Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 29 (Questions 78-79)

Questions 78. Are then the bread and wine changed into the real body and blood of Christ?

Matthew 26:26–28 ESV

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

No. Just as the water of baptism is not changed into the blood of Christ and is not the washing away of sins itself but is simply God’s sign and pledge, so also the bread in the Lord’s supper does not become the body of Christ itself, although it is called Christ’s body in keeping with the nature and usage of sacraments.

Tanong 78. Ang tinapay at alak nga ba ay nagiging tunay na katawan at dugo ni Cristo?

Hindi. Kung paanong ang tubig ng bautismo ay hindi nagiging dugo ni Cristo at hindi ito ang mismong nag-aalis ng kasalanan kundi isa lamang itong tanda at pangako ng Diyos, gayun din naman ang tinapay sa hapunan ng Panginoon ay hindi nagiging katawan mismo ni Cristo, kahit na ito ay tinatawag na katawan ni Cristo na sang-ayon sa kalikasan at paggamit ng mga sakramento.

Matthew 26:26–29 ESV

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Different Views on the Lord’s Supper

Transubstantiation (Roman Catholic)

Consubstantiation (Luther)

Memorial/Remembrance (Zwingli)

Spiritual Presence/Communion (Calvin)

Question 79. Why then does Christ call the bread his body and the cup his blood, or the new covenant in his blood, and why does Paul speak of a participation in the body and blood of Christ?

Matthew 26:26–28 ESV

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

1 Corinthians 10:16–17 ESV

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

Christ speaks in this way for a good reason: He wants to teach us by his supper that as bread and wine sustain us in this temporal life, so his crucified body and shed blood are true food and drink for our souls to eternal life. But, even more important, he wants to assure us by this visible sign and pledge, first, that through the working of the Holy Spirit we share in his true body and blood as surely as we receive with our mouth these holy signs in remembrance of him, and, second, that all his suffering and obedience are as certainly ours as if we personally had suffered and paid for our sins.

Tanong 79. Kung gayon bakit tinatawag ni Cristo ang tinapay na Kanyang katawan at ang kopa na Kanyang dugo, o ang bagong tipan sa Kanyang dugo, at bakit sinasabi rin ni Pablo ang pakikibahagi sa katawan at dugo ni Cristo?

Si Cristo ay nagsasalita ng ganito nang may magandang dahilan: Nais Niya tayong turuan sa pamamagitan ng Kanyang hapunan na kung paanong ang tinapay at alak ay nagbibigay-lakas sa ating makalupang buhay gayon din naman ang Kanyang katawang napako sa krus at dugong nabubo ay tunay na pagkain at inumin ng ating mga kaluluwa tungo sa buhay na walang hanggan. Ngunit, at higit pang mas mahalaga, nais Niyang tiyakin sa atin sa pamamagitan nitong nakikitang tanda at pangako, una, na sa pamamagitan ng pagkilos ng Banal na Espiritu tayo ay nakikibahagi sa Kanyang tunay na katawan at dugo gaya ng pagtanggap natin sa ating mga bibig ng mga banal na tandang ito bilang pag-aalaala sa Kanya, at, pangalawa, na ang lahat ng Kanyang paghihirap at pagsunod ay tiyak na para sa atin na para ngang tayo mismo ang naghirap at nagbayad para sa ating mga kasalanan.

John 6:51–55 (ESV)

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.

1 Corinthians 11:26 ESV

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.