant, trusting reception.
10 Scripture excerpt groups
SCRIPTURE 01
Luke 22:15, 19 ↗
“[Jesus] said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer’. . .He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”
Book page 73
SCRIPTURE 02
Exodus 12:5-7 ↗
[The Passover] “Your lamb must be unblemished . . . slaughter the lambs at sunset. They shall take the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where they eat the lamb.”
Book page 73
SCRIPTURE 03
John 1:29 ↗
“The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”
Book page 73
SCRIPTURE 04
Matthew 26:26-28 ↗
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples. He said, ‘Take, eat, this is my body.’ Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it all of you, for this is my blood of the new testament, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’”
Book page 73
SCRIPTURE 05
1 Corinthians 10:16 ↗
“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?”
Book page 73
SCRIPTURE 06
John 6:51, 53-56 ↗
“I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh . . . Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life . . . For my flesh is real food, and my blood is real drink. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.”
Book page 74
SCRIPTURE 07
Ephesians 1:7 ↗
“In him we also have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in keeping with the riches of his grace. . .”
Book page 74
SCRIPTURE 08
1 Corinthians 1:10; 10:17 ↗
“I ask that you all express the same view and not have any divisions among you . . .” “Because there is one bread, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”
Book page 74
SCRIPTURE 09
1 Corinthians 11:26-29 ↗
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the Lord’s body and blood. Instead, let a person examine himself and after doing so, let him eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For if anyone eats and drinks in an unworthy way because he does not recognize the Lord’s body, he eats and drinks judgment on himself.”
Book page 74
SCRIPTURE 10
1 Corinthians 10:3-4 ↗
“They all ate the same spiritual food and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from the spiritual rock . . . Christ!”
Book page 74
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture passages are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV), copyright 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission, as noted in the manuscript.
PERSONAL REFLECTION OR GROUP DISCUSSION
Reflect and pray
What do Jesus’ words promise to give with the bread and wine?
How do forgiveness and fellowship belong together in this meal?
How do repentance and trust in Christ shape preparation for receiving the Supper?
A prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving your body and blood for us. Prepare us to receive your Supper in repentance and faith, and strengthen our love for one another. Amen.